6th July 2025

Welcome

We are very busy in the Vegetable Garden. The Peas and Broad Beans are almost over but the French beans are producing along with Carrots, Beetroot and salad crops.  The Runner Beans will follow and then the Cucurbita. These plants grow along the ground and we have Squashes (under the Sweet Corn), Courgettes, Pumpkin and on the wooden supports, Tromboncino-a climbing courgette- new to us but worth a try?

The roses along the Pergola are American Pillar and the feathery ferns along the Moat edge are Asparagus which have been left to turn brown before cutting down.

There are masses of figs on the old tree against the corner wall, and we have black, red and white Currants, Gooseberries and Autumn Raspberries. Some tumbling varieties of tomatoes are grown in the chimney pots but our main crop is grown in the Greenhouse.

The yellow rose climbing up through the Ginkgo tree is “Mermaid”

The Buddleja lining the Moat bank are in flower- all grown from cuttings.

The Bog Garden water level is very low, Iris have finished flowering and the marginal plants are taking over.

In the Water Garden the white Zantedeschia and white Oak leaf Hydrangea mingle with yellow Alchemilla Mollis and Candelabra Primula. The yellow Primula are sometimes referred to as Himalayan as this is where they originated

Hosta and Hemerocallis are in full flower lining the path beside the stream.

The pink lillies on the front of the Hall are Criniums, and, where we can reach them, we are struggling to keep up with dead heading the roses.

In the West Lawn Peonies and Papaver are giving way to Crocosmia, Agapanthus and Stocks.  Geraniums are cut back to encourage a second flowering but the plants in the gravel garden are left to go to seed. Romneya is the name of the White poppy at the bottom of the West lawn.

Oleander are in flower in the pots. These are kept under cover during the Winter and brought out for the Summer.

The Wild Garden has become overgrown, with grasses having supplanted the Ox Eye daisy. The vegetation now reaches waist height and is scheduled for cutting.

Lots of butterflies in the garden, some Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral and Meadow brown but the majority are white. Dragon flies and very small Bees are in evidence and the birds are still very vocal. The Heron is a less frequent visitor than in the past but a single white duck seems to have made its home here.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker