Garden Diary

Welcome,

The last week for the gardens to open for 2026 and the last of our weekly summer diary. From December 1^st there will be a monthly update of what we are doing in the garden so do follow us to keep abreast of all that is happening here- www.hindringhamhall.org/gardendiary.

The recent rains have helped the vegetables considerably and we are still picking some of the beans- albeit not a large quantity; months after we thought they had finished!! The Squash are doing well and we have Chard, kale and Cabbage. The Sprouting Broccoli in the fruit cage will not be picked until next Spring!! AND of course it is Apples with every meal.

A massive grape harvest this year and do try one as you walk beneath them growing above the far vegetable garden gate.

Tomatoes are coming to an end, and the Greenhouse is making way for the tender plants that will over winter there

We have started bulb sowing. We wet our bulbs and coat them in Chilli powder before planting as our huge Squirrel population, we have discovered, are not so keen on Chilli.

We are making a last cut on our wild grass areas now that the weather is getting colder. This is so that when the early Spring bulbs appear they are not hidden amongst the long grass.

The grass on the East Lawn has been completely re sown as it was killed by the summer drought. We have taken the opportunity to sow a drought tolerant seed which is taking a while to germinate but it is at last appearing.

On the West Lawn we were able to water using the Moat and this will continue to be cut by the robot lawnmower for a few weeks yet.

Lots of colour to see in the flower beds with Asters, Dahlias, Roses and Nerines but it is the Autumn leaves that feature at this time of year. Even the long Hosta beds add colour as their leaves turn from green to gold whilst  they gracefully die down. The Stagshorn Sumach is a plant you might walk by any other time but in the Autumn, when their leaves turn to brilliant red and orange, they are a showstopper. Looking across the Moat from the West lawn behind the Shumac you will see the Parrotia Persica or Persian Ironwood tree- another show stopper with its wavy edged leaves turning brilliant yellow, then orange and finally a blaze of fiery red before falling.

Thank you for visiting and we hope that you have gained as much pleasure from visiting the gardens as we have in working in them.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda tucker

Welcome,

The nights are drawing in and it’s now dark by 7pm. Less daylight hours affects the ripening of the fruit, and the bountiful summer extravaganza of vegetables is coming to an end. We are waiting for the Asparagus fern to turn brown before that is cut down and it is time to plant a new bed – but this will wait until next year.

We still have Squash, leeks, and winter brassica to come and where we remove a crop, we will now be digging the ground over and applying compost or a mulch.

The tomatoes in the Greenhouse are coming to an end but the Basil, which we plant beneath as an insect repellent, is thriving. We have two weeks before we close in October and then we will be clearing the Greenhouse and moving the more tender plants inside for winter protection.

We have started sowing crocus which will appear along the Iris bed in Feb/March. Squirrels are a big problem here and we generously coat the bulbs in chilli powder as a deterrent. One year we lost over 100 tulip bulbs to squirrels.

Leaves are falling in the Dell, and this provides a generous coating which rots down and provides a well-fed soil for the snowdrops and Bluebells which are to come.

Grass has been a problem this year with the drought and hose pipe ban. The grass on the West lawn was completely renovated in the Spring, and we have been able to water this using the Moat. Apart from the holes dug by the Squirrels this lawn is looking good and the watering paid off.

The East lawn however was not watered, and this appeared to be green but there was hardly any grass -just a mass of thriving weeds. This has now been scarified and re sown and we hope in time for the warm autumn sunshine to get it to germinate. A special drought tolerant grass seed has been sown.

The dead heading of the roses has been very worthwhile and do look for Alistair Stella Gray which is flowering its socks off on the Pergola in the West lawn- best seen from the path in the Water Garden.

The Nerines are in flower along the wall beside the Hall but the brighter pink flower growing alone in the corner is an Amarine- a cross between a Nerine bowdenii and an Amaryllis belladonna. It has taken 3 years after planting to flower – fingers crossed it is now “established”

In the West lawn there is still lots of colour in the flower borders although some Asters are struggling from mildew due to lack of water, but look across the Moat to the shrubbery for a taste of the fireworks yet to come. The Autumn leaves should be spectacular.

A kind garden visitor has donated 12 Goldfish from his pond where they bred too successfully this year. They are now in our Moat.

Great swarms of Rooks are constantly flying overhead and the birdsong has died down- although the ugly noise from various Raptors is often heard. There are numerous coveys of Partridges and Pheasants and a Goldcrest has been added to the list of 44 birds spotted in the gardens this year.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Welcome

Autumn is upon us, the leaves are changing colour and days are getting shorter.

In the Vegetable garden the Squash and Courgettes are covered in mildew, and their leaves are/will be, removed to allow the sun to get to the fruit. The Beans are left for seed and the Asparagus fern to go yellow before it is cut down. Most of the Beetroot has been harvested and salad crops are coming to an end. Broccoli has been planted inside the fruit cage for winter protection, and we are sowing other brassicas for the winter.

The Black Homberg Grape by the garden gate has enjoyed the weather and rewarded us with a huge crop of ripe grapes-the finest that we can remember. Try one as you walk through.

Tomatoes are coming to an end in the Greenhouse, but the Peppers are still growing and the “catch crop” of late sown tomatoes might still come good.

Some of the Buddleja lining the Moat bank are attempting a weak second flowering but they will soon be cut low to prevent the damage from wind rock.

The large Chestnut trees in the Dell didn’t like the heat but they did offer some shade to the benefit of the Chamomile lawn in the centre.

The Water levels are still low and this is particularly noticeable in the Bog Garden which in places is less bog and more mud. The tall Thalia and Water Iris seem to be coping, and the hope is that the rhizomes of the spring flowering Marsh Marigolds (Caltha Palustris) will not have dried out. The Water Lily, on the other hand, have thrived in the shallower and warmer water conditions and on the to do list is to thin them out.

Pink Nerine are lining the wall to the side of the Hall and Passion flowers have overtaken the roses and Clematis on the wall in the West Lawn Garden.

Lots of colour still to be seen in the beds of the West Lawn.  Look for the flower covered arching stems of Lespedeza thunbergii – an autumn favourite. Another is the brilliant blue flowers of the ground covering Ceratostigma Willmottianum to be found beneath the Urn.

The East Lawn suffered badly from the heat and despite the pronouncement that “grass will come back” we have scarified and redressed using a seed tolerant of dry conditions.

Masses of squirrels are in the garden digging holes to store the bumper crops of nuts. Grebes are busy ducking and diving in the Moat and the Cormorant sits watching high up in the tree. Enjoy

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Welcome

The temperature is keeping high and with the addition of rain the gardening is returning to life-so too the weeds!!

In the Vegetable Garden the Box hedge suffered stress form the heat and drought. We have treated the Box Caterpillar and Box Blight but are not cutting the Box until next year by which time we hope it will have returned to a healthier state.

 Peas are all long finished but we have Lettuce,  Radish, Beans, Chard, Beetroot, Cabbage, Pumpkins, Courgettes and Squash.

In the Greenhouse the Spring planted Tomatoes are coming to an end but the tomato seeds I planted a few weeks ago are flowering. Perhaps if the heat continues we might get a late crop- worth a try ??

Cyclamen are popping up throughout the Dell. The flowers appear before the leaves so please tread carefully.

The water level in the Bog garden is still low but sufficient to keep the Water Iris and Thalia happy

Asters and Dahlias are coming into flower in the Autumn Border. Powdery mildew is coating the leaves of some of the Asters and perhaps we need to look at improving our watering system.

Nerines are in flower along the Wall at the side of the Hall and some roses are repeat flowering. Eden rose is the pink rose flowering its socks off on the Pergola.

The Borders in the West lawn are full of colour.

The Sedum have changed colour to a dusky pink and the stunning cobalt-blue flowers of Cerastostigma Willmottianum  ( by the tall urns) will soon have its leaves change from green to russet-red.

Another Autumn flowering plant is Lespedeza Thunbergia The long arching shoots are covered in small pea-shaped pink flowers, and we have three different Anemone in flower- white and two shades of pink.

The West lawn got watered during the drought but not the East lawn which ended as a weed patch with little grass.

This area has been scarified and new seed sown. Obligingly it rained after the seed went down but we will need to keep an eye on watering- at least for this initial period as I have chosen a “drought resistant “seed mixture to cope with the future predicted climate ?

In the Moat we have started thinning out the Water Lilies. We have both pink and white and they have flourished in this year’s shallower warmer water, but not only will they not flower so well but they will reduce oxygen levels and block the Moat. The roots can be 4 inches thick and are well embedded in the muddy Moat bottom. Not an easy

task involving spades and wading into chest high water.

Cormorants are back and can sometimes be seen standing on the branches of trees and checking out the fish in the Moat.

If you walk back to your car past the Pleached Hornbeam you will notice a quantity of opened Horse Chestnuts littering the ground. I have never known the squirrels so active digging holes and storing nuts!! Perhaps a portent of the winter ahead… so let’s enjoy being outside and the colours of Autumn whilst we still can

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Welcome,

We have fluctuating temperatures but at last the rain has arrived and the plants are responding. The water level in the Moat, Fishponds and Bog Garden remains low

The Cucurbits , as you enter the Vegetable Garden are romping away. It is a variety called Tromboncino- a member of the Courgette family with the potential of growing to 3 feet.

The Climbing Beans, on frames, are being left to seed and we are now picking the Brassicas- Chard and Kale. Beetroot and Salad Crops are still growing well.

The lack of water has caused the Apple Trees to discard fruit- well after the “June Drop”. We are about to crush some apples to make Apple Juice which freezes well.

The Mulberry in the Wild Garden has never fruited so well. In the same garden the Quince have been very disappointing, but this could be the result of a late April frost rather than the heat?

In the Greenhouse I have sown some more tomatoes- about 3 weeks ago!  The variety is Marmande. It is the wrong time of year but with such unpredictable weather who knows? They are growing well and some are coming into flower but whether the shortening hours of daylight will be a problem only time will tell.

Cyclamen are popping up throughout the Dell, It is the Autumn flowering Cyclamen Hederifolium and the flowers appear before the leaves.

The Autumn Border, with its Dahlias and Asters, is slowly coming into flower. This sloping bed is North facing and is very dry because it houses numerous tree roots. It is planted with tough easy to grow plants which can survive the hostile site and flower long after the more exotic plants.

Nerines are coming into flower along the wall at the front of the Hall. The deeper pink plant on the S.W.corner of the Hall is an Amarine.  it is a cross between an Amaryllis and a Nerine. It was planted at least 3 years ago and has flowered for the first time this year.

In the gravel between the Helianthemum and rose on the west Wall of the Hall are appearing the Sternbergia Lutea. Also known as the Winter Daffodil.  Resembling a crocus rather than a daffodil it is also a member of the Amaryllis family. It enjoys its position of poor free draining soil and completely disappears after flowering.

Another member of the Amaryllis family, enjoying the south facing aspect of the Hall is the Criniums. Large clumps of fragrant pink trumpet-shaped flowers with strap-like leaves.

Passion flowers are growing strongly along the wall at the back of the West Lawn and covering the roses and Clematis that are there. Flowering late summer followed by attractive orange berries it is an easy to grow plant but can be invasive.

The West lawn had some water in the drought but there are bald patches which we are scarifying and re seeding.

The East lawn looks green but on inspection this is weeds not grass. We have sprayed the weeds and will now scarify and re-seed this lawn whilst the soil is still warm enough for the seed to germinate. We are choosing a lawn seed which is suitable for dry soils and adding a pre- seeder for quicker germination.

Don’t miss the Lespedeza- the shrub coming into flower with its long stems covered with pink pea like flowers near to the Bay tree. It is a plant which heralds the approach of Autumn and needs to be enjoyed for its flowers as the rest of the year it is insignificant.

Dahlias and Japanese anemones are enjoying this open sunny spot and the flowers in the gravel have died down and are now regrowing.

The Carp are continuing to grow and survive despite the low water level. The Heron visits rarely but our visitor sighting of birds in the garden has reached 44 !

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Welcome,

In the Vegetable Garden we have almost finished the beans and are now picking Cucurbits- the fancy name for members of the Squash family. As you enter the garden you will see the amazing Tromboncino- an Italian heirloom squash which can grow to 3ft and resembles a trombone. We shall be picking this early and eat as a courgette but will leave one or two to reach their full size.

Beetroots and Carrots have done well. The Asparagus is left to turn brown before we cut it down and the Jerusalem Artichoke in the bed by the gate has been removed as we never ate them. Grapes have enjoyed the sun but Apples have suffered from the lack of water and dropped fruit early. Our soft fruit and stoned fruit are all now over.

In the Dell the Cyclamen have started to pop up. Look carefully as the flowers are appearing before the leaves.

The Chamomile has been watered and is looking good but the Epimediums -surrounding the tree stump, have not had water and they have died back.

The water level in the Moat has dropped but the Water Lilies have thrived in the warmer conditions. Some will need to be removed before they cover the Moat. The Fish have enjoyed their shade in the hot weather and are responsible for nipping some leaves off which then float to a new site- originally there were just two sites.

Throughout the garden plants are either flowering, being dead headed, left to seed or turning into berries. Autumn plants are taking over with Asters and Dahlias coming into flower. The Japanese Anemone are flowering well and the Colchicums on the East lawn are in full flower.

We are promised that grass will re-green. On the West lawn, where we attempted to water, it is so and we have re- seeded some bare patches. On the East Lawn, which was never watered, what looked like grass is in fact weed and this will need a major overhaul over the next few weeks to return this to a reasonable lawn. And YES I do think it worth it but will research into the type of grass seed better suited for hot weather.

Leaves are beginning to take on their Autumn colour and this is particularly so when looking across the Moat from the West Lawn.

The Canna in the West lawn have been very disappointing. Some were left in the ground with a mulch and largely not reappeared. The ones that were dug up and replanted are flowering but “could do better”. It is very possibly the lack of water during the very hot weather? Perhaps it is us that “could do better”!

The Passionflower on the back wall is completely smothering the rose and Clematis.  It is happy there and very invasive needing to be cut back quite hard. However, the unusual flowers are delightful and will soon change to beautiful bright orange seed pods. The hack can wait.

I am delighted to report that the number of different birds spotted in the gardens has now reaches 44. The House Martins are still with us under the eaves of the Hall .

Squirrels are very busily collecting nuts and digging holes to provide their winter larder, Rabbits are busy scraping for a cooler lie and the Sheep continue to munch

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Welcome,

At last, the long -awaited rain and with it a sigh of relief.

In the Vegetable Garden some plants have bolted at the first opportunity, and others will have toughened but we have endeavoured to give enough water to keep them cropping – despite the hosepipe ban

Stoned fruit is ripening with Plums -almost finished, and Greengages and Damsons. It’s been a good cropping year for Apples but sadly the trees have dropped quite a lot of fruit as they hadn’t enough water to support them. We are now beginning to collect them to make our Apple juice which we freeze for the Winter. It’s a bumper year for Sloes in the hedgerows and the Figs have been prolific.

Tomatoes have been disappointing this year- mainly because the name on the seed packet differed to the plants that grew! Tom thumb has grown happily outside but in the Greenhouse, we always grow a large beefsteak tomato called Marmande- not this year!!

The Delphiniums amongst the Iris bed flowered well but after cutting them down and feeding not many have emerged for a second flowering.

The Buddleja on the Moat banks have been superb, and all been dead headed.

In the Fish ponds the water level has fallen, and the ground has been so dry that cracks have appeared and we have had to fill rabbit scrapes for safer walking.  The reeds have been nibbled by the black Hebridean sheep on the pond edges but in the water, Lilies have thrived and will need attention to prevent them blocking the ponds.

The water in the Moat and Bog garden has never been so low, and the stream is reduced to little more than a trickle.

Chelone is the name of the pink flowers on the edge of the Bog Garden and the tall plant with paddle shaped leaves is a Thalia.

The dead heading has slowed and a lot of time is spent collecting seed and taking cuttings. Earlier dead heading of the roses has resulted in many of them coming into flower again and the geraniums which were cut to the ground in the gravel in the West lawn are re surfacing with the rain.

In the West lawn look for the Eucomis or “Pineapple Lilly”. The name comes from the Greek eu (good/beautiful) and Kome (hair). It refers to the tufts that appear on the top of the spike of star shaped florets- beautiful hair. The other name “Pineapple Lilly”, references the striking pineapple-like flower spikes. From top to bottom an interesting plant.

Four new birds were added to our list of different birds spotted in the gardens by visitors. We have now reached 43 !!

Rabbits are busy making scrapes everywhere – either to mark their territory or to expose cooler earth to make a comfortable place to lie in, Squirrels are busy collecting nuts and burying them and birds are removing the sheep wool from the sides of the Urns –but  why?

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Welcome

At last the rain!

 Huge dumps are just what the garden needed, and the grass is starting to green up. For some plants- such as the Wisteria, the heat has seen them thrive, for others, such as the Epimediums, it has been a disaster

In the Vegetable garden we are picking Chard, Runner Beans, Beetroot, Salad crops, and Squashes The Potatoes have been dug up and are smaller than usual due to lack of water. The Onions have been dug and are upside down in the Greenhouse. They have enjoyed the hot dry weather and have cropped well.

The Yellow rose climbing up the Ginkgo tree outside the Greenhouse is Mermaid and this is its second flowering. The Dell has enjoyed its shade in the hot weather but the

Epimediums around the base of the old tree stump have not fared well. They never are watered so it must be the heat rather than the lack of water?

Take care walking the path through the Daffodil area. Rabbits/ Squirrels seem intent on digging holes along its length.

There are fish in the Moat, and the water level is of concern. The Water lilies have thrived and the Fish swim beneath them. Some leaves look nibbled.

In the Fishponds the larger ponds are fine but the small ones are low. The Sheep have been eating the reeds on the water’s edge but sadly don’t touch the thistles!!

In the Bog Garden the water has not been this low for at least 35 years. The lack of water has given us the opportunity to weed out the Bull Rushes and Reeds which threatened to take over this area. There is a lot of colour with the red Lobelia, yellow Ligularia, pink Chelone and Purple Loosestrife

The Thalia, with its tall spear-shaped leaves has dropped seed into the mud where shoots are appearing.

The Geraniums in the gravel at the bottom of the West lawn were cut down after flowering and are now reappearing. The Passion Flower on the back wall is in flower and the plants in front are Ginger (Hedychium) which we overwinter with a mulch

Please admire from afar -but try to avoid walking on the edge of the East lawn where the purple Colchicums are appearing. Sometimes call Naked ladies, these members of the lily family flower before their leaves appear and it is difficult to spot them.

 The Fruit Trees are well established and apart from the Quince in the Wild Garden have all cropped well-the Plums and Figs have been prolific Apples are falling to the ground as the trees discard excess fruit but there are still plenty waiting to ripen.

A very mixed report at this stage in the garden. Some plants flourishing some meeting their demise. It will be interesting what the Autumn weather brings but whatever it is, there will be winners and losers from the heatwave of 2026. We might not change but we could need to adapt.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Welcome

Still no forecast for rain and we are gradually adjusting to the heat- starting work earlier and sometimes working in the evening. We have had to select what gets watered as there are too many plants to water individually. The Vegetables take priority as they are annuals, but the Globe Artichokes, Rhubarb and Asparagus must take their chance, and we hope their roots are deep enough. The Figs have been stupendous and flourished in the heat.

In the garden the Pots get watered, and we are trying to water the newer roses – all this with watering cans so quite laborious.

Some of the plants are beginning to change to their Autumn colours – the large Parrotia Persica in the Daffodil area is already colouring.

In the Bog garden the water level is low but there is water and the Lobelia and Ligularia are flowering.

The Autumn Border and the Water Garden both enjoy the shade offered by the giant Holme Oak and Whitebeam trees. The Oak leafed Hydrangea fare better than most hydrangeas in these hot conditions. Beside the path in the water garden and facing North they continue to flower long after their companions of  Hosta and Hemerocallis.

Blue is a colour, not often seen in the summer garden. Currently we have. Agapanthus, and Ceratostigma -at the bottom of the West Lawn with blue flowers and leaves which turn to aubergine.  Perovskia -is thriving in the sun as too the Hibiscus in the Water Garden.

Canna, which one might have thought would love this weather, have been very disappointing. The ones left in the ground to over -winter have not reappeared- despite a mulch, and the ones transferred from the Greenhouse, where they spent their winter, are not looking as if they will flower this summer. A similar story for the Ginger (Hedychium gardnerianum) along the back wall of the West lawn.

The Nut Walk is a shady area to walk-said to be for the ladies of the House to exercise without the sun touching their fair skins. Next to that is the Wild Garden left for the Hedgehogs who are sheltering there from the sun. The ancient Mulberry has prospered in the heat producing lots of berries but the Quince in that garden is in a poor way.

The hedge along the Moat has been cut using ladders, saws, ropes and a boat- follow us on Facebook to see.

The Sheep in the Fishponds have resorted to eating reeds to get their nourishment now that the grass is brown

A huge amount of House Martins are circling around and their nests can be seen under the eaves of the Hall. This week we have seen Yellow Wagtail, Green Woodpeckers, and Hummingbird Moths, whilst Herons are back in the Fishponds.

Stay healthy and good gardening

LyndaTucker

Welcome,

The dry weather continues and so too the need for water. We can use our Bore hole and water from the Moat- both of which are low and are used as little as possible. Certain plants, such as Vegetables, are annuals and would die without water. Others, we must hope their roots are deep enough, and they will survive as we cannot water everything. I never dreamt I would look forward to rain!!

We are digging up our Potatoes- Charlotte, and whereas we usually leave them to dry are putting them into sacks straight away.

The herbs have been cut down but some are ready for a second trim, and the Fig tree is enjoying the weather and is covered with Figs.

We have placed Frames to support Cucurbits- such as Tromboncino. When young, up to 1ft, this can be picked as a courgette but technically it’s a variety of squash and if left to grow can reach 1 metre.

The Lavender has been cut down and the Summer fruiting Raspberries, the Asparagus and Rhubarb are left to die back.

The Greenhouse is full of Tomato plants although some of the seeds seem not to be what they said on the packet.

The Buddljea on the Moat bank is a mass of butterflies and bees and you might notice the nice perfume the plants give off.

The water level in the Bog garden is low. Thalia dealbata is the name of the tall plants with long stalks and purple flowers that grow there.

Cutting the back of the hedge situated between the Moat and drive is a difficult operation involving a skilful operator with ladders in the Moat and a boat to take the cut branches away.

The Crinums are in flower at the front of the Hall and the Magnolia Grandiflora at the side of the Porch. The rose in flower on the side wall is Leverkusen- a repeat flowering rambling rose.

The self-seeding geraniums in the gravel at the bottom of the West lawn have been cut down but are about to flower again. The beautiful seed heads are from the Nigella (or love in a mist) and the Eupatorium has seeded itself from the other side of the Moat.

The wild Garden has been left uncut because of the hedgehogs sheltering there from the heat. The Mulberry tree planted there has never had so much fruit and has thrived in the heat.

Despite the heat the Moat has remained clear of algae and you will see the Carp taking the insects off the top of the water.

Take time to listen to the birdsong, smell the roses and look at the plants-

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker