Garden Diary

Welcome

The black Hebridean Sheep have been moved to the Car park where they are enjoying the shade of the large Chestnuts and mowing the grass for us.

As you entered the garden you might have noticed a rose in full bloom on the wall of the Coffee Shop. It is Keith Maughan and was named by Peter Beales Roses after an Attleborough school master who died young.

The cream spikey plants growing beneath this sign are Sisyrinchium striatum.

The Vegetable Garden is full of plants. We are harvesting our first potatoes (Charlotte) and will need the space for vegetables waiting to be planted out. The Sprouting Broccoli has finished, been taken out, and replaced by seedlings for next year’s harvest.

We have taken our last Asparagus spears and will now allow the plants to go to seed.

The Globe Artichoke, at the back of the Garden, are enjoying this hot sunshine and creating a striking display with their towering sculptural foliage

The Herb Garden is au point and the standard gooseberries full of fruit. I am waiting until after visitors leave on Wednesday to cut back the herbs as they are looking so good.

The Greenhouse is now planted up with Tomatoes. We grow a beefsteak variety called Marmande which is later than others but wonderful flavour.

If you are lucky you might even hear the bees on the Catmint lining the Iris bed, there are so many.

Daffodils are dying back and we are waiting a little longer before cutting them down. Before that we will give them a feed this week.

As you cross the stone bridge you cannot miss the scent of roses that hits you. Albertine on the wall, Rose de Rescht at the foot together with Dianthus Devon Wizard. They pack a powerful punch.

Roses are magnificent everywhere and if there is a particular one you would like the name of you will find it on the tea towel map of roses in the Coffee Shop,

The gravel at the bottom of the West lawn is full of self seeded plants but we will need to remove some of the Ox Eye daisy which are taking over.

After walking round the Hall, rather than returning via the Vegetable Garden, a walk down the drive and along the pleached Horbeam gives a good view of the beautiful old Hall.

Over 30 birds heard in the gardens and do please add to the list in the Coffee Shop if you have heard another. Muntjac and junior have been seen in the gardens plus rabbits, squirrels, small butterflies and so many bees; with at least one large toad having a feast in the Cold frame.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Welcome,

Very unexpected heat for May and some plants are loving it, others not so much.

In the Vegetable Garden, on a south facing slope, we need to water where new plants have recently been added. They will have been hardened off before planting out from the Greenhouse, but this heat could soon shrivel them.

The Globe Artichokes in the bed at the top of the Garden however, are flourishing and looking as if there will be a massive harvest all at the same time!!

The Iris in the Iris bed are largely over and the Nepeta at the front is hiding their demise but the Delphiniums in that bed are still to flower.

The Dell has its tree canopy now and offers a shady place to walk. In the centre, where a huge Chestnut blew over about 5 years ago the site is now open and gets some sun. Betula Jacquemontii have been planted there with a Chamomile Lawn and are fenced for rabbit and Deer protection.

The Daffodils in the Daffodil area are left to die back but the large Paulownia (Foxglove tree) beside the path is struggling. If you touch the branches, you will hear a loud rattling from its seed pods. Planted about 25 years ago It was magnificent last year and is still alive so fingers crossed it will recover.

The iris in the Bog Garden are flourishing. We have 3 varieties-Psedacorus Variegata, Gamecock and Lady Lava. We also have Iris Pseudacorus or Yellow Flag Iris. We struggle to remove it as it is invasive. Plants removed are planted alongside the Moat and help to prevent water erosion where the banks are not walled. They are currently in flower.

Other plants coming into flower are the Water Lilies. These all grew from some plants given me by a friend who was thinning out her very small garden pond about 15 years ago

There are 3 types of Hosta lining the path to the Water Garden but look back to see the Wisteria in flower on the bridge and the erigeron growing on the brick walls. If you look across the small stream you will see the Geranium growing on what we believe was an old water mill and growing with no soil at all.

Crossing the bridge the rose on your right is Pink Bells -sold as a ground cover rose. The scent comes from Rose de Rescht growing in the rose bed in front of you and the beautiful rose Albertine on the wall behind.  Enjoy whilst you can as this lovely rose, bred in France pre-1921, flowers for a short time and doesn’t repeat.

The West lawn, and the gravel bed beyond, are full of colour but do not miss a walk up the cool shade of the Nut Walk.

The spring bulbs in the Wild Garden have all died down and it is now a mass of Ox Eye Daisy. The largest old tree is a Mulberry.

After circling the Hall you might enjoy a walk back down the drive and along the Pleached Hornbeam, where you will find very good  views across the Moat to the Hall.

I hope you stop to listen to some of the birdsong in the garden. In the Coffee shop you will see the list of over 30 birds spotted in the garden and visitors are welcome to add to it.

The sheep have been moved to the overflow Car Park to mow the grass there and they will enjoy the shade from the large Chestnut trees.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Welcome,

Work continues in the Vegetable Garden sowing and planting our summer veg. The Strawberries are in flower and the Globe Artichokes have had their first pick. The Asparagus is coming to an end and we need to think about making a new bed next year as this one is over 15years old.

By the Greenhouse the white low growing evergreen cistus lining the path is Monspeliensis and the bank in front is planted with Seneccio.

The Dell is now fully covered by its leaf canopy except in the centre where we lost a large chestnut in a storm. This area is planted with Silver Birch – Jacquemontii with Chamomile beneath.

The Daffodil area is now full of Cow Parsley which covers the dying daffodils. The bright yellow laburnum is in full flower but the large, beautiful Paulownia is not looking too happy.

The Iris in the Bog Garden are beginning to flower- the first being the Variegated Pseudacorus Variegata. This area is continually under water, loved by the marsh marigold which are now giving way to the white Zandescia and purple leaved Ligularia.

The Hosta and Hemerocallis are now up and fully lining the path beside the stream. Originally we had a few plants and continual lifting and dividing has created what you see now- even with spares available for sale by the Coffee Shop.

R.Banksaia Lutea is the yellow rose on the front of the Hall and the white rose just coming into flower is Rambling Rector.

The West Lawn is bulking up but we are still waiting to see signs of the Dahlia, Canna and Ginger which we over winter in the ground.

 Too soon for us to do a “Chelsea Chop” as we are a little behind the flower show schedule.
The gravel at the bottom of the West lawn is suddenly full of plants- very pleased to see the self sown thrift not so keen to see the Ox eye Daisy which if we are not careful will take over.

In the Coffee Shop you will see the list of 30 birds spotted in the gardens last week by guests in the Holiday Cottage- if you spot any more do please add them. As yet we haven’t heard the Cuckoo.

We had 30 Hebridean Lambs this year, the Grey lag Geese are still with us and something is chopping the tops off the Phlox  in the West lawn !!

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Welcome,

In the Vegetable Garden Potatoes have been earthed up and we are picking Rhubarb, Spinach, Asparagus  and Chard.

The Peas and Climbing Beans have been put onto their supports . We use perforated hoses around the frames to get the water directly onto their roots.

The Runner Beans have been sown but are still in the Greenhouse along with the Cucurbita and Sweet Corn.

The Globe Artichokes at the back of the garden are almost ready to pick.

Cistus Monspeliensis is the name of the low growing shrub along the path near the Greenhouse. This is an evergreen plant which we replenish from cuttings taken after flowering.

The Daffodils are now left to die back but sadly the large Paulownia, in the Daffodil area, is struggling. This is also known as the Foxglove tree and last year was covered with wonderful pale lilac blooms. It produced masses of seeds and this should have been a warning as there are very few leaves on it this year. With this in mind we planted another Paulownia to its right which looks as if it will flower this year.

The white flowering shrub on the path beside the stream is Choisya and it has a wonderful scent.

The yellow rose on the front of the Hall is one of the earliest roses-R. Banksiae Lutea and the plant with multicoloured leaves growing on its right is an Actinidia.

Bamboo Canes in the beds on the West Lawn mark where Dhalia and Canna should be appearing but so far, the cold has kept them underground.

In the Orchard (by the Coffee Shop) look for the Tamarisk with its large plumes of light pink flowers and further on the Flowering Ash ( Fraxinus Ornus) with its showy panicles of fragrant creamy-white flowers.

Pause and listen to the birdsong in the garden, the Grey Lag Geese have hatched their brood, the Hebridean Sheep continue to munch and take care walking on the East Lawn as the rabbits/ Squirrels are having a field day!!

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Welcome

On the week internationally celebrating the Dawn Chorus (which marks the peak of Spring Birdsong) here’s a few that you might hear when visiting today- Willow Warbler, Green Woodpecker, Buzzard, Grey lag Goose, Mallards, Wagtails, Robins and various Tits. If you hear any others please let us know.

The Vegetable Garden is very busy with new plantings. The fleece has come off the potatoes and they are being earthed up. We are picking Asparagus, Rhubarb, Spinach and Chard.

The Greenhouse is filling up with seedlings grown inside until large enough to survive the elements and animals.

The Iris bed is a mass of beautifully scented white Iris. They are always the first to flower for us but already a clump of smaller very scented aubergine Iris have started to flower.

As you enter the gate of the Daffodil area, on your left is the beautiful Dipelta Yunnanensis natïve to Tibet and south central china. With its arching branches of pale brown bark with small clusters of funnel -shaped white scented flowers, tinged dark pink and marked orange at the throat.  The Bees go right inside the trumpet flowers to get their nectar.

The bright yellow Laburnum is in flower but be aware that all parts of this tree are poisonous.

Rosa banksiae Lutea is the rose trained along wires at the front of the Hall. This is a rambling rose and the great gardener Rosemary Alexander said it was the first time she has seen it grown this way.

On the side wall of the Hall is Actinidia Kolomikta native to the Eastern Asiatic Region. It has random patches of pink variegated leaves and is grown for its foliage rather than its inconspicuous flowers. The leaves always remind me of an artist’s palette.

The West Lawn is still recovering from last summers drought despite having had a lot of attention. We shall have to consider a watering programme if the forecasted rain doesn’t amount to much.

Please take care when walking on the gravel at the bottom of the West lawn. It has a lot of self -seeded plants and some are just appearing above the gravel. The plants are seeding everywhere in the gravel whereas in the beds there are areas where it looks as if nothing is growing. The danger at this time of year is putting in a fork only to discover you have driven through a plant yet to emerge. Patience is a virtue in the garden!!

Do take care where you tread on the East lawn where several small holes have been dug by the squirrels.

The orchard is worth a visit – it has the tulip White Triumphater and blue Camassia growing through the long grass and the apple trees are in flower. The blue flowering climbing plant on the old water pump is a Plumbago-native to South Africa.

The Hebridean sheep continue to contentedly graze the Water Meadow and Fishponds- 30 lambs this year!!

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Look for the Bee!!!

Welcome

The warmth of the sun has brought the gardens to life and it’s a very busy time sowing, weeding and planting.

Behind you, the Orchard is worth a visit. The fruit trees are in flower and the Camassia and Tulips (white triumphater) are growing in the grass which we leave uncut. The tulips were planted at least 3 years ago and usually their flower heads are bitten off by rabbits and so it is a bonus to see them in flower this year.

The fleece is off the Potatoes, and they have been earthed up. Asparagus and Rhubarb are being picked along with Chard and Spinach. To avoid damage from wildlife our Vegetables are mainly started off in the Greenhouse and then planted out.

To make way for all the seed sowing, plants, protected during the winter in the Greenhouse, have been moved outside. Tomatoes have been sown and will eventually be grown in the beds inside the Greenhouse and the Vegetables, sown in the Greenhouse, planted outside.

Lots of Bluebells in the Dell and the Daffodils in the Garden left to die down.

The large Paulownia in the Daffodil area is slow in coming into leaf this year but we have a reserve planted just behind it and that is in leaf.

The yellow flowers of Caltha Palustris (marsh marigold) are brightening up the Bog Garden.

The Wisteria is in full flower against the south facing walls of the Hall and the orange plant on the ground by the Porch is a Helianthemum.

As you enter the West Lawn look across the Moat at the bright yellow rose Canary bird which is in full flower. It’s a shrub rose which I have seen grown as a small tree and tho not defined as repeat flowering, if it’s happy, it might produce more flowers in September.

Please try to avoid walking on the gravel next to the Moat at the bottom of the West Lawn. There is a path. Later in the year this will be a mass of self sown plants but at this time of year they are just coming through the gravel.

The beautiful double white Cherry in front of Moat House has been in flower for two weeks. We planted it about 25 years ago. By contrast the pine trees on the East Lawn, are about 100 years old.

If you walk back to the Car Park via the Pleached Hornbeam look for the tree with bandages. Last year this tree was dying (always must be the one in the middle!!) and I asked advice from an old nurseryman. It had been well watered and there was no sign of disease on its neighbours. He suggested putting honey onto bandages and wrapping them round the trunk and this was done in August/September? The tree is not as vigorous as the others but it is alive and in growth so we shall see.

The sheep are happy wandering between the Water Meadow and the Fishponds, the Grey Lag are busy hatching their eggs and keeping everyone else off the Moat, the Mallard is down to two ducklings from 9 and there are lots of small butterflies and very large bees in the garden.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Welcome,

The garden is bursting into life and suddenly there is a rush to sow, plant and weed.

The Vegetable Garden is being prepared with supports for climbing vegetables put into place. The fleece, which has been protecting the chitted potatoes, is ready to be packed away and we have started picking the Asparagus. We still have some Sprouting Broccoli and Spinach but the Leeks are getting a little tough. We are trying something new this year with the leeks by cutting off the tops but leaving the roots in place. I have been told that 2 or 3 new stems will grow-no harm in trying as we don’t yet need the space ?

Elsewhere it’s been a bumper year for the Bluebells. As well as in the Dell they are popping up everywhere in the flower beds. That’s also true of the Dandelions and the combination of the two make a very pretty picture which is hard to disturb.

The Daffodil Area is coming to an end and the plants allowed to die down naturally but look carefully and Primroses, Celandine and Cowslips are growing up beneath.

The Primula are flowering in the Water Garden. The damp shade is perfect for the  Erythroniums;  the white have finished but the yellow “Pagoda “ is still in flower.

The evergreen Choisya is in flower along the Stream Path producing a very pleasant smell and if you look across towards the Compost area the Solomons Seal (Polygonatum) are in flower.

At the end of this path we planted red tulips- some have come up variegated and looking at the jagged cuts on the leaves of others we think Muntjac have eaten their flowers!

The black tulip has been very successful along the wall in front of the Hall and this will be followed by Aquilegia and eventually Nerines. The Walls have R. Penny Lane with Dorothy Perkins nearest to the Moat. Clematis Blue Angel is planted in between.

Orange is the dominant colour in the West lawn. The Wall flowers by the gate self-seed and the bright tulips in the beds are eye catching. The flowering columnar ornamental cherry in the corner is Amanogawa.

In the courtyard at the back of the Hall, tulip Ballade is in flower and its pretty pink tones echoed by the bi annual Wallflower and pink Lily of the Valley.

Grey lag geese have at least 3 nests in the gardens- all with eggs so if you see them please keep clear.

The sheep are happily munching the grass. They mainly drift between the Water Meadow and Fishponds, and you might see their tracks through the grass as they follow each other around. You might be lucky enough to hear the Woodpecker- you certainly won’t miss the Geese if they are disturbed!! Many many Tits and Wagtails and if you do see any unusual birds do tell us so that we can record it for other visitors to admire.

Forecast is for a spell of cold weather………

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Welcome

The recent warm spell has woken up the gardens. We are picking Asparagus but the Purple Sprouting Broccoli is coming to an end. We have fleece covering the potatoes (Charlotte) and supports are up for the beans. The onions have been planted and the spaces will be inter planted with beetroot and spinach.

The Greenhouse is full of seedlings starting life under protection before planting out.

Cheals Weeping Cherry is in flower by the Iris bed but needs support to prevent it falling over.

The Dell is changing from white (snowdrops ) to blue (Bluebells). Not entirely blue as we also have pink and white but all are welcome.

The Fishponds had machinery digging out the reeds which were blocking the ponds. The spoil had been placed on the banks and this is now an ongoing job to tidy up and sow some grass seed. Presumably in medieval times the fish kept the reeds under control?  Nowadays any fish in the ponds made their own way there and their numbers would not be high.

The Daffodils are coming to an end but there are still quite a few different ones to see. Paulownia is the name of the large tree beside the path in the Daffodil area – well worth a visit when it is in flower.

The Water Iris in the Bog Garden are budding up as are the Hosta and Hemerocallis lining the path beside the stream.

On the front of the Hall the Wisteria is coming into flower and the recently planted tulips along the wall are doing well.

Amanagowa is the name of the flowering Cherry on the West lawn and the tulips in the Urns are Princess Irene. The bamboo canes are an attempt to prevent further damage from the

Grey lag Geese when they smashed the tulips down to make a nest in the urn. They have successfully relocated to a spot more acceptable to our planting where they sit on 7 eggs.

The courtyard at the back of the hall is sheltered and the Paeonia are well advanced and the tulip, Ballade, is in flower. This bed has pink Lilly of the Valley.

There are lots of birds living in the gardens. The Green Woodpecker is particularly loud but there are Tits and Wagtails, Grey Lag Geese and the haunting night call of the Owl.

Stay heathy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Welcome,

The nights are still very cold and the wind can be cutting but the warmth of the sunshine has lifted our Easter spirits and I hope yours too.

In the Vegetable Garden the Sprouting Broccoli is going strong but we are coming to the end of the Leeks. Rhubarb is magnificent and we have seen the first Asparagus shoots appearing. Charlotte Potatoes are tucked up snuggly under the fleece.

Broad Beans and Onion sets have been grown in the Greenhouse, hardened off and now planted outside. We will “companion” plant the Onions with Beetroot and Spinach.

The Iris bed is interplanted with Delphinium to give continuity after the Iris have flowered. Catmint is planted at the front of this bed and this will cover a multitude of plants dying back.

The Dell, which once was a mass of white Snowdrops, now has Bluebells pushing up and ready to take over. Look for the delicate little white Anemone Nemorosa in the central island bed.

We have been clearing the reeds from the Fishponds and the soil was dumped on the banks. This will now be raked through to remove any reeds and sown with grass. We mow a path through the Fishponds otherwise it is left to the Hebridean sheep to keep the grass down.

The yellow Daffodils have largely finished but there are still lots of interesting varieties to see.

Water Iris are pushing up in the Bog Garden (we have 3 varieties) and the yellow Caltha Palustris is in flower.

The Clematis Armandii is just finishing flowering on the front of the Hall. The shrub in the gravel Infront is Spirea Bridal Wreath. This was here when we arrived in 1993 and I believe must have been in an old flower bed. This makes it 33+ years old!!

You will have followed the saga of the Grey lag Geese and the Tulip Urns on Facebook/Instagram but it does explain the presence of the bamboo canes.

The Wild Garden is well worth a visit. The Giant snowflake ( Leucojum Gravetye Giant)) are in flower along the Moat edge . It get its name from Gravetye Manor in Sussex and loves being planted near water. Fritillaria, Primula, Anemone Blanda and Caen are all in flower.

We have 28+ Hebidean lambs. Muntjac are regular night time visitors and Grey Lag Geese are bossing the Moat. Birdsong has picked up and we are seeing Wagtails and many of the Tit family. Magpies as well as many Raptors fly overhead and Robins appear whenever a fork is put into the ground.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Welcome,

We have been putting in new irrigation pipes and you will have noticed that there are areas of bare soil.  We are raking, sowing grass seed and in some areas, covering them with perforated plastic – which act as a mini greenhouse.

There is a lot of ducking and diving at the moment. Pots are being moved out of their winter protection to harden off, Oleander are being moved from the Coffee Shop to the Greenhouse to give them  protection for a little longer, germinated seeds are being moved from the Greenhouse to the Cold Frame to harden off and new seeds are being sown. Spring Is here!!

The Vegetable Garden is producing rhubarb, Sprouting Broccoli and Leeks. We have started putting in the supports for the Vegetables which are sown in the Greenhouse and then planted out.

The Daffodils are magnificent this year. In 2013 we opened for NGS this week and there were NO Daffodils out. The yellow Daffodils have been in flower for a while – the earliest are always the Narcissus Pseudonarcissus , followed by the miniature Tete a Tete. Both of which started flowering in February. The white and mixed colours tend to flower later. There are over 40 varieties of daffodils/Narcissus in the garden.

In the Dell the Bluebells are coming up and look for the lovely little white wood Anemone Nemorosa appearing in the central bed.

In the Bog Garden the Thalia Dealbata was spreading out of control. We covered it with wood chip for winter protection. When enough shoots appear we will lift and divide and replant. The yellow Caltha Palustris ( Marsh Marigold) are starting to flower.

The Primula are appearing in the Water Garden and the darker Drumstsick are looking particularly good. The Hellibores have been in flower since January and are still looking good.

On the front of the Hall the Clematis Armandi is coming into flower. You might smell the scent from its creamy white flowers as you cross the bridge.

On the east side of the Hall the Yellow flowers of the Mahonia have finished but the Euphorbia is putting on a splendid display with its large lime green flower heads. These are a good match for the yellow leaved Philadelphus Coronarius Aureus (mock orange) which is planted nearby.  Again, there should be scent.

We did a lot of work on the West lawn last Autumn. Scarified re seeded, top dressed, covered with clear plastic and now fed. It was a brutal dry summer last year and this wet Spring will have done no harm.

The tulip pots have been moved from their winter protection into the Urns. We are growing Princess Irene along with Wall flowers.

Stakes for support are being put into the flower beds as the plants push through and the Fritillaria are in full song.

The Wild Garden has been a mass of early daffs, Snowdrops and Aconites . Now it is the turn of the Anemone and Fritillaria.

The Fishponds were gradually being choked by reeds . We have cleared them out and they are currently banked on the edges of the ponds. The Dam sprang a leak which emptied the Fish Ponds and that has been repaired with copious amounts of clay so that the Ponds are now full again.

The Orchard, by the Coffee Shop, is worth a wander through the blossom. There are Camassia coming up through the grass and although the rabbits have chopped their leaves some of the tulips will survive. When we thin out the Daffodils in the gardens this is where we plant the excess, and these are the ones we pick.

The sheep started giving birth in early March and at the last count we had 26 lambs . The sheep are Hebridean and roam between the Fishponds and the Water Meadow.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker