Garden Diary

Welcome to March

The ground is completely waterlogged as it seems to have rained 6 days out of 7 this year. As well as that we have been putting in a new watering system.  The Greenhouse area and the Car Park are scarred by trenches which will all have to be filled, made good and seeded before we open on the 24^th!!

The unheated Greenhouse is full of overwintering plants but we will soon have to make space when we move the Oleander from their winter protection in the Coffee Shop. We have started seed sowing, but the cold and low light levels have meant slow germination. We have a lot of seeds to sow as our vegetable seeds start in the Greenhouse and get planted out when they are large enough to survive our wildlife. We will wait for some warmer weather before we continue.

“If you can create a garden that’s good for Wildlife it’s good for you” to quote Monty Don. Interesting. We host mice, rats, rabbits, moles, muntjac, pigeons, and pheasant so I ‘m not 100% on that.

Sprouting Broccoli was sown in the Fruit cage for protection and we are reaping the benefits now, and Leeks have been good as birds/mice seem to avoid them.

Potatoes are chitting in the house and fleece has been put down to warm the soil before they get planted out.

The Snowdrops have been spectacular this year and now the Daffodils are coming up. After the Narcissus Pseudonarcissus in the Wild Garden we have the lovely little Tete a Tete lining the path to the Stream Garden. With over 49 varieties we have many daffodils to look forward to but sad to report not one pink!

It has been impossible to get onto the flower beds as they are so wet and wheelbarrows are used instead of tractors to move compost etc. The Scilla, however, are flourishing and the West Lawn flower beds are a beautiful unintentional carpet of blue.

The Nut Walk and Roses have been pruned as well as those shrubs requiring winter pruning and now we are looking to feed and improve the soil wherever we can.

Lots of path edges to replace and general tidying before we open in 3 week’s time- after which there will be a weekly diary for the Garden Visitors – I hope to see you then.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Welcome to our February update.

With the days getting longer thoughts turn to Spring but there is still so much yet to do in the garden !

Plants are dormant, and that is the perfect time to give some of them a good haircut. I have been pruning the Weeping Pears by the Bog Garden – a cut that can only be made whilst they are dormant- a lesson I will not forget!  A huge amount of this seasons growth was removed to tighten up their shape.

The Gardener has spent over 2 weeks skilfully tying branches in the Nut Walk. Because of the hot summer the new growth has been shorter which makes it a more fiddly process -but he was able to let rip with a hedge cutter on the Pleached Hornbeam which has grown sufficiently to be cut as a hedge on stilts.

Walking round the garden the smell of Daphne Buhola and Witchazel draw you towards them-possibly intensified by the cold.

Aconites and Snowdrops are everywhere pushing up through a carpet of fallen leaves- the cycle continues.

With the roses pruned we can see their old wooden labels wired to the posts, not visible when they are in leaf. Still there is magic to be found in the garden- and not always from the plants.

The Vegetable Garden is producing Leeks and Sprouting Broccoli. It’s time to cover one or two Rhubarb to force them and at the end of the month we will be preparing the ground for this year’s plants.

Potatoes are being chitted inside and a few seeds sown in the Greenhouse -albeit covered with glass.

Our lone Goose is usually to be found on the Coffee Shop doorstep admiring his reflection in the window; but was in the Moat swimming with two Greylag Geese this morning.

The sheep are seeking protection under the hedges from the biting winds, but the birdsong has returned and a beautiful Kestrel was sitting on the top of the rose Pergola.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Welcome to the first of the winter monthly updates on the gardens 2026

The weather has been literally freezing and the Moat frozen. Some flurries of snow but mainly frozen ground and Icy winds.

The bird table in front of the kitchen window has been constantly occupied by Blue Tits, Coal Tits, Robins and Dunnock . The sheep happily munched on the redundant Christmas tree (not Yew) and 7 pheasants were settling on top of the Nut Walk to get out of the wind.

The Vegetable Garden has produced the last of its Cabbage and Cauliflower, but we are still picking Leeks and the Broccoli is looking very healthy. Surprisingly we have only just finished picking salad leaves.

In the garden bulbs are only just appearing. Aconites are late for us and only a very few tightly closed Snowdrops so far.

Hellebores are flowering well and we are removing

 just the odd dead leaves from the plants. This is halfway between the fashion of removing all the leaves, which make the plant flower stalks look naked, and leaving all the leaves, which can detract from the flowers if there are too many dead leaves. Muntjac or Rabbits need no encouragement to nip off the flower spike.

Daphne Buhola is in flower, the Viburnum have finished but the Witch Hazel is in tight bud.

It’s the time of year when we work on the Nut Walk . This involves some pruning but largely winding back the new growth into the framework. This usually

takes two weeks and the race is on to get it finished before the emerging Aconites come up and are trampled on.

Apart from finishing the rose pruning, the other gardening job at this time of year is pruning the two Weeping Pear. This is a very enjoyable occupation but requires warm hands to operate the secateurs so we will wait.

Despite recommendations I think it is too cold to sow seeds in our unheated Greenhouse so again we will wait for temperatures to rise – especially night time temperatures.

Nevertheless, the cold weather is very welcome and plants and animals are sensible enough to hunker down and wait for it to improve. It’s time to do the same.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda tucker

December 1^st is meteorologically the first day of winter and it certainly feels like it at Hindringham with driving rain and gale force winds.

The Vegetable Garden is still producing cabbages, leeks, cauliflowers, salad and beetroot. The very fine net we put over the cabbages has worked well and protected them from caterpillars. There is a little chard and some perpetual spinach.

The sprouting broccoli is about 4ft tall in the fruit cage and we will be looking forward to eating that in the Spring. The rest of the garden has had the old vegetation removed and the soil turned over.

Tomatoes and Chilli have been removed from the  Greenhouse; green tomatoes stored in brown paper bags where they will ripen, and their foliage composted. It is now home to the tender plants and the Cymbidiums which have spent the summer outside and will be brought into the Hall when the buds appear.

The flower borders have been cut down and we have started pruning the roses. We always try to do this before Christmas as Feb/March is a very busy time in this garden.

Our main task currently is taking out the very old hedging on the boundary and replacing with beech whips. This will then match with the areas we replaced about 4 years ago which are now 4ft high. We removed the old hedging with machinery and then dug out any remaining roots. We use a sheet of geotex (to supress the weeds) which we pin down then double plant into. Finally we add supports and rabbit guards for each whip. Later we will add a perforated hose in the middle of the two lines as there is a big danger of underwatering in the first few years of growth.

Great flocks of jackdaws and rooks are flying overhead and the lambs have been moved to the Car Park in preparation for their trip to the great pasture in the sky. The Heron still visits as well as lots of lovely Tits and Robins always appear where we are working. We frequently see Squirrels including one which seems to have lost it tail.

Time to pick the ivy and Holly and use the dried Hydrangea heads with Honesty to start on the Christmas decorations.

Wishing you all that you would wish yourselves-

STAY HEALTHY and GOOD GARDENING

Lynda Tucker

Welcome

November already here and so much to do before winter really sets in. During these winter diaries I will be updating you on what is happening in the garden during the month. The weekly diaries will resume when the gardens open again in the spring.

To start, we have planted hundreds of crocus- some along the stream banks beside the drive and some beyond the tennis court before the arboretum. We have also planted 1.000 mixed narcissus beside the tennis court.  It’s an area that doesn’t get mown often and they can be left to die back gracefully.

We always have a problem with squirrels. One year we had over 150 tulips dug out of the rose bed at the front of the Hall. Last year we lost 100 alliums. This year we are planting quite deep ( 3”/6”) and toss the crocus/ tulips in Chilli powder or put coffee grounds on top to mask their smell. Tulips will be planted in pots ready to be put into the stone Urns in the Spring. These will have wire protecting them in the Cold Frame. The lovely red tulip, Peter de Leur, will be added to the bed beside the bridge to bulk up those already growing there.

All pots and containers with tender plants have been either put under cover or taken into the Greenhouse. Plants that haven’t been sold have been pruned and stored in the Cold frames.

We are continuing with the Beech hedge around the boundary. The new hedge, planted 3 years ago, has reached 4/5ft and is doing well. We are now using a machine to grub out the old mixed hedge and replant it with Beech to join up with the original Beech hedge on the southern boundary. Although the machine will remove the old hedge a lot of preparation will still be necessary to prepare the ground for planting. We will be planting into Geotex and staking and putting on tree guards- wind and rabbit protection.

The West lawn suffered badly from the summer drought. This has been scarified in 4 directions, seeded, over sown and top dressed. 8 pheasants were seen feeding there but thankfully have moved away.

The garden is still full of colour with Dahlia and Asters in full flower. Bees are very busily feeding on them building up reserves for the winter but one by one these beds will disappear as the plants go into their dormant period.

In the Vegetable Garden we have Cabbage, Salad plants, Parsnips, Leeks, Courgettes and Spinach. All the Squash and Pumpkin have been picked. One Pumpkin weighed 19kg and I am still staring at it in amazement. Some Squash are stored and others either distributed or frozen as soup, it’s been a bumper year.

So too for the apples. We have made gallons of apple juice by crushing the apples (the sheep enjoy the pulp) and freezing the juice in old plastic bottles. No additives and a delicious reminder of summer on a cold winter’s morning. One of the perks that make it all worthwhile!!

The skies have been black with Jackdaws, who, I am reliably informed, are roosting in the trees nearby.The Owls hooting in the dark remind us that territories are being reinforced and mates attracted- the circle of life moves on.

Stay healthy, keep warm and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Welcome,

With leaves still on the trees these strong winds over the weekend have come at a bad time. We have lost an old Pear Tree at the back of the fruit cage and an  Apple Tree in the Orchard. So far.

Do take care going round the gardens- especially under large trees.

In the Vegetable Garden we are picking Spinach and Chard, Salad Crops,  Rocket , Leeks and Squashes. The giant Pumpkins are being left to grow and the Beans left for their seed.

The Reeds and Sedge in the Fishponds have enjoyed the weather this year and during the winter will need thinning out to prevent them choking the ponds. N.B. the Water Lilies have come in with the water from the Moat -not planted by us.

We are getting the wonderful autumn colours. The large multicoloured tree in the daffodil area is Parrotia Persica, commonly called Persian ironwood and native to Iran and the Caucasus region.

The Daffodil Shrubbery is full of colours-  Golden Alder, Schumak, Amelanchier, Sambuca, Physocarpus Opulifolius and Cotinus Coggygria . It is  best seen looking across the moat from the West Lawn.

Asters and Dahlias are flowering in the Autumn Border -which is specifically planted for interest at this time of year. It is on a very dry bank- possibly because it is on top of the old road that went to Walsingham.   It is also North facing.

Pink Nerines are in full flower at the front of the Hall and the West lawn has orange Dahlia and Zauschneria and the pink arching stems of Lespedeza -all in flower.

 The  4 Oleander in pots will soon be moved inside for winter protection and the Urns too once they have finished flowering and before the frosts.

The moles have started digging again and the Muntjac has been seen in the garden. We have a new Hebridean Tup for the ewes, and the life cycle starts again.

The gardens close this week and there will then be a monthly Blog throughout the winter to keep you informed of what is happening in the gardens.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Welcome,

Colder days but with welcome rain there is still lots to see in the gardens

Sprouting Broccoli in the fruit cage is growing well but the Courgettes beside them have finished flowering and therefore fruiting. Squash and Pumpkins are growing fast and we place something between them and the soil to prevent contact which could cause rotting.

The Asparagus fronds are turning brown and will soon be cut down. The purple flowers of Apple of Peru and Verbena amongst them are self-sown and came in with the spring mulch.

Apples and Pears are having a bumper year. We have already made, and frozen, apple juice and the sheep have enjoyed the resultant pulped apples.

The Herb Garden has come back to life after the draught in the summer. The mint suffered badly from the hot dry conditions, whereas the thyme and sage thrived.

The Rhubarb is beginning to die back. It looks tempting but do not be fooled.

In 1993 there were two paths lined by 4ft high Box in the Vegetable Garden. The additional paths that you see have been edged  by cuttings from that Box. This year we have been affected by the fungal disease Box Blight. Where it has appeared, it has been removed and the Box treated and fed. The new growth in those areas give us hope that we have controlled it.

The tomatoes are coming to an end in the Greenhouse. We grow a variety called Marmande which is later to crop but good on flavour.

Leaves are falling form the Chestnuts in the Dell and feeding the soil which will aid the 100’s of snowdrops that will appear next year.

The Chamomile lawn in the centre of the Dell is perking up. It was planted 3 years ago to replace the large Chestnut that fell and opened up the leaf canopy. It requires on-going attention.

The pink and white flowers growing in the Water Garden are Schitzostylis – a native of South African river beds.

Pink Nerines line the wall beside the Hall and many of the roses are having a second flush.

White Colchicums are growing beside the Moat at the front of the Hall. The small yellow bulb beside the front door path is a winter daffodil (Sternbergia Lutea).

In the West lawn the orange flowers lining the path beneath the Pergola in the West Lawn are Zauschneria Ed Carmen.

At the bottom of the West Lawn the beautiful blue flowers of Ceratostigma plumbaginoides are appearing above its green foliage -which will later turn to aubergine .

Autumn is well and truly here when the beautiful Lespendeza thunbergii comes into flower. With its long arching branches covered with pink pea-like flowers it is a beautiful plant.

Owls hooting at night, horrible screeching from the Heron, beautiful Tits eating the insects-the nights are drawing in and the leaves falling- winter is on its way.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Welcome,

Autumn is here; temperatures and weather fluctuate, and plants adapt.

We are still picking some Beans and fruit but it is the cucurbits who are stretching out along the ground and producing Courgettes and Pumpkins.

We have harvested leeks, potatoes, and onions; sweet corn failed this year. Grapes thrived, and we picked hundreds of figs. Apples are now stored or pulped for frozen apple juice.

There is a definite crunch under foot from the fallen leaves and the trees are turning to their autumn colours.

White berries are on the Arbutus tree in the Daffodil area overhanging the path. Currently white, but they will soon ripen to red – hence their common name Strawberry Tree.

The Moat’s water level has dropped in the Bog Garden, but the plants remain healthy.

Termites have attacked the ladies legs (bifurcated tree trunk) on the edge of the Bog Garden. Admire whilst you can -it won’t survive much longer.

The Hemerocallis lining the stream in the Water Garden have been dead headed and tidied up. The leaves are still green and will be cut down later when the weather deteriorates further.

The Ajuga in the bed at the end of this path have been lifted, divided and then replanted in the space where we lost a shrub through Honey Fungus. There was an outbreak about 4 years ago which we thought we had controlled and then dug in corrugated iron sheets either side of the area. The ajuga is used as ground cover in this bed which is now predominantly a Spring bed with dwarf daffodils and tulips.

Deadheaded Roses are producing a second flush of blooms and the Japanese Anemones are in full flower.

The Nerines beside the front of the Hall are bright with colour. Two weeks ago, this bed was a disaster with the plants suffering from the drought and the foliage had turned brown. We removed those leaves, and I am surprised and delighted by their recovery.

Passionflower are covering the Clematis and Roses on the wall at the back of the West Lawn, and the Dahlias and Asters are coming into flower- earlier than those in the Autumn Border which get less sun.

Masses of squirrels in the gardens burying their nuts.

Take care walking on the grass.  Rabbits have been busy making scrapes which offer a degree of camouflage and a comfortable resting spot above ground.

 The widowed goose is still eating the Crab Apples in the Daffodil Shrubbery and there are some Tortoishell Butterflies and Humming Bird Moths feeding on the Verbena Bonariensis.

Red Kites fly overhead and owls hoot at night.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Welcome,

With the lovely autumn weather continuing the garden is taking on a second life

In the Vegetable Garden the Box has been sprayed for Box Blight and this week will have a feed.

The sprouting broccoli in the frame has been supported for winter and should be ready to harvest by late winter. However, we have had a first pick already- your guess??

Squash and Pumpkin are rollocking away and salad crops and leeks are doing well. The Figs have finished but the grapes on the back wall are doing well. Variety- Lakemont, small but no pips and deliciously sweet.

Apples are having a good year, and the excess is either stored or mushed to make apple juice.

In the Asparagus bed beside the Moat Verbena and Apple of Peru came in with our compost and are currently in flower.

The “step over apples’ were scraping the ground and we have now raised their support posts. Now they are more climb over than step!!

In the Herb garden- nasturtiums, marigolds etc all need dead heading. Where they have gone to seed, I scrape the ground around them and distribute their seeds.

Leaves are falling and carpeting the Dell.  On the mounded old tree stump we have fuchsia flowering amongst the Epimediums.

Please tread carefully in the Dell as the emerging Cyclamen are difficult to spot.

With the departure of nesting birds, we are now able to proceed with hedge trimming within the daffodil area.

The Autumn border is slow to flower but Asters are in bud and the Sedum beginning to take on their autumn colour.

Schitsostylis ( both pink and white) gives bursts of colour to an otherwise green Water  Garden- but look back and note the different shades and textures of the plants growing there.

Flower heads are left on the Hydrangea as winter protection but we have dead headed Hemerocallis and Hosta in the Water Garden to save their energy from producing seed. The planting has been achieved by lifting and dividing and I shudder at the cost had they been bought individually?

The Moat is looking beautifully clear of algae- wonderful reflections

In the West Lawn along the wall the orange seed heads and unusual flowers of the Passion Flower are in full bloom.

Pink Anemone, Oleander and Sedum are joining the orange Dahlia, Cosmos and Zauschneria.

We have replaced our Ram with a pure Hebridean who seems to have settled in well with the sheep.

Moorhens must have had a second brood as there seem to be a lot in the garden- along with the Squirrels

Look out for the Hummingbird moth which has been seen amongst the Verbena in the gravel in the West Lawn and we still have some large Carp in the Moat -despite the Heron and Cormorant.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Welcome,

We are busy harvesting both fruit and vegetables from the garden.  The Beans have been very productive, but coming to an end. The Barlotti beans -on tripods, are left to go to seed and stored as such. Tomatoes are still producing well both in the Garden and Greenhouse. Squashes and Pumpkins will soon be ready to pick-we put supports beneath them to prevent contact between the fruit and the soil.

The Asparagus beside the Moat has been left until its feathery fronds turn brown at which time it will be cut. The Verbena and Apple -of -Peru (Nicandraphysalodes)  growing amongst it are both self-seeded and came in with our garden compost. The Figs are coming to an end after are very fruitful year.

The Rhubarb we stopped picking weeks ago, as older stalks take on a bitter taste, and this will soon be cut down. The Step-over– apples are “Scrumptious”(they are not) and this week we will be raising the height of their supporting posts to lift the apples off the soil.

The rose continuing to flower through the Ginkgo tree outside the Greenhouse is Mermaid.

Try to keep to the paths in the Dell as the Cyclamen are just emerging from the ground and easy to squash.

 In the Bog Garden the Bullrushes and Reeds were encroaching on the Water Iris and Grasses and these have all been removed.  The Thalia – with its tall purple flowering spikes has enjoyed this year’s conditions and outgrown its space. This will be divided in the Spring.

In the West lawn pink and orange are the dominant colours with Dahlia, Canna  and Zauchenaria (lining the path beside the moat). Blue flowers make a welcome sight with the appearance of the low growing Ceratostigma plumbaginoides whose leaves will later turn to aubergine.

Plants are continuing to self-seed from the flower beds into the gravel at the bottom of the West lawn. The lawn has suffered terribly from the dry hot summer and will be a major resowing job once the gardens close in October.

Do take time to see the Quince tree in the Wild garden-we have never had such a bumper crop.

Wildlife remains abundant. The widower goose now lives in the Daffodil area, feeding from the Crab apple tree, while the white duck sometimes perches on top 0f the Yew by the bridge. Go to our Instagram page for proof!!

Lynda Tucker