Garden Diary

Welcome

We are enjoying the longer daylight hours but, unlike last year, we have had very little rain.

In the Vegetable Garden we are picking Leeks, Sprouting Broccoli, Rhubarb and the first Asparagus. The over wintered Spring Cabbages have been slow to mature. Our potatoes are in the ground, and we are busy putting in frames for the beans. Because we have so much wildlife nearly all our Vegetables are started off in the Greenhouse.

We still have a danger of frosts and Geraniums, and other summer plants remain protected in the Greenhouse. Along with the trays of seeds, space is at a premium.

In the Dell look out for the little white wood anemone- Anemone Nemorosa which is in flower and the Bluebells which are just coming up.

The Daffodils are enjoying the Spring sunshine. They don’t all flower at once which gives a continuous display and look for the Cowslips coming up amongst them.

The Bog Garden is a mass of Marsh Marigolds (Caltha Palustris) whose strong yellow flowers make a striking display.

Hosta and Hemerocallis are just appearing in the beds beside the path in the Water Garden.

The Clematis on the Wall at the front of the Hall is C. Armandii.

We are busy putting in supports for the plants in the West Lawn. Paeonies, Poppies and Delphiniums all need staking before they get too tall.

The Wild Garden is looking very wild and well worth a visit. A large band of Leucojum line the banks of the Moat.  It is a good year for Primroses, and they are popping up all over the garden but with the blue Anemone Blanda, Fritillaria and the last of the early Daffodils they make a pretty patchwork of colour.

We have put up warning signs by the East Lawn Shrubbery as a Graylag goose has chosen to nest there.  4 Urns of tulips were over wintered then put onto the West lawn. Another Greylag has chosen to nest in one of the Urns- completely ruining the tulips and one wonders how the goslings will make it out of the Urn to the ground.

We have 25 Hebridean lambs.  A shoal of 15 Carp was seen in the Moat but so far, no Heron nor Cormorant. There are Eels and Tadpoles in the Fishponds. Moles and Rabbits continue to cause havoc and the Muntjac are an ever-present threat. We are seeing lots of different Wagtails-Pied, Yellow and Grey

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Welcome

The sun has warmed the soil, and the garden is coming to life.

In the Vegetable Garden we are picking Chard, Rhubarb, Leeks and Purple Sprouting Broccoli. We are busy putting up the frames for the Vegetables and have planted our Early Potatoes.

We are gradually moving plants from the shelter of the Greenhouse and they are rapidly being replaced by trays of seeds.

The gardens are full of daffodils- we have 49 varieties. There are 26,000 varieties of cultivated daffodils- also known as Narcissus. At a glance daffodils might all look the same but with closer inspection you will notice not only the variations in colour but the length of the corona (trumpet), some have reflexed petals, some have small cups, some have split coronas (cups), some are double, some are scented, the size of the flower, the length of the stalk, some are multi stemmed. They come into flower at different times from February to late May and what looks like a bare patch may still have flowers to come so please keep to the paths.

In the centre bed of the Dell the lovely low growing white flower is Anemone Nemorosa or Wood Anemone. They are slow growing, and it has taken a while to get them established but the hope is that they will enjoy this spot and spread.

Primroses are in flower throughout the garden as is the blue Chionodoxa/Scilla – yellow and blue make a lovely Spring collaboration.

Hellebores are continuing to flower in the shade of the Water Garden but surprisingly they also seem happy in the sun at the front of the Hall?

The Clematis on the front of the Hall is Armandii which brings a welcome flush of colour at this time of year BUT if you are thinking of planting one, it does need space.

The tulips have come out of the Greenhouse and are in the Urns on the West lawn.

The Wild Garden is worth a visit with its spring bulbs. Please keep to the path as many more bulbs will soon be appearing. The large tree is an ancient Mulberry which still fruits well.

There is an issue with rabbits, so some shrubs are surrounded by a circle of wire for protection. Unfortunately, we have found this necessary for their first years whilst they get established.

The lambs are gambolling together in the Water Meadow. We have 20 lambs so far. With their mothers they move between there and the Fishponds mowing the grass.

The two Ganders have so far seen off the Grey Lag Geese and 15 Carp were spotted in the Moat by the bridge. We haven’t seen the Heron and Cormorant yet this year. Our first brood of Ducklings are swimming on the Moat.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Cl. Armandii @ Hindringham Hall Gardens

Welcome

At last the sun has brought the garden to life and the Spring Equinox means the days will be longer than the nights.

The Vegetable Garden is coming to life and frames put up for the summer vegetables. We are picking Rhubarb and the last of the Chard and Leeks. The Purple Sprouting Broccoli will soon be ready- it’s in the fruit cage to protect it from birds (next year we must do a better job of staking it.)

The Bay Trees have been moved back into the Herb garden from their winter protection.

Outside the Greenhouse we have Oleander and Tulips hardening off before being placed into the pots on the West Lawn.

In the Fish Ponds it is wet but if you keep to the paths you can wander round and read the history relating to the site.

The Daffodils are emerging. Please keep to the paths as they cannot always be spotted coming up in the grass The Yellow will appear first and then what looks like empty patches will soon have other varieties.

From the daffodil area look across the Moat to the Wild Garden where the Leucojum ( sometimes called Spring Snowflake) are lining the Moat

The water table is currently very high and the Iris in the Bog Garden are holding their own and the Marsh Marigolds just appearing.

Snowdrops have finished flowering by the Autumn Border but take time to wander up the steps beside the laurel into our secret hideaway.

Primula are flowering in the Water Garden and the Hemerocallis lining the path are coming up. The miniature daffodil Tete a Tete lining the end of this path always puts on a good show.

On the front of the Hall Clematis Armandii is in bud – usually flowering at the beginning of April.

Be prepared for the explosion of blue in the West Lawn where the Scilla have seeded themselves absolutely everywhere!

A walk through the Nut Walk will take you to the Wild garden. Again please keep to the paths as bulbs are emerging through the grass. The trees are Quince and a very old Mulberry. This garden is mown once a year and otherwise left. It is full of primroses, Fritillaria, Anemone Blanda and Nemerosa then Ox eye daisy and white Geranium. Sometimes we get Bee Orchids.

A muntjac trotted by us the other morning crossing from one bridge to the other before galloping off. Moles- as you can see, are a big problem as are the rabbits. Toads are coming out of the long grass and heading for the Moat. No sign of lambs but birds are singing, pigeons are noisily nesting and the owl at night is very audible- lots to look forward to.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

 Welcome back to our garden.

We have not been idle whilst closed with not only the plants to look after but general maintenance-old path edges to be replaced, trellis and wires supporting roses improved, the Potting Shed had a replacement safe second floor for more storage and stream sides replaced or shored up. For safety reasons 2 dead trees have been removed – (always need permission!) but sliced to make the new path to the Greenhouse and their bark chip put onto paths.

In the Vegetable Garden we are putting up supports for the plants being sown in the Greenhouse but we are still harvesting Chard, some Cabbage and we have already started eating the Rhubarb. Soon it will be time for the Purple Sprouting Broccoli – still growing in the raspberry cage where it is protected from the pigeons and pheasants.

The Greenhouse is full to bursting and we have just put outside the Tulip pots and Oleander to harden up before going into the Urns on the West lawn.

The Dell has been a beautiful mass of snowdrops with aconites and cyclamen. The Bluebells are already peeping through but the Camomile has again suffered from rabbits despite being fenced??!!

It’s daffodil time!. Our first Daffodil of the year is Narcissus Pseudocarissus which comes up in the Wild Garden then the lovely little Tete a Tete along the path beside the Stream. We have 49 varieties throughout the garden, the yellow appearing first and then the empty looking gaps filled by the white and multicoloured varieties. They start to flower in February then continue well into May but cannot be cut until all have died down- usually July, so we encourage Cow Parsley to hide the dying plants.

The water table is high at the moment and the Bog garden has its Iris under water. We have removed the Willow which fell into the Bog last season.

Hellibores are flowering in the Water garden and the early Primroses and Primula are appearing. While you are in this area don’t miss the steps into the Laurel Hideaway- which is where our old Compost Heap used to be, nor our newer Composting area.

The blue Scilla flowers are covering the soil in the West lawn, the Nut walk has had its annual MOT, and please keep to the grass path in the Wild garden where a walk through will take you down to the giant “Snowflake”- just coming into flower on the edge of the Moat, and past the anemone , fritillaria and primroses yet to appear.

“If you can create a garden that’s good for Wildlife it’s good for you” to quote Mont Don. Interesting. We host mice, rats, rabbits, moles, muntjac, pigeons, pheasant and currently grey lag geese and I don’t think we are always singing from the same hymn sheet.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Welcome to our garden

The freezing weather has at last given way to some warmth and sunshine at the end of February. It’s lovely to see Snowdrops and Aconites in flower

together here as the Aconites are usually a lot earlier. The snowdrops have been the best ever-possibly because of the cold weather? The Clematis too has been late to bud and I have been frustrated with secateurs in hand but having to wait.

The Kale has finished and they are being pulled up and given to the Sheep in the Fish Ponds.

We have used this time, when in our cold Greenhouse the night temperatures even prevented seed sowing, to get stuck into general maintenance. We have replaced path edges and strengthened the stream wall supports, renewed and tightened wiring along the walls for the roses and are in the process of replacing Sweet Pea and Vegetable frames. The Greenhouse has had silicone used to stop some of the leaks and the Visitors Lavatories a fresh coat of paint. New signs are being painted and old ones replaced and the Potting Shed given a good clear out.

There is a lot of purple in the garden at this time of year with the Iris Unguicularis and Iris Reticulata as well as the Crocus Tommasinianus Whitwell Purple. The Witch Hazel is also in Flower and Daphne Bholua- both scented.

There are a few Daffodils in flower but most are slowly emerging from the soil and we need to keep to paths to prevent squashing them- gardens open on 18^th March so fingers crossed they should be looking good for then.Once the gardens open there will be a weekly diary to guide you on what is looking good in the garden that week.

Lots of Rabbits, Moles and Squirrels in the gardens and definitely a Fox around. Too many Deer but so far no damage in the gardens and birds are now singing loudly at Dusk and lots of Twits feeding on the bird table- Spring is on its way!!

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Wecome

With Spring fast approaching the focus is on repair and preparation. The stream banks in the Water Garden needed re-enforcing and path edges replacing and we have had to add extra support to the roses along the path in the stream garden. There are still pruning jobs to be done- such as the Weeping Pear and fruit trees which are pruned at this dormant time of year and standing still whilst pruning is not the best occupation in these cold temperatures.

In the Vegetable Garden we are still picking Chard and Kale. We have lots of parsley. Normally we grow the flat leaved parsley but this year we grew the Curled headed variety which has been very robust. We have planted a new row of Raspberry canes and 2 Redcurrant bushes in the old Raspberry Fruit cage. There was a problem with bind weed in that bed and although we think we have removed it we shall have to keep an eye on it.

The Greenhouse is full of over wintering Fuchsias and Pelargoniums. We have an unheated Greenhouse, and it is bubble wrapped in the winter but even so we are delaying seed sowing as the temperature at night is still very low. Some of the Orchids have been moved into the house and are sending up a good number of flowering spikes – patience is required as we wait for them to open.

The wonderful Algerian Iris- Iris Unguicularis is flowering prolifically and making a welcome bright splash of colour. It has been planted at the base of walls and the more you pick the more the new flowers appear. In a vase it lasts barely 48 hrs but constant dead heading will keep the outside display in flower from November to February in this Garden.

 We have taken the opportunity of the “bare root” sales to bulk up the bank behind the Iris bed and dressed beds with Compost throughout the garden. All roses have now been pruned .

The Dell is looking pretty with a mass of Snowdrops and Aconites and we need to tread carefully around the garden as the daffodils are coming up through the grass.

The Witch hazel are in flower in the Daffodil Area and their scent wafts through the garden on the cold air. They are very slow growing and their freshly cut stems were used for water divining as well as in traditional medicines- “witch” hazel?

In a sheltered spot we have our first Primroses in flower and the pink flowers of Bergenia are appearing along the stream.

Sadly the Fox took the female of our new pair of Chinese Geese. They were a present to keep the old Embden gander company after his mate had been taken by a Fox. Now the widowers are company for each other, but we hope strong enough to resist further assaults.

The sheep seem contented roaming between the Fishponds and the Water Meadow and birdsong is very clear in the cold air- I wish I could identify them all.  However, we do have recognisable Robins and Tits feeding on the bird table outside the Kitchen window.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Iris Unguilularis

With Christmas fast approaching you are very welcome visitors to our online garden blog where the work in the garden continues.

The weather has been extraordinary in Norfolk changing from beautiful sunny- but very cold days, to gale force winds and the odd day of torrential rain.

In the Vegetable Garden we have removed the climbing vegetable frames and pulled up the Squash and Courgettes. We have dug the last of the Parsnips and Carrot but are still picking Kale, Chard and masses of flat leafed Parsley. Currants and the standard Gooseberries have been pruned and 3 new Redcurrant and 15 Raspberries planted in the original raspberry Fruit cage. We have still winter Cabbages and sprouting Broccoli but have given up on the late planted dwarf beans (a tv gardening programme tip) which stopped growing at the flower stage. We are about to cut down the Asparagus- which have only just turned brown, and we do like to dig over the beds after removing the vegetation.

We are cutting canes from the Nut Trees at the bottom of the Orchard before we do any damage to the carpet of Daffodils soon to be peeping through beneath them.

Jasmine is in full flower along the wall to the Potting Shed and the Orchids in the Greenhouse have lots of buds and will soon come into the house.

The Dell is brown with a covering of leaves which will mulch it beautifully and we are busy paying attention to our boundary hedges and clearing away unwanted vegetation around the roots.

The fallen Willow tree in the Bog Garden has at last been chopped into manageable slices and will be removed. The water table is high and we will wait before we work on this garden.

We are cutting down the flower beds and putting on a thick mulch on the Autumn Border. The Asters in this bed were very late flowering and we have reduced the height of the hedge and overgrown beech at the back to allow more light and sun into this North facing bed.

Nerines have just finished flowering in the bed along the wall at the front of the hall and we have planted 100 Tulip Queen of the Night. We have used a generous amount of chilli powder in the hope of deterring the squirrels. Time will tell. Also, at the front of the Hall we have pruned the large Magnolia which was threatening to completely cover the Rose and Crinium’s planted there.  Clematis Freckles will also benefit from more light as it is on the adjacent wall.

The leaves under the Nut Walk have been raked up to allow us to see the Aconites which will be appearing very soon. Already daffodil shoots are appearing. Not only do the leaves cover the Aconites but if we leave it too late to remove them we remove the flower heads at the same time.

The Holly doesn’t have as many berries as usual and the Mahonia we are picking for the Hall drops its flowers very quickly but it will soon be time to think about decorating for Christmas and bringing in the evergreens to liven up the Hall

Great skeins of Geese are flying overhead and whenever a fork is in the soil a Robin will appear. We still have the Heron, Duck, Moorhen, Game birds and Raptors but we miss the constant chatter of our summer visitors. We have Muntjac, Fox, Rabbits and lots of Squirrels and the house seems to still be attracting large numbers of Flies. The Hebrideans continue to munch their way through the Fishponds and Water Garden.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Welcome to the Garden in November

The gates are closed to visitors and now the work begins!! In the Vegetable Garden the Butternut squash have been so successful that we now have a freezer full of soup. All beans are finished although I did plant a very late crop of dwarf French beans which are in flower -but we shall see. Courgettes have had their last picking, but we still have Chard and Kale which surprisingly, for so late, have caterpillars on them. Leeks are going strong, and we still have Carrots and Parsley. All Apples have now been harvested- some stored and some frozen as juice. We are cutting back the Currants and Vine.

In the Greenhouse all Tomatoes have now been harvested- either green for chutney or red for tomato paste for the freezer. The Peppers are still producing well but the space is needed for the Orchids, Fuchsia and Pelargoniums.

The hedge at the back of the Iris bed has been cut and the Delphiniums chopped down and more Crocus planted in that bed.

The Dell is bright with cyclamen and the Parrotia Persica in the Daffodil area still astounds me with its beautiful autumn colour.

The beds of variegated Hosta have been dug up, separated and replanted and are now covered with a blanket of fallen leaves. Later in the month the same will happen to the blue leaved Hosta.

The Oleander are now under cover as is the Brugmansia and Olive trees in pots.

In the West lawn it’s a good time to look at the beds again and thin out some of the more successful plants which have spread too far and become overcrowded. Any surplus plants are potted for later planting or for sale. This applies particularly to the Asters, Anemone and Iris Sibirica. The Canna will be dug out later this month and stored under cover, but the Ginger will be covered with a mulch and some wire to deter the squirrels- but left in the ground. The Nerines at the front of the house are in full colour and we are still deadheading Dahlia and Cosmos and so far, no sign of frosts.

The Owls are very loud in the evening marking out their territory and the Heron is still a constant visitor. Lots of game birds in the garden and far too many squirrels. Sadly it’s time for some of our lovely Hebridean sheep to depart to ensure there’s enough grass for the rest of the flock and its decision time for replacing the Tup ?

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Welcome to our last garden opening for 2024

It has been a difficult year with far too much rain. However, the vegetables have loved it- except for the Courgettes who are missing the sun. We are still harvesting Kale, Chard, Carrots, Beetroot, Squash and Parsnips. Onions are drying off in the Greenhouse and the Potatoes have been harvested. We have planted a very late row of dwarf Beans and some Winter Cabbage to accompany the Sprouting Broccoli in the Fruit Cage. The Tomatoes have had a fantastic year – both outdoor and indoor, and Apples and Pears are cropping well.

The timing for cutting the Box hedges has been difficult this year- either too wet or they got scorched on the fine day that we started, but this must be the last week to finish off the job before the danger of frosts, but again we must work with the weather.

The Cyclamen in the Dell are adding a bright splash of colour at the base of the trees and the daffodil area has had its last cut before the bulbs start emerging.

It is the time of year for cutting back and we started with the shrubbery in the Daffodil area. We discovered some of the shrubs had been pruned already by Muntjac (?) and that we need to do some remedial work on the Moat edges where the timber supports have been washed away.

The Asters in the Autumn Border are coming into flower and the shady water garden has bright splashes of colour from the Schizostylis

The pink Nerines along the wall at the front of the Hall are in flower and the Colchicums in the East lawn

Tall Ginger plants are flowering with the Passionflower at the back of the West Lawn and there is lots of colour from the Asters, Dahlias and Kniphofia. The Bay Tree has been severely pruned along with the rose Paula Himalayan Musk which completely covered it. Don’t miss the lovely pink sprays of the Lespendeza beside the Dahlia Bishop of Llandaff- it never ceases to delight. The Oleander in pots will soon go into the Greenhouse for winter protection and we are planting our daffodil and crocus bulbs and preparing the pots for next Springs display of tulips-

The Heron is a constant visitor and sits on the Vegetable Garden wall watching the Moat where some very large Carp and Eels are swimming – usually they can be seen under the new bridge. Cormorants appear in groups to fish and someone has been pruning the shrubs- perhaps a muntjac. There seem to be a lot of Squirrels and Rabbits, and we need to protect our bulbs when planting or they will dig them up. The House Martins have left for warmer climes, but we have enjoyed their antics and look forward to their return next year.

We open again on March 18^th and meanwhile, if you want to see what is happening in our garden you can follow us on the monthly Garden diary on our website

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker

Welcome to the penultimate garden opening week for 2024.

The Vegetable Garden is still in full swing. The Butternut Squash has grown through the Sweetcorn and Leeks and now scrambling on to the Box. Sweet Peas are left for seed and Tomatoes, both outside and inside, are being dried or turned into sauces for the freezer. The Rhubarb is looking very healthy- these are plants split from the original plant and moved to a new bed but not harvested this year- it’s first year. Herbs are dried or frozen and Onions dried off in the Greenhouse before storing. The Greenhouse is still full of Tomatoes and Peppers and the Orchids have been brought in for winter shelter.

The Delphiniums in the Iris bed were cut to the ground but some are having a second flowering and this bed has been planted with Crocus Tomasianus Whitwell Purple. We use chilli powder when planting these bulbs to deter the squirrels.

The Dell is full of Cyclamen flowering around the base of trees which give a welcome burst of colour at this time of year.

The Autumn Border is still waiting for the sun to open its Aster and Dahlia flowers, but the Hydrangea in the Water Garden are enjoying the shade. The pretty pink and white flowers by the path are Schizostylis or Kaffir lilies and Toad lilies, with their mottled flowers, line the ditch.

On the West lawn Geraniums have been moved from the Urns but the Oleander in pots are still happy outside. The Bay tree, with the rose Pauls Himalayan Musk, has outgrown its position and has been severely cut back with a lot of dead wood from the rose removed. Unfortunately, the rose will not spectacularly cover the Bay next year but in time……. Ginger plants are flowering in front of the wall with its covering of Passionflower.

There is still a lot of colour in the sunny beds with Aster, Anemone, Lespendeza and Dahlia and in the gravel border the Geranium Psilostemon is having a second flowering. Looking across the Moat the Shrubbery with its dominant colours of red and yellow is beginning to take on its autumn mantle.

The sheep have returned to the Water Meadow, the widowed Goose is still waiting for us to find a mate, we still have House Martins and Herons. Quite large fish can be seen if you look into the water under the new bridge and 4 Cormorants were resting in the same tree overlooking the Moat. Rabbits. Squirrels, Pheasants, Pigeons and Moles are all in evidence. We have seen a lot of Large White Butterflies and some Orange Tip.

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker