November 29th 2023

Welcome to the garden on a nasty cold and wet Winter’s day. The heavy rain has resurrected the natural springs in the gardens and the stream and moat levels have risen considerably.

Not good weather for treading onto the soil and so it’s rose pruning, leaf collecting, repairing gravel boards to paths  and hedge cutting.

The Vegetable garden is still producing Carrot, Parsnip, Kale and Leeks. The Purple Sprouting Broccoli has been staked and netted against pigeons. Raspberry canes have been moved to a new bed in an attempt to get rid of the bindweed which currently prevails. We will dig out as much weed as possible and in the Spring plant potatoes in that bed to clear the ground.

Orchids, Geraniums and Fuschias have been moved into the protection of the Greenhouse and Canna and a few Dahlia stored under the benches with sheets of black plastic (insides of compost bags) creating a dark space.

The last tulip has been planted and the pots covered with chicken wire and chilli pepper sprinkled on top to thwart the squirrels.

Most of the flower beds have been cut down and a mulch applied and we bought some Cow muck and have given the roses a good feed.

We have had the last picking of apples in the orchard and are now applying grease to the trees against bugs.

The lovely winter Iris stylosa is flowering well and looks beautiful up against a wall underneath the yellow jasmine and we even have a few primula in flower !!

Today the sun shone and although freezing cold it lifted the spirits and the early frost looked beautiful. The red stems on the Cornus are standing out and lots of berries on the holly are reminding me that Christmas will soon be here and the end of another gardening year.

.Wildlife is still abundant but the Heron has moved from the Moat to the Fishponds and we seem to be visited by quite a few muntjac.

Do follow us on facebook/Instagram to see the garden in winter, otherwise it just remains to wish you a very Happy Christmas and…..

Stay healthy and good gardening.

Lynda Tucker