Out with the old, in with the new

This week at Houghton Andrew was preparing for the bedding switch from Summer to Spring. A big change but it has to be done gradually and there will be a lot to do!

Some life still left in the summer plants but we stripped some of the Marigolds out of the Peacock garden and weeded in preparation for the next plants in a few weeks time. We weeded the Mercury bed and lifted some more Geraniums for air drying throughout the winter months. The Herbs needed a bit of a cut back (Origanum) and it is lovely doing that as they smell so nice! I clipped the Honeysuckle ball again into shape and took some root cuttings from the Mint and small Lavender cuttings too.

Lesley, our volunteer, came on Wednesday so we shared some jobs together and tidied the Rose beds and Mist house and we found a little Newt! We also began work in the Raspberry cage which has been neglected and become very overgrown. That was very satisfying clearing out the old shoots and giving the strong healthy ones a chance to breathe again.

Apples are still falling and when I turned around to fill the barrow with them, I saw a sneaky slug looking at me!

Some lovely yellow Tomatoes to bring home and some Origanum for homemade pizza. I also got to read the old Head Gardeners Diary from 1913, leading up to the War. He worked so hard! He had some 'chaps' on duty to help him and it is fascinating reading about what they got up to, the main difference it seems needing to produce a lot more for more people to eat.