Variety is the key

Lots of tasks this week and all great experience for me. First day in and I was feeding Camellias, planting out my Iris cuttings from a few weeks ago and clearing away all our gorgeous Lollo Rossa Lettuces that had been destroyed in just a few days by Brimstone Caterpillars. It was a scene of devastation with scarce lettuce leaves and loads of caterpillar poo! My first experience of a Hydroponicum a successful one though despite ending in a pest eating everything.

I have also been pruning American Pillar roses over the archways in the walled garden with the help of Lesley, our volunteer. My hands have the scratches to prove it so new gloves are on order. The roses are a tangle of old, sometimes dead, stems and new shoots so it is very time consuming to get the pruning right. Worth it in the end though as they look great now. Only a few more arches to go!

It was great to see Andrew in full swing as well, giving a talk to the University of the Third Age about the garden. So much information to know about one garden, I listened with great interest.

I have been propagating seeds too from the garden, Hosta, Hebe, Iris and also taking cuttings from a Choisya. Andrew showed me how to prune and finally fell a dead cherry tree and we had to clear all of the debris away. Lots to do and lots to learn. The thing I love the most is not knowing what is coming. As soon as you plan a task, another appears and the work is ever evolving.