Tomatoes and many, many greens

This week at Heale I saw the lush greens produced by rain and then sun and then rain again, the layers of Lavender, Box, Lawn, Roses, Trees. There is new growth in abundance and as the new leaves unfurl their colours change quickly. The blossom that was bright on the Prunus trees two weeks ago has already passed its peak yet the Apple blossoms are just coming and are pink and white and full.

There had been lots of change in the borders, there is Solomons Seal amongst Hosta, Allium and Pulmonaria and lots of different Tulips.

We took some time this week to prepare the Greenhouse for Summer. We painted on Cool Glass which I had never done before, a solution which shades the plants inside the Greenhouse and can reduce the temperature by around 10 degrees. The mind boggles as the solution remains on when it rains and yet when we want to remove it in the Autumn, we just wipe it off with a cloth. Once we had cleaned the Greenhouse we lit a Sulphur Candle which kills all pests and bacteria so we can start growing afresh. It stinks and reminds me how much rubbish you can breathe in as a Gardener but it seems to do the trick! It is left for 12 hours until you can go in and check it is all done.

I helped to place straw around the Strawberries in the fruit cage this week. Membrane had been put down to suppress the weeds and the Currant bushes and Strawberries are now the only plants to show above the straw ground. It looks great.

We prepared 24 pots for growing Tomatoes in, (which had already been started in root trainers, I will definitely be buying root trainers, they seem to do an excellent job of starting the plant off) and created two wires across the Greenhouse both sides for the plants to be trained to. The Tomatoes were planted and tied to a cane to give them a helping hand on their way. I was shown how to do a Hitch Knot which stays firm to the cane but failed miserably and need more practice! The Tomatoes were finally watered and fed with Tomorite. What lucky plants.

The Hybrid Musk Rose borders were in serious need of a weed so I helped out with that. The borders are planted at the front with Nepeta clumps which will be great once they fill the space. I have never worked with Hybrid Musk Roses so will look forward to seeing them change. Michael told me they range in colour from white, cream, apricot to pink and have wonderful names such as Penelope and Buff Beauty. The border is full of Roses and runs the width of the front of the house, a step down from the Croquet lawn, in a uniform line.

A potter around the garden is a reminder to look at ALL the plants available and not just what is in front of you. There are many trees which I take for granted and Michael showed me an Acer pseudoplatanus 'Brilliantissimum' which is a beautiful kind of pink /peach and sits across the Japanese bridge. Also, many Magnolias which are dotted about, the heavy scented 'Allspice' and the bright yellow of 'Butterflies'. So much to learn but I am enjoying it and taking it all in.

Grass cutting and the art of mowing

This week at Heale has been another scorcher and I need to take my health more seriously! I think I got a bit over done one day and am now the proud owner of a new hat for the future.

Grass cutting and edging was the theme this week and am sure it will be for many more. I learnt a lot from watching Michael, he taught me how to cut around the edge first and then get your stripes. I got to practice on the Peto Pond lawns and some of the private garden as well using a Petrol Cylinder Mower. Noisy thing and it can run away from you if you are on a hill but very effective and good to use.
Michael mowed the croquet lawn diagonally this week and it looked beautiful. His advice, start in the centre of the lawn, choose a focal point in the distance and off you go!

I also got to edge using a line and half moon edger. Great practice and my best friends one day were the grass edgers that have their own personality like a Stork or Pelican, to me! Much progress weeding and tidying in the Kitchen Garden. More Leeks to harvest and more veg going in the ground.

The Sweet peas needed attention already, choosing the strongest stem and tying in and pinching off the tendrils.

Michael introduced me to Euphorbia x pasteurii this week, flanking the doors to the house, very lush and strong right now. Next to one of the Euphorbia's was a Melianthus major in flower, a structural plant with striking foliage.

The Pelargoniums in the greenhouse need a good water daily as they are flowering now and the other Greenhouses need twice daily attention coming into growing season now.

Just as I was leaving the garden a visitor asked me a question and I could actually answer it, so very happy about that. I am hoping things go in the longer I am there.  I find it easier by my second day actually but then of course I have a break before coming again.

I have loved every second again this week, what a place to spend time! I am learning all the time and it is great to watch other Gardeners and listen to their knowledge. I have borrowed a book this week about Vita Sackville-West (Garden Book) so hope to get stuck into that and learn about her ethos and how she liked plants to self seed and not too much tidiness.

Birthday and Sweetpeas

Well what a time to start at Heale, Spring and sunshine and growth. It was my birthday this week and I got to spend it planting my favourite flower, Sweet Pea against canes, single cordon. I have never done this before and as I am still between amateur and professional I am used to planting them willy nilly and enjoying the chaotic result. This is Heale and I am now learning to plant strictly to a line, even spacing, the same number of each cultivar, with fab names like "Purple Pimpernel".

Each plant is very carefully tied to the cane with a wire, careful not to crush the stem. Every week during growing, twice a week we will be pinching out and removing tendrils and creating huge long stems and big flowers, which are used in the house.

I spent most of my time in the Kitchen Garden for two days, tidying, weeding, turning soil, and harvesting crops. We had Leek, Cavalo Nero, Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Beets and Celeriac. We also planted out Salads and Broad Beans, different varieties again to lines using a string. The Broad Beans are grown in double lines to allow a string either side of the plant to hold it up as it grows. We have sown Radishes too.

We cut down the Santalina within the Buxus edging, to promote new growth and it looks much better.

A great week again, it is so peaceful. The garden is in the Valley so the mornings are misty and full of cobwebs and the sun slowly burns through leaving vivid colours and a very warm garden - I got burnt in April! - the Prunus Shirotae, Mount Fuji is stunning right now, buzzing with Bees, heavy white blossom filling the tree branches. It is all I can do to stop looking at it and taking photographs but must get on, must get on!

I ended my week with the boys coming to see me with Birthday cake! Lucky me. They then played hide and seek across the little bridges of the Japanese garden, rushing past Bamboo and Spring Bulbs. Magical.