The Month of May

I love May. It is official, May and October are my favourite months full of change and colour and not too much heat (and that is not a joke, most of us are moaning about the cool weather but I quite like it). I love the way that May brings the lush greens and the Bees are buzzing in earnest. There is movement in the garden, whether it is the wild grasses or just seeing creatures and animals darting about.

With this of course comes growth and it seems as if more weeds pop up as you turn your back for a second. Much regular weeding is needed in any garden and Heale has its fair share. We sorted out the Yew Hedging edges this week, rammed full of Nettle, Thistle, Cleavers, Groundsel and all sorts of higgledy self seeded bounty. We weeded amongst the Lavenders on the croquet lawn and attempted the Box hedging edges in the veg garden. The Box itself took a quick trim and looks rather happy and much tidier and then of course comes the hedge clipping collection. A long job and even longer in sticky wet soil from a wet night before!

I get to check over the Tomatoes we potted into the Greenhouse, a while back, and pinch out side shoots. I also got to do the same with the Sweet Peas trained to canes. Tendrils need removing and weaker shoots removed. Some have now started to flower and look much stronger, despite the onslaught of Snails and Slugs recently, due to the excessive rain.

The Japanese garden is a real treat to wander through, Hostas of all colours, shapes and sizes mixed with Ferns galore along with Wisteria and Acers. The little bridges over the river. The Bamboo rustling and the Arum Lily has come into its own, the Zantedeschia.

Michael introduced me to a Copper Beech this week, near the Tennis Court, a beautiful purple leaf with hints of pink along the edges, that you would miss should you not stop and look. A real beauty. Fagus sylvatica purpurea 'Tricolor'.