I got to bumble along on my own and it was quite an insight into gardening in a big garden. I got to practice reversing with a trailer (still a work in progress) to go round and round weeding, edging, weeding, edging, (especially parterres which literally go round and round) and dip in and out of the river watering plants. I also narrowly avoided two cross Geese who wait for you when you feed the Kunekune pigs and hit my head several times on the Gourds hanging in the veg garden despite knowing that I planted them there!
I am very familiar with Fat Hen, Thistle, Ground Elder amongst others.
My best friend was the ride on until today when Michael the veg gardener joined me and engaged in conversation with me!
We spent some time in the Japanese garden and I discovered the Gunnera flower hiding beneath it's giant Rhubarb like leaves, a spiky little man with tinges of pink, which I believe will turn into berries. Lying on the ground were lots of Skunk Cabbage flowers (spadix) which fall apart when handled and each little square of debris holds a seed (reminds me of a Passion fruit pip).
Michael waded along weeding the inside of the river bank and I helped along the edges. We were in the shadow of the Japanese Tea House which sits atop the river on stones. It is original from the time when nine Japanese Gardeners came to Heale and created that part of the garden. I wonder if they brought this with them when they came presumably by boat? Such an extravagance from early 1900's.
When planting new plants in the garden in this weather we have to remember to water them all! That takes a while to get around to them all.
Back in the car and the volume was LOUD, getting a balance between the tranquility in the garden and the chaos at home needs a little preparation.....
Plant of the week, Stipa gigantea
Golden almost glowing like late sunshine and rustling gently in the breeze, really like this plant.
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