Soil

I spent my time at Heale last week up close and personal with soil. 3 or more tonnes of it. Preparing an experimental raised bed in the veg garden. HG and Andrew took the heavy wheelbarrow work and delivered barrow upon barrow to me. I raked and raked and waddled like a penguin and raked and raked. The bed looks great and ready for action. Something very theraputic about working with soil. Just a layer of broken down rock, humus, water and air from which we grow everything. As we reached further and further into the soil pile, it became wetter and heavier to work with and so we finished with a bit to go.

We also finished harvesting some of our last crops of 2014, Cavalo nero, Parsnips and Leeks. The smell of freshly dug veg is just divine. Muddy and claggy, the soil is wet right now and sticks to your boots. A tricky decision as to whether to work on it but we use boards to avoid too much compaction. As the Asparagus foliage turns yellow, it is a sure sign the plant is fading and ready to be cut to the ground - the RHS recommend down to soil level - to have a sleep and think about returning bigger and stronger next season.

More bulbs were planted, little by little we will plant them all. This week Camassia leichtlini 'caerulea' which should produce pretty blue star shaped flowers amongst a mix of Scilla siberica 'Alba' which will contrast well. We planted these on the banks of the river by the meadow so they will look wonderful and wild.

Over the river to the Japanese garden and we planted Camassia esculenta 'Quamash' mixed with the same Scilla. This Camassia is a slightly darker and more vivid blue so should stand out. HG is hoping we will see some results and the river will not flood out the bulbs as in previous years. I have been reading that it is "even happy in moist ground", well there is moist and there is drowning, so we shall have to wait and see.

We spent time renovating and pruning two Blackcurrant bushes in the fruit cage which had been neglected. Taking care to take out old wood but not too much - around a third - and to prune wayward growth, leaving vigorous upright shoots. These before and after pix show exactly how harsh you can be!

A great job, very satisfying. As the fruit will form on new wood, we should see a good crop next season. Fingers crossed.

Time was also spent cutting back Hellebores to their base, taking care not to chop off the new flower buds emerging. The mice had already gotten some of the buds but by removing the foliage, they should be discouraged from hanging about scoffing in the open. It seems harsh to remove all that lovely leaf from the plant and the border can look so bare but it is a worthwhile task and the Christmas Rose will shine through when ready in Spring. Risk of disease is also greatly reduced.

Near the Boat Terrace are two Chaenomeles speciosa 'Nivalis' either side of a set of steps. A thorny thing with a messy tangle of stems at this time of year. We pruned back to one bud past the old wood and already the new flower buds are appearing. I shall have to make sure I see them in their full glory, as they will bear white flowers.

HG showed me a gorgeous looking plant in the Nursery which has come to bear fruit - Arbutus undeo  - the fruit does bear a resemblance to a Strawberry as it's common name suggests (The Strawberry Tree) but I think it looks more like a red Lychee!

The days are gradually getting cooler, I had to reach for my hat whilst weeding in the veg garden. The leaves have nearly all fallen and the black silhouettes of trees are showing their structure at dusk.