Nature : the right choice

A year ago I completed my WRAGS training and began my new life working as a Gardener, that is continuing to garden but being paid for it! Imagine that, being paid to do something I enjoy. I have since been a member of the garden team at Heale gardens and have found other gardens to tend to as well.

This week was a reminder of why I never returned to a desk, post children, and the enormous peace that comes from being outside (except when the machines are going full tilt).

I spent time with a client weeding, cutting back and chatting about her need to make the garden smaller, easier and less maintenance as she grows older and finds the size of the garden too much.

I volunteered at Horatio's garden at the Hospital here and spent time seeing how the garden is evolving and the charity are expanding with even more gardens in more Hospitals, giving patients space to breathe.

At Heale, I was lucky enough to break free of the veg garden for a bit (not that the veg garden is a chore to be in) and cut Willow in the Japanese garden. You have to get in the river for some of the work, pruning Wisteria and cutting Watercress and sending it downstream. Getting in the river and mucking about on a fine Autumn day. Stuff of stories. Of course not all days in the garden are as glorious, cold wet days can be never ending, muddy days even worse so, but a day or two now and again where the sun shines ain't half bad.

We received a rather large bulb order, checked and stored ready for the time we need to plant.

I did do some cropping, our first Leeks 'Little Nipper' and the last of the Courgettes and Beans. Some Salad and Pak Choi. 

The Pak Choi has been great, a purple leafed variety, romping away under fleece. Plus our Aubergines are almost there, a first time growing for me so very pleased with some of them.

The rest of the gardens continues to flourish in the late Autumn sun.

Glorious metallic heads of the Miscanthus coming through and the late flowering Lavandula x intermedia 'Vera' contrasting with Stipa gigantea (my morning view from our bothy).

Slow down

Autumn is upon us and the gardens are slowing down their production and growth. Always plenty to do but I am cropping less Beans, a few Courgettes and possibly the last batch of Cucamelons.

I have really enjoyed watching the Cucamelon grow and hunting for the tiny fruits amongst lots of leaves trailing up their supports. I still feel like I have found a jewel each time I see one.

More veg is on the way though, we planted out Spinach and Rocket yesterday. We would be planting lots of Kale but it is being chomped big time. Even leaving a tray of Kale out, you turn your back and leaves have been removed and shoved down the box hedging. Woman versus Bank Vole. The Bank Vole is most certainly winning right now! I have attempted one last planting using just three plants under cloche this time instead of netting or fleece. The cloches have ends and are pretty sturdy. We shall see (secretly I hold out no hope as the little fellas burrow and squeeze their way into everything but must keep trying!)

It is bumper fruit season and we have cropped Plums, Blackberries, Pears and endless Apples. The Apple tunnels at Heale produce different varieties, some names are lost but some remain, Ellisons Orange being one. Lots of Apples need clearing despite the Bank Voles doing an impressive job at eating them but there are less wasps around so the task is less fraught with danger now! We pruned the Blackberry (Rubus fructicosus 'Oregon Thornless") and re-trained in the new shoots onto the fruit cage. A lovely pruning job, especially as the plant is thornless.

The Dahlia beds are thriving right now, beautiful shapes and colours. I really like the dark reds of cultivars such as 'Arabian Night'. I don't usually like pink but there is one called 'Hillcrest Royal' which has a zing about it and I really like the petal formation.

I got to spend time in some of the other areas of Heale this week, known as the Top Terrace, where we transplanted beautiful bronze Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpureum') and Bearded Iris. The Fennel had rather taken over, they have enormous strong solid root systems. We were also removing a bit of a weed, Galega or Goat's Rue. It is a pretty Pea like foliage but self seeds and ends up popping up everywhere. 

Pruning will be a big feature of our work in the garden from now on, I started with some Lonicera and we will be continuing with Vines and many Wisteria and of course the Roses will need attention at some point. Much to come and cooler misty mornings with bright skies. I LOVE Autumn.

Hats off to the lone Gardener

It has been a manic time with monkeys and school holidays and working in between. I have been continuing to visit my gardens and enjoy their tranquility. I work mostly with people dipping in and out of my day and the time alone mixed with someone nearby suits me just fine.

Some time with a client this week, planting and cropping Dahlias, Cropping veg, edging and tidying borders for a big Christening she will be hosting this weekend. All is ship shape.

Another garden I tend to had been slightly neglected by me but nothing a couple of hours couldn't sort. The mix of Summer rain and sunshine had given a good crop of French Beans and Courgettes and Carrots, so I was lucky.

My days at Heale this week were spent mainly alone as HG is on holiday. Man, hats off to the lone Gardener. I had the ear worm of 'I'm going slightly mad' by Queen going round and round all day long! I don't think the full time sole Gardener role is for me. However, I did achieve a lot and enjoyed the freedom of a big garden and trying to think about what areas would benefit from what.

Main crop Potatoes needed cropping, drying (to bake them and stop them rotting) and storing away. All other veg continues to provide - Courgette, Carrot, Pak Choi, Rocket, Herbs, Chillies, Salads. What a bounty.

Our beloved Sweet peas had finally given up. Almost 5 months of give and they could give no longer. They have been glorious and nothing beats that first time you crop a load of flowers and smell their scent. They take some time to bring down and the area was incredibly weedy. Empty space now, weeds to come or fill with another crop quick!

I managed to fit in lots of smaller tasks, leaf blowing, pot watering, greenhouse feeding. The Heale Aubergines are looking great and we have different varieties which is interesting.

When the visitors come it is so lovely. They all want to chat and they all love the garden. One Japanese visitor yesterday was so excited to see the Perilla (Shiso) herb we are growing, she told me all about how she uses it in pickles as it colours the veg and she hadn't seen it anywhere else before. 

 Even HG came by (on his week off the nutter) along with the other Bird off Twitter - Holly (gardenbirdblog). Great to see her.

My main friends were an Egret (early doors), Bank Voles (sneaking past you'd have thought but really quite bold), The Robin, Papadum the Peacock, couple of Chickens, and a big fat Toad that emerged from the Sweet peas. I have loved my work but certainly miss a chat here and there.