Time off

My last week at Heale we were tidying up the riverbank, cutting back Irises and cleaning Bamboo. We stored the Cucamelon roots in the hope of revitalizing them next season. The colours of the leaves in the garden are stunning at this time of year and we are lucky to be in such a peaceful place to work.

But this week, I have had a break from gardening and time to play with my boys who are on half term. I have enjoyed being warm and not rushing! I have been lucky enough to be getting out and about so I haven't missed the great outdoors too much.

A different type of great outdoors though. This weekend I re-visited the Olympic Park, my second visit since 2012. What a change to that area of London, 2 or 3 stops on the train from where I used to live is Stratford station and Westfield, a huge buzzing shopping centre. Not only is it commercialism though, it leads you through to the Olympic sized space of trees, planting, playgrounds, cycle tracks and giant sculptures of crayons in the river. Even in the shopping centre (which in part is open to the elements) are trees with birds singing at dusk, flitting from tree to tree.

Once you enter the Olympic park, the space is immense as is the sky (which, as my friend pointed out, is rare in London to see so much uninterrupted sky). The planting is superb, mature pine trees making playgrounds seem like they have been established for years, grass borders which conjure up seaside boardwalks not city pavements. Not just lawns and verges but slopes to climb, short grass, wild grass, clovers, seating nestled in borders, Vinca and Ivy clinging as ground cover. The space allows you to breathe and be inspired. We made it into the Velodrome and viewed the Aquatic centre, two buildings which are beautiful and fluid in their design.

I was with a family of 5 city dwellers and really noticed how much they appreciated this space and planting. They all said they felt the space safe for their kids and relaxing for them and I think the planting has a lot to do with that. Not formal beds which are untouchable but plants to feel, to walk through, to hide in. Walkways with textures, activities, mirrors on bridges, reflections, water and sky. All a stones throw from town. A real treat.

Autumnal planning

Now is the time we all get to take a breather for a moment, just a moment and think about what the year has just done for us and what we want to do next year. Not too much time though - plenty to do.

I have been with my client transplanting and potting up, sowing some hardy Annuals (Ammi, Orlaya, Cornflower) and dodging incredibly heavy rain. I planted a beautiful Eleagnus for her too, x ebbingei, with silvery leaves.

At Heale we got up to all sorts, removing an Apple tree with a winch, ride on mowing, lifting tree canopies, weeding and edging veg plots, potting up, feeding.... we also managed our one experimental 'no dig' bed. Last year we used the newly made bed for Brassicas and failed but not because of the no dig system (must I mention the darn Bank Voles again!). This time we are covering the soil with a 3 inch compost mulch and covering it to let the worms and weather do their thing.

If you want to have a go then read the enthusiastic  Charles Dowding here:

http://www.charlesdowding.co.uk/no-dig-growing/why-no-dig/

The owners at Heale would like us to move on further and create more no dig beds. I am all for it (less double digging) but also quite like the rituals of preparing the beds in the traditional way. A bit of both and we shall see which system reigns supreme.

Having really loved our first try at Cucamelons, we are going to try and store the dahlia-like tubers over winter and hope for bigger stronger plants next season. Considering we grew the little mouse melons from seed this February, they have grown a really big tuber!

Leaves are turning everywhere but particularly noticeable are the trees in the Japanese garden, Liquidamber being one of the ones that seems to turn it's colour in the blink of an eye.

The Cercidiphyllum japonicum is mighty fine this time of year and it's little cousin Cercidiphyllum japonicum f. 'Pendulum' is a small plant near the Japanese bridge but I could smell the delicate and faint smell of sugar and butter and caramel from the only 10 leaves that were clinging on for dear life. Amazing!

All about the veg

My gardening week has been heavily focused on the veg.

I have planted out Kale at my own allotment and snuffled out the last of my Cukes and Courgettes. I have spent time in three of my gardens, clearing away old crops and planting out some late sowings of Salad and Spinach.

At Heale, although I only work two days, I get an input into the veg garden, glorious potager style plots and have been discussing next years veg plans with HG. Our veg plots combine cut flowers with veg and herbs alongside ornamental Gourds and Climbing Ipomoea. On the whole, Heale remains traditional in its veg choices with the odd Cucamelon thrown in. We are hoping to persuade the owners to head for some different varieties next year, based on our successes and failures from this year.

We struggled to produce Brasscias this year mainly due to a huge influx of Bank Voles who consumed everything with gusto. Our Beans were amazing but we weren't too impressed by our Broad Beans so would like to try some new varieties such as Karmazyn - a heritage Bean, pink in colour.

We have been given some seeds, sent in by some lovely visitors whom we chatted to this Summer. They have forwarded seed collected from their own veg garden, a real treat; Pea Beans and Black Runners ('Churchfield').

I love this planning stage, so much to choose from, always difficult to stop marking the little veg catalogues with an asterisk and not buy too much!

Working in the plots this week, we cleared all of our Beans away for the compost and found the most bright pink Beans, think Firestorm or Stardust. Amazing colour.

We are still cropping Carrot, Beet, Salad, Pak Choi, Rocket and of course fruit, mainly Apples and Pears.

The light and warmth this week have been gorgeous and have allowed for a late sowing or two and some planting out. The soil is perfectly warm.

 Lots to see in the gardens before we close. Autumnal colours everywhere, we spotted these amazing black tree peony seeds bursting from their pod and a Euonymus which looks just delightful in late afternoon dappled light.

 I also love the brash Gunnera manicata, in your face, no hiding from it, it towers above everything else and gives such structure. I caught these leaves looking mottled with yellow, hanging out in the Japanese garden.

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.