So, this time of year, there is still so much to do in the garden. Part of my job recently has been to hide bulbs in the ground, ready for a full colour display to appear in Spring!
The weather has been slightly dysfunctional of late, - minus figures one week and as warm as a Summer's evening the next. At Heale, we had to try and plant lots of bulbs whatever the weather. One week the ground was solid, my knees freezing against the hard ground. the soil plugs were like frozen chocolate puddings sitting atop the soil and pushing them back over the planted bulb was a cold job indeed.
Last week the bulbs went into the border, no problem. The sun even appeared encouraging both me and the plants to grow.
We have planted fluffy/tufty topped Tulips (Peppermint Stick) and Scilla. We planted what might look like dead worms to some : Anemone Nemorosa 'Alba'. Strange tubers which you 'post' under the turf into a slit.
All this work is unseen. Shuffling about the garden on our knees, we do wonder what people would think if they saw us! Of course, the result will be worthwhile in the end.
There is also endless border work to be done, clearing old material, Hosta, Anemone, Geranium, Allium heads, Digiltalis, Pulmonaria,. Endless pruning to be done, Vine, Wisteria, Laburnum, Fig, Roses. The list goes on.
Never a dull moment, we had Swans overhead, Rooks, a Robin eating worms from my side, Egret, Pigs across the river Avon from us.
A quiet time but plenty to be getting on with. Just hope to get it done before the next round begins!
Monday, 12 December 2016
Wednesday, 23 November 2016
A love of Pruning
Slowly but surely, the gardens I am working in are pottering off to sleep until 2017. It is a strange time, quiet yet noisy with wind and rain and sludge. I quite like it really. I like the peace it brings and I quite like a bit of rain now and then.
Today was cold and with the wind biting at my hands, I began pruning Roses in my Tuesday/Wednesday garden. Wind and thorn pricks are not a nice part of gardening but I cannot seem to find a way of tying in whilst wearing gloves, so my hands always take a hit.
I reduced the growth on the Roses in a big border mainly to prevent wind rock but also to cut out dead and unwanted growth. Amazing how much growth you can take away.
What a creative task. Four hours in silence in my own head, making pruning cuts and decisions, ending up with a plant ready to take on the next season and flourish. I find any pruning extremely rewarding. I rarely get to just focus on Pruning alone during my day and it is such a joy. Focusing on the plant, where it has grown this season, where it has died, where it has rubbed other parts of the plant, do you need that stem, would it look good wrapped round left or right, how many stems shall I remove.......and is it time for a cuppa yet?
Rosa 'Apple Blossom' firmly under control.
Today was cold and with the wind biting at my hands, I began pruning Roses in my Tuesday/Wednesday garden. Wind and thorn pricks are not a nice part of gardening but I cannot seem to find a way of tying in whilst wearing gloves, so my hands always take a hit.
I reduced the growth on the Roses in a big border mainly to prevent wind rock but also to cut out dead and unwanted growth. Amazing how much growth you can take away.
What a creative task. Four hours in silence in my own head, making pruning cuts and decisions, ending up with a plant ready to take on the next season and flourish. I find any pruning extremely rewarding. I rarely get to just focus on Pruning alone during my day and it is such a joy. Focusing on the plant, where it has grown this season, where it has died, where it has rubbed other parts of the plant, do you need that stem, would it look good wrapped round left or right, how many stems shall I remove.......and is it time for a cuppa yet?
Saturday, 29 October 2016
Exotic Cornwall
I have just returned from a week away in Cornwall. It seems a world away from Wiltshire. The plants are so different to those I am used to working with and take you away to a far away magical land of ship wrecks and salty air.
We stopped by the Minack Theatre right down on the bottom of the country at Porthcurno. Atop a cliff, the bay below, turquoise sea and the most incredible cliff-carved theatre looking over the sea. Mind blowing that someone (Rowena Cade) would have the idea and patience to create such a space, where it seems impossible, the edge of a cliff open to the elements. The gardens, terraced as the theatre seats move down towards the sea, are a treat full of succulents; Aeonium, Agave, Bilbergia, Yucca, Sempervivum........
We stopped by the Minack Theatre right down on the bottom of the country at Porthcurno. Atop a cliff, the bay below, turquoise sea and the most incredible cliff-carved theatre looking over the sea. Mind blowing that someone (Rowena Cade) would have the idea and patience to create such a space, where it seems impossible, the edge of a cliff open to the elements. The gardens, terraced as the theatre seats move down towards the sea, are a treat full of succulents; Aeonium, Agave, Bilbergia, Yucca, Sempervivum........
To think that we are at the end of October is quite unreal. In Cornwall, life continues as if it were the height of Summer. Flowers abound, Surfers in the water, divers, boats, ice creams on the beach, despite the trees turning to oranges and reds.
Beach gardens are full of flowering Cannas and Pampas (Cortaderia or Nannies Hair Plant as my 8 YO renamed it). Nanny would be proud. Gunnera in the beach public gardens. Hotel gardens with Brugmansia in full flower.
In Falmouth there are pubic gardens full of Ferns, Geraniums, Aeoniums, Erigeron, Yucca, Tree Ferns over your head, Agapanthus. A feast for the eyes.
My absolute favourite is driving the coast and seeing the trees swept to one side, growing away from the sea, leaning, almost falling. Quite the fairy tale.
I know gardening by the sea doesn't come without its challenges but the warmer weather and fantastic choice of plants, I wouldn't half mind trying.
Thursday, 6 October 2016
Harvest
This week the weather has turned and the sunlight is lower in the sky. It is my favourite month of the year (along with April).
I have been lucky enough to be outdoors all day every day and it has been an assault on the senses. Butterflies whirling around in the breeze, Buzzards mewing, Cormorants overhead this morning, Sycamore seeds flying down like little helicopters.
There is so much to see and most of it bathed in Autumn sunshine.
I am in love with the Squashes, pumpkins, gourds on offer and we have all sorts at Heale, grown from seed this year.
We have the most amazing Turks Turbans this year at Heale (and I grew them with my 8 YO son at Plot 18b too), along with Uchiki Kuri which as you can see from the photo below, is the most incredible colour! It is Japanese and is supposed to taste of chestnut. I must grow them myself and find out.......
I have been lucky enough to be outdoors all day every day and it has been an assault on the senses. Butterflies whirling around in the breeze, Buzzards mewing, Cormorants overhead this morning, Sycamore seeds flying down like little helicopters.
There is so much to see and most of it bathed in Autumn sunshine.
I am in love with the Squashes, pumpkins, gourds on offer and we have all sorts at Heale, grown from seed this year.
We have the most amazing Turks Turbans this year at Heale (and I grew them with my 8 YO son at Plot 18b too), along with Uchiki Kuri which as you can see from the photo below, is the most incredible colour! It is Japanese and is supposed to taste of chestnut. I must grow them myself and find out.......
Although the Kitchen Garden is nearing it's year end of production, there is so much to do. I almost feel like it is getting busier at the moment. I have been transplanting, lifting, dividing plants in my Tuesday garden (which became a Wednesday garden too this week and for a couple more!). Potting up tender Salvias and getting the greenhouse ready for the colder weather.
I began pruning one of the many rambling Roses at Heale today - a task I love to complete, so satisfying - and have left it all ready to roll next season. It just takes so much time and I think that fact gets forgotten. Such a rewarding job and on such old roses too. Rosa 'Crimson Shower' below :)
Many projects ahead at Heale and I am looking forward to the change.
Thursday, 8 September 2016
Me time
Me time is slowly being restored. School is back! I cannot believe I have neglected my blog for almost a month.
I have been trucking on. Three days a week in Hort and I think maybe my favourite time in the veg growing year. Vegetables all over the place, so many I had an excuse to try and make my first ever Piccalilli. All organic veg mainly grown at Plot 18b or going spare at Heale. My recipe included Chilli, Patty Pan, Onion, Cauliflower, Courgette and lots of Cucamelons! Hoping it will be rather delicious. Whatever the outcome I loved making it.
Cooking is so easy with a glut of veg, a real pleasure comes from the reward of all that work.
I managed to sneak a garden visit last weekend, an NGS open fairly near me called The Buildings. Recommended by some visitors to Heale, HG went earlier in the Summer and said I had to go. Boy was he right. A gorgeous setting in Hampshire fields, remote through the fields, some woods, and a barn attached to a gorgeous house. The main part of the garden is walled and creates a real sense of enclosed secret space. A blue worn wooden gate, slightly ajar peeking into the rolling fields beyond. The owner has created a central bed with wonderful mixes of textures and colour, with lots of movement. Grasses, Sedums, Achillea heads 'floating', Erigeron (I love the common name Fleabane), many others I didn't know and many Salvias, all sorts of colours and hardy to tender. I love the use of different colored Sedums, some gorgeous dark reds. Right up my street for planting, movement and texture and a hidden space in amongst it all. You could walk into the centre of the circle and not know where you were. Heaven!
At Heale, we have been continuing with Summer pruning of fruit, so much to do. We have Apple tunnels which are 50 years old and require a LOT of pruning, up through the wires on a ladder. Move along, prune, move along, prune, repeat. We have Pears, Nectarines, Plums, Blackberries, Raspberries, Strawberries, Figs, Mulberrys..........delicious!
We have lots of Box which needs pruning, all over the garden, hedges, in borders, topiary.
HG is so experienced that he can calmly enter a border and work his magic without planning. The fruit above a border gets pruned before the border underneath gets attention. That way you only clear the border once. The Border with topiary in it gets weeded and edged and the Box will also get a trim the Akebia gets a prune along the way with the Chaenomeles. I am very lucky to learn every day from a pro and HG has earned his stripes, working at Heale since 2002 (?) coming across all manner of tasks thrown his way! There aren't many jobs that may phase him!
Amongst all other Hort, I continue to try and keep an allotment, although of late, I am wondering why and find it harder and harder to find the time. BUT I did find this amazing Turks Turban under the weeds the other day. A seed my youngest Sammy chose to grow way back on a cold February day. That made me smile!
I have been trucking on. Three days a week in Hort and I think maybe my favourite time in the veg growing year. Vegetables all over the place, so many I had an excuse to try and make my first ever Piccalilli. All organic veg mainly grown at Plot 18b or going spare at Heale. My recipe included Chilli, Patty Pan, Onion, Cauliflower, Courgette and lots of Cucamelons! Hoping it will be rather delicious. Whatever the outcome I loved making it.
Cooking is so easy with a glut of veg, a real pleasure comes from the reward of all that work.
I managed to sneak a garden visit last weekend, an NGS open fairly near me called The Buildings. Recommended by some visitors to Heale, HG went earlier in the Summer and said I had to go. Boy was he right. A gorgeous setting in Hampshire fields, remote through the fields, some woods, and a barn attached to a gorgeous house. The main part of the garden is walled and creates a real sense of enclosed secret space. A blue worn wooden gate, slightly ajar peeking into the rolling fields beyond. The owner has created a central bed with wonderful mixes of textures and colour, with lots of movement. Grasses, Sedums, Achillea heads 'floating', Erigeron (I love the common name Fleabane), many others I didn't know and many Salvias, all sorts of colours and hardy to tender. I love the use of different colored Sedums, some gorgeous dark reds. Right up my street for planting, movement and texture and a hidden space in amongst it all. You could walk into the centre of the circle and not know where you were. Heaven!
At Heale, we have been continuing with Summer pruning of fruit, so much to do. We have Apple tunnels which are 50 years old and require a LOT of pruning, up through the wires on a ladder. Move along, prune, move along, prune, repeat. We have Pears, Nectarines, Plums, Blackberries, Raspberries, Strawberries, Figs, Mulberrys..........delicious!
We have lots of Box which needs pruning, all over the garden, hedges, in borders, topiary.
HG is so experienced that he can calmly enter a border and work his magic without planning. The fruit above a border gets pruned before the border underneath gets attention. That way you only clear the border once. The Border with topiary in it gets weeded and edged and the Box will also get a trim the Akebia gets a prune along the way with the Chaenomeles. I am very lucky to learn every day from a pro and HG has earned his stripes, working at Heale since 2002 (?) coming across all manner of tasks thrown his way! There aren't many jobs that may phase him!
Amongst all other Hort, I continue to try and keep an allotment, although of late, I am wondering why and find it harder and harder to find the time. BUT I did find this amazing Turks Turban under the weeds the other day. A seed my youngest Sammy chose to grow way back on a cold February day. That made me smile!
Friday, 12 August 2016
Front garden sanctuary
Well it is the height of the Summer holidays and that means chaos in my house, with two monkey boys, footballs in the veg plot, fighting with canes up the allotment and working in between.
The only gardening space that I can truly call my own is my tiny front garden. It is my space, no one else really thinks about it. I only go in it to move the bin out every week. I made a gravel bendy path with two borders and have stuffed it with Euphorbia, Dahlia, Stachys, Heuchera, Daphne, Verbena, Nasturtium, Kniphofia and Pennisetums. It is so lovely and no one enters. My little haven. And it brings me joy from the inside and out. I see it from my lounge and I see the purple heads of the Verbena swaying about as I approach from the end of the road!
Work at the moment is pretty much just maintenance and I really enjoy this aspect of Horticulture. I do love weeding and tidying and keeping everything tip top. Some people can be so snobby within Horticulture but it's not all about grand designs and speaking Latin in company. I had someone ask me recently, the name of a plant. When I told him, he reeled off some other plants just so I understood that he knows plant names in full! It doesn't impress me. I would rather someone tell me how they felt about a garden or plant or which plant was their favourite and why.
Watering correctly is so important, as is edging well in straight lines, weeding well (removing the root and not damaging the plant), as is mowing well (collecting grass and not leaving great lumps of it). The list goes on. I love being a Practical Gardener, I find a real sense of achievement every day when I have taken an area and turned into something beautiful again.
I have been cropping a lot today (again there is a skill to such a simple task, be gentle and do not damage the mother plant!). We have a huge variety of crops sown from seed. Cucamelons taking my interest the most and 'Black' Runners ( sort of purple black amidst green, very pretty).
What a job, getting paid to be in beautiful surroundings cropping delicious veg!
The only gardening space that I can truly call my own is my tiny front garden. It is my space, no one else really thinks about it. I only go in it to move the bin out every week. I made a gravel bendy path with two borders and have stuffed it with Euphorbia, Dahlia, Stachys, Heuchera, Daphne, Verbena, Nasturtium, Kniphofia and Pennisetums. It is so lovely and no one enters. My little haven. And it brings me joy from the inside and out. I see it from my lounge and I see the purple heads of the Verbena swaying about as I approach from the end of the road!
Work at the moment is pretty much just maintenance and I really enjoy this aspect of Horticulture. I do love weeding and tidying and keeping everything tip top. Some people can be so snobby within Horticulture but it's not all about grand designs and speaking Latin in company. I had someone ask me recently, the name of a plant. When I told him, he reeled off some other plants just so I understood that he knows plant names in full! It doesn't impress me. I would rather someone tell me how they felt about a garden or plant or which plant was their favourite and why.
Watering correctly is so important, as is edging well in straight lines, weeding well (removing the root and not damaging the plant), as is mowing well (collecting grass and not leaving great lumps of it). The list goes on. I love being a Practical Gardener, I find a real sense of achievement every day when I have taken an area and turned into something beautiful again.
I have been cropping a lot today (again there is a skill to such a simple task, be gentle and do not damage the mother plant!). We have a huge variety of crops sown from seed. Cucamelons taking my interest the most and 'Black' Runners ( sort of purple black amidst green, very pretty).
What a job, getting paid to be in beautiful surroundings cropping delicious veg!
Front garden sanctuary
Well it is the height of the Summer holidays and that means chaos in my house, with two monkey boys, footballs in the veg plot, fighting with canes up the allotment and working in between.
The only gardening space that I can truly call my own is my tiny front garden. It is my space, no one else really thinks about it. I only go in it to move the bin out every week. I made a gravel bendy path with two borders and have stuffed it with Euphorbia, Dahlia, Stachys, Heuchera, Daphne, Verbena, Nasturtium, Kniphofia and Penesetums. It is so lovely and no one enters. My little haven. And it brings me joy from the inside and out. I see it from my lounge and I see the purple heads of the Verbena swaying about as I approach from the end of the road!
Work at the moment is pretty much just maintenance and I really enjoy this aspect of Horticulture. I do love weeding and tidying and keeping everything tip top. Some people can be so snobby within Horticulture but it's not all about grand designs and speaking Latin in company. I had someone ask me recently, the name of a plant. When I told him, he reeled off some other plants just so I understood that he knows plant names in full! It doesn't impress me. I would rather someone tell me how they felt about a garden or plant or which plant was their favourite and why.
Watering correctly is so important, as is edging well in straight lines, weeding well (removing the root and not damaging the plant), as is mowing well (collecting grass and not leaving great lumps of it). The list goes on. I love being a Practical Gardener, I find a real sense of achievement every day when I have taken an area and turned into something beautiful again.
I have been cropping a lot today (again there is a skill to such a simple task, be gentle and do not damage the mother plant!). We have a huge variety of crops sown from seed. Cucamelons taking my interest the most and 'Black' Runners ( sort of purple black amidst green, very pretty).
What a job, getting paid to be in beautiful surroundings cropping delicious veg!
The only gardening space that I can truly call my own is my tiny front garden. It is my space, no one else really thinks about it. I only go in it to move the bin out every week. I made a gravel bendy path with two borders and have stuffed it with Euphorbia, Dahlia, Stachys, Heuchera, Daphne, Verbena, Nasturtium, Kniphofia and Penesetums. It is so lovely and no one enters. My little haven. And it brings me joy from the inside and out. I see it from my lounge and I see the purple heads of the Verbena swaying about as I approach from the end of the road!
Work at the moment is pretty much just maintenance and I really enjoy this aspect of Horticulture. I do love weeding and tidying and keeping everything tip top. Some people can be so snobby within Horticulture but it's not all about grand designs and speaking Latin in company. I had someone ask me recently, the name of a plant. When I told him, he reeled off some other plants just so I understood that he knows plant names in full! It doesn't impress me. I would rather someone tell me how they felt about a garden or plant or which plant was their favourite and why.
Watering correctly is so important, as is edging well in straight lines, weeding well (removing the root and not damaging the plant), as is mowing well (collecting grass and not leaving great lumps of it). The list goes on. I love being a Practical Gardener, I find a real sense of achievement every day when I have taken an area and turned into something beautiful again.
I have been cropping a lot today (again there is a skill to such a simple task, be gentle and do not damage the mother plant!). We have a huge variety of crops sown from seed. Cucamelons taking my interest the most and 'Black' Runners ( sort of purple black amidst green, very pretty).
What a job, getting paid to be in beautiful surroundings cropping delicious veg!
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