Garden Calendar

November 12th 2017

It is being a very strange season this year. We have only had one light frost so far, so there is still a lot of life in the garden. All the poplar and Ash trees have completely shed their leaves, but the oaks and willows are still hanging on to theirs, and there is still plenty of green to be seen in them. This makes the season more attractive than normal, but also creates the headache of trying to decide whether to collect the already fallen leaves, or to wait till the rest join them. On the one hand, the job will need doing twice, on the other, if we wait too long we could have the same problem we had a couple of years ago, when snow fell onto the leaves, and we ended up with w soggy mess to try to collect. The paths between the shade beds are particularly vulnerable, as the light levels are low anyway, so a covering of leaves cause the already struggling grass to give up, at which point moss takes over. We are thinking that maybe we should go with nature, and have moss paths instead of trying to coerce grass to grow where it really does not want to.

We spent a profitable day tidying the gravelled areas to the front and side of the house. Once again, grasses had seeded from the very attractive ornamental grasses planted both last year and this year. Also, somehow the area has produced many antirrhinum plants, which have flowered and seeded, creating lots of single plants. While we do not really want these flowers here, they are too pretty to get rid of, so we have allowed them to settle in a few spots. Two or three years ago we planted a couple of bamboo plants, and this year they have bulked up quite nicely. They are not invasive versions, so there will hopefully not be a problem later.

Two rose bushes, one a dog rose, the other a red flowered bush, have been given quite a severe cutting back. The red bush still has blooms on, so those branches have been left for now, and the dog rose has lots of hips, which have been left for the birds. Both bushes will be cut right down when flowers and hips have finished.

All the marigolds and nasturtiums have been removed, as even though there were still a few flowers, the plants were untidy, and especially the nasturtiums were spreading into other plants, which really do not need to be smothered. Lupins have been cut right down, and the greenery has been added to the compost bins. So, while we still have not been able to put the whole garden to bed, we have at least made a start.



October 15th

Autumn may be dragging its heels this year, but there is already promise of what is to come next year. The very small horse chestnut tree which we transplanted last year, which has been strong and successful this year despite being only two feet tall, has now shed all its leaves, and the sticky buds which contain next year’s leaves are plainly in evidence.

Another proof of bounty next year lies in our fig tree. This is in a timber shelter, on the south facing wall. This year for the first time we had lots of lovely figs, which had set last year, over-wintered safely, and grew and ripened gradually over the course of this summer. Meanwhile, small figs have set ready for ripening next year. This is a five year old bush, and it looks as though nest year we will have a bumper crop. In Mediterranean lands, where summers are so much hotter than here, figs set, grow and ripen within one season. However, in these cooler lands, they require two years to develop properly.

We have just enjoyed the mini heatwave, which has succeeded in drying out the land quite a lot, so the grass is being cut again, to hopefully tidy up the rather scruffy appearance left after the last cut, due to the wet land and grass. I do like it to look neat and tidy as we move towards winter. I shall have to make haste and burn the final bonfire of the year, before the risk of hibernating wildlife. A young hedgehog was seen wandering round the garden last week, much to the delight of our grandson.

Butterflies and ladybirds are also enjoying this very last burst of warmth, and there are plenty of flowers for them to continue feeding and building up their strength for the long sleep.


October 23rd

Last week I employed a technique not so very different for collecting up leaves from the driveway. We have two pieces of plywood, about 50cms by 20cms, which are used for collecting large quantities of leaves, which we then place in a builders' tonne bag ready for making lovely leaf mold. While it is early days yet in the fall season, I still collected a bag full, which is now placed in the compound, where it will sit for two or three years before we add it to whichever flower bed requires feeding.

The time has come for some serious tidying up in the flower beds. Many plants are now looking really scruffy, and need to be put to bed. Among those are our two ligularia, both stunning when in full leaf and flower, but now I need to cut them back to within a couple of inches of the ground. Likewise our peonies, which are still establishing themselves four years after being moved from my mother's garden. There is still one plant which has not flowered with any conviction, so I may have to move it if it does not perform next year. I think it is too close to a willow tree, and they are not comfortable sharing food and water. Some herbaceous plants are still flowering, albeit less vigorously than earlier in the year. We acquired a yellow verbascum which appeared naturally in the front garden. This year it threw up a three foot high flower, which was glorious. After the florets died, we cut the stem down, and the plant presented us with about six very short spires, which are still flowering. We are more than happy to leave flowers as long as possible at this time of year. However, sometimes the tidying jobs just need to be done thoroughly. It can be a tough call

August 13th 2017

I said a couple of weeks ago that I was tidying up our geraniums, and the bully plant was given a short back and sides, which for a week or so left it looking somewhat strange, but now it has recovered totally, and is looking neat and flourishing. The other ones are also growing new leaves, although less than the strong one.

Also in the front garden, we have a brilliant crocosmia, the red Lucifer which now needs dividing, so a clump will probably be put towards the far end of the extended long border, to draw the eye. We have a number of specimen plants fulfilling that role, and we now need to make sure that all seasons have colour.

These last few days have seen a concerted effort in the jungle area. All the old chicken fencing has been removed, along with the many brambles which had grown through the fence and up into an apple tree. Many of the apple limbs have also been removed, either because they are dead, of because the centre of the tree is too crowded. There is still more thinning out to do, but that can wait a while. In one corner of the proposed jungle is a very old dilapidated hen hut. This had formed part of the boundary of the hen run, and a space behind it has been used as somewhere to put stuff which we could not decide what to do with. Basically, it had become a rubbish dump for old chairs, a luggage rack, many logs, and several rolls of wire netting. A trailer is now full and awaiting a trip to the tip, and a path is being created around the shed, which will be repaired and repainted to be a feature in the jungle.

About seven years ago we planted a Victoria plum tree, which has been growing steadily, and we have had a small harvest until this year. We now have a bumper crop, which we have to pick before the weight breaks off the branches. Usually at this stage the ripest plums are being eaten by wasps, but so far there are no wasps to be seen. The lovely red apple tree is also very heavily laden, and some of the apples are so crowded that they cannot grow. I think we should thin them, but as it is a full size tree, this is hardly a practicable solution. However, there will be plenty for our needs, and as everyone in the local area has apple trees, it is sometimes difficult to give the fruit away. Local pig farmers usually get quite a lot of barrows full of windfalls. Many more go on the compost heaps. These rot down quite quickly, and add bulk to our compost.


August 14th 2016

One of our reasonable new beds, which we planted up with hebes, suffered quite badly during the very wet winter, and we lost most of the hebes, which do not like to be water-logged. So we decided to change the planting to something more tolerant of the conditions, and heathers seem to be the answer. The weed suppressing membrane was lifted, and the bark chippings were rotovated in, along with several ton bags of leaf mould, and half a ton of grit, to improve drainage. Two bales of ericaceous compost were also added, and after several really good sessions with the rotovator, a beautiful tilth was achieved.

There is a specialist nursery on line for many different species of heathers, and they supply bundles of winter flowering and summer flowering heathers, three of each of seventeen varieties in each collection. So we took delivery of one hundred and two little plants, each in a 3 pot, and carefully wrapped up in damp newspaper. The plants were all in brilliant condition, and after a generous watering, we mapped out the arrangement of thirty four different heathers, taking into consideration flower colour, foliage colour, flowering season and height. We then laid them out in the proposed positions, and adjusted slightly to make a pleasing arrangement. A quick trip to a nearby garden centre to purchase five dwarf conifers, and we have what we hope will be a successful and colourful bed, largely visible from the house, so the winter flowering varieties will brighten those months when not a lot of plants are displaying well. A top dressing of bark chips, and the job is finished. A good week’s work.


September 25th 2016

As the season draws on, harvest is in full swing. The runner and French beans are more or less finished now, but there is still plenty of produce to go at. Spring onions and beetroot are nearly all used by now, as they have been so deliciously sweet we could not resist them. Spinach is also being used at a respectable rate, as we love the full flavour of fresh leaves, so much better than after being frozen. A single vegetable spaghetti, a species of squash, is fattening nicely, and will soon be heading into the kitchen. Several courgettes are rapidly turning into marrows, which I usually bake in the oven with a savoury mince stuffing, covered with grated cheese.

Dead heading continues to be required, except in the case of certain decorative seedheads, such as nigella, which we leave throughout the winter. Some seeds are collected ready for next year. Last year we bought a very attractive grass with heart shaped seeds, and we allowed it to seed where it was. This year we have had a wonderful display of flowering and seeding grass, and earlier I placed some seed trays with compost underneath the setting seeds. Hopefully, next spring I will have several plants to put out into the meadow, and gradually build up a collection of this lovely grass, If only I knew what it was called!

Apples and blackberries are plentiful, while the sloes are plumping up nicely. This year has been a good one for bramble growth, and there are many aerial runners, waiting to snag the unwary passer by. I shall have to attack some of them with my trusty secateurs, as they are a danger to eyes. We shall not miss out on next year’s crop, as there are several patches of bramble which are prolific in their fruit production. I am not normally an adherent of health and safety issues, but I do value my eyes.


August 21st 2016

So, after the very wet beginning to the year, we have been enjoying a reasonably long warm dry spell. Our heavy clay soil has dried out and shrunk, leaving gaps around any hard landscaping such as brick mowing strips and retaining walls. The previous owners of our property had a rotary drier, which was held in position by a steel sleeve in the ground. At times of drought, this emerges as the land around it shrinks, and right now it is about 2.5cm proud of the surrounding grass. However, a few showers have made the garden look fresher and happier. One plant which really does suffer in hot dry weather is the ligularia we bought a couple of years ago in Northumberland. It droops its leaves and assumes an attitude of complete dejection. Now, however, it has perked up no end.

As the season progresses, maintenance is key to keeping the garden looking good. Cranesbill geraniums require frequent trimming, effectively deadheading, but also keeping the entire plant under control. Lupins which were deadheaded a week or so ago are giving a second display, as are some of the shrubs which flower earlier in the season. This second flowering is usually less exuberant than the main one, but none the less welcome for that. Day lilies and calendula are still in full bloom, as are the recently planted dianthus and dahlias. Colour is still there, in brilliant patches which draw the eye along the long border. This border is about to be extended yet again, giving us somewhere to plant azaleas and camellias, which we do not have at present. Our clay soil is just about the right pH level for these plants, so hopefully in a couple of years we will have a stunning display

June 11th 2017

So the British weather continues to be variable, affecting cricket and gardening. This warm and very wet weather is enabling all the plants to grow rapidly, whether wanted plants or weeds. The young heather bed is growing up really quickly, but the weeds are requiring constant attention. The area this bed is in is quite damp, and a course bog grass is one of the more persistent weeds which grows underneath the heather plants, so is fairly well established by the time it appears above the heather leaves. Yesterday saw me start to clear weeds from the back of the long border, now that the daffodil leaves have been mown. The boundary hedge behind it needs trimming, and the back edge of the border needs to be redefined. One of the more tenacious weeds here is vetch, which has very strong thread-like roots, and the tendrils climb up through any support plants they can. Also, although most of our trees are in the opposite side of the garden, there are lots of very young tree seedlings. I suppose the birds are doing their bit of seed spreading on the way to their nests in the conifer hedge.

The front garden needs some attention too, with a number of iris spikes needing to be cut down, and various plants requiring dead-heading. The polyanthus are having a rest right now, but will be back with their spectacular blooms in a month or so. Several clumps need to be divided, and this is an almost ongoing process, when the weeding is done around them. We have four areas of gravel, all of which have weed suppressing membrane beneath, but many small weedlings still manage to find enough nourishment to grow, and a very tough red leaved clover has managed to penetrate the membrane with its fine roots. A regular raking deals with the smaller weeds, but the clover needs to be pulled or sprayed. Some of the small weeds are recognisably self seeded annuals which we planted in nearby beds to fill gaps between the perennials and shrubs. We have some mimulus which we bought and planted three years ago, and some of them have survived very mild winter weather, and some are new seedlings. The result is a wonderful colourful mix.

Water lilies are beginning to flower now, and the leaves provide shade and shelter for tadpoles and young newts and frogs. The pond is in need of a total refurbishment, as the liner is rotting, and the water lilies are overgrown and overcrowded. Next year! The list is growing already, as we achieve some of our targets for this year, and find new ones for the future. One of the joys of gardening is that one can never say that everything is done. There is always something else to do or plan.


March 19th 2017

Spring really does see to have arrived now. The daytime temperatures are steadily increasing, and the hours of daylight are noticeably greater. I spent a happy hour weeding the young heather bed, which we planted last year. Out of more than one hundred small heather plants, we have lost only about three, which I consider good value, especially considering that the plants were very small when we planted them. Most of them have nearly doubled in size already, and many are flowering happily. We selected a mixture of flowering seasons, with the winter flowering plants being planted in the part of the bed that could be seen from the house.

One of our remaining bamboo clumps is in desperate need of cleaning out, as it has one and two year old canes as well as some very vigorous bramble canes, which try to attack any passers by. They are especially dangerous to anyone on the mower, as they catch and then spring back. I shall have to sort them out quickly, before the birds settle in.

We spent half an hour listing all the garden jobs that need doing this week, and then listing them in order of priority, and allocating them to one or the other of us, or both together. As ever, not all of them will get done within the hoped for time scale, but it does focus the mind if there is a list, and quite a few of them have been crossed off already. One of my tasks was to clear a large invasion of Vinca Major, a very enthusiastic plant which has set down runners throughout the first section of the long border. At the time we started that bed, it seemed a good idea to use some of the plants we found around the garden to fill up some spaces. However, despite frequent pruning , it is rapidly taking over, and a couple of hebes are being smothered. So it has been decided that the vinca must go from here. We do still have some in the shade beds, where it is not quite so successful, so not as invasive. It will probably take several years of concerted clearance to totally destroy this patch, as there are many rooting suckers travelling beneath the weed suppressant matting, so there will still be new plantlets trying their luck. However, hopefully, our perseverance will prevail.


We have been working on tidying up some areas of the garden. Not all the garden can be worked at the moment, as the recent rain has made some areas very soggy, but the gravel beds to the side of the house were in some need of attention. A couple of years ago I purchased a very attractive grass, which has lovely seed heads. We put the pot in the gravel area, and waited to see what would happen. Seemingly that was the perfect location for this grass, as it is trying to colonise the area, to the detriment of other plants. So I have been down on my knees removing as much of this grass as possible. We were told that it was an annual, but the root systems are very strong, and will require several attempts to clear them. Some of the grass plants will be planted in the wildflower meadow, where they will not have so much freedom to spread.

There is a lot of new growth; an Osmanthus shrub is laden with flower buds, which when open will perfume the part of the garden near the front door. The goat willow buds are growing fast, and show silver against the sky. Several clumps of sedum spectabile are starting to push their new shoots up. These are beloved of bees, butterflies and hoverflies in late summer. As soon as the garden is somewhat drier, we hope to prepare the long border extension for planting. We already have some of the plants for it, but a trip to a nursery will be necessary to stock up.


February 19th 2017

This is the time of year when each mild day brings hopes of the onset of spring, but beware, there is still plenty of time for winter to return with a vengeance. However, there are many signs of the passage of time. Snowdrops are wonderful now, in churchyards, on verges, and in gardens everywhere. We have a couple of areas where drainage trenches were backfilled with topsoil which seems to have either bulbs or seeds, and the tiny flowers are appearing all along the length of the trenches. Two years ago we split an overgrown clump of snowdrops, and spread them around, but it would seem that we did not lift all the bulbs, as the original clump is as dense as it ever was.

Among some red barked cornus, we have a large viburnum bodnantense, which has clouds of pink flowers now, seemingly floating among the cornus branches. Another stunning item at present is a mature garrya elliptica, which has long tassels of flowers, havig no special colour, but looking spectacular anyway. Its common name is silk tassel bush which aptly describes it. At a time of year when there is not a lot of colour, form becomes more important, and this shrub performs most successfully.


January 22nd 2017

Meanwhile, following our stunning trip to some wonderful places, our own garden has been coping with winter. The autumn weather was so mild that the grass continued growing, and now is looking somewhat unkempt, with dead leaves still lying, although not too thickly, as one collection with the mower’s grass collector did remove the mulch layer, allowing air and light in, so the grass does not turn yellow and slimy. We have been putting some effort into preparing the extension to the long border, with three or four bags of leaf mould and several barrow loads of top soil being rotovated in. It is almost as full as it needs to be before we level it, and lay weed suppressor down. We plan to lift a few plants from the existing long border, especially where either there is a need for thinning, or where there are too many of one type of plant, so by removing some to the far end a repeat pattern will be established. Then we will have to take a trip to some of our favourite nurseries to select the shrubs we want, such as azaleas and camellias. This is perhaps one of the most exciting times in the garden, when we can plan for the years ahead.

The heather bed we established last year is doing quite well. We selected some winter flowering plants, and they are currently blooming, while most of the plants, which were quite small when we planted them, have settled down and grown some, which bodes well for the next couple of seasons. We also planted among the heathers four or five dwarf conifers, which have also put on some growth. They will have to be watched carefully, as we do not want them to grow too large. The golden yew might need its growing tip cutting back in a couple of years if it looks too happy in its new home.

Another winter chore we intend tackling involves the two tunnel beds. They have become thoroughly untidy, so we plan to lift everything from them, raise the overall level as they are in a very wet area, and replant with a more controlled selection of plants. I hope to dispose of all the vinca major, which sends out suckers to all parts of the bed whether required there or not. The plan is to select plants with an average height of about thirty centimetres, with just one or two taller plants to give interest to the bed. The specifics have yet to be decided on. That’s the fun part.


June 26th 2016

So we arrive at Wimbledon fortnight, green grass, strawberries and cream, British high summer.

In full swing also now is the National Gardens Scheme season, that organisation which allows us to visit gardens belonging to members of the public, and for a modest entry fee we can collect ideas from other enthusiasts, while supporting a worthwhile cause at the same time. Founded in 1927, the scheme supports various organisations, mostly connected to nursing or caring, where the aims and objectives of the organisation are also set out. Mostly we enjoy a peek at gardens usually set out, planted and maintained by ordinary people, with no specialised training, but loads of enthusiasm and energy. Inspirational and enjoyable, what better way is there to spend an occasional afternoon? Sometimes the garden belongs to a special house, and the opportunity to wander round otherwise private grounds is exceptional.

Quite often a village or district will combine several gardens in a single entry, with maps or yellow arrows directing you from one to another. It makes a fascinating study, the way different gardens and gardeners within a small area create very different themes and effects. It is difficult not to come home with head stuffed with plans, ideas and ambitions. Some of the gardens even have plant sales areas, so you can put some of the ideas into practice immediately. And all for a good cause

February 28th 2016

As we bid farewell to February and greet March, it is very evident that the new gardening season is well under way. Not only are there all the signs of the onset of spring, as mentioned previously, but also there is an increasing need for action to be taken on the weeding front. The warm, damp weather has been perfect for the growth of both annual and perennial weeds. I noticed the other day that the gravel bed to the side of the house is beginning to show weed growth. The whole bed has been covered with weed suppressing membrane with a topping of fine gravel. This prevents the growth of most weeds, but small ones still manage to find enough nourishment in the dust which settles in the gravel. They are mostly destroyed by a periodic raking, which also removes sundry leaves, feathers and other detritus brought in by the wind. However, even the membrane is not proof against the most determined plants. We thought that we had lifted all the bulbs which had been planted in a straight border many years ago by previous occupants. However, each year daffodils force their way through, showing exactly where the former bed had been.

The front garden also needs some TLC, especially the removal of those plants which we had left for winter interest. The Sedum Spectabile is now showing new shoots, so we need to remove all the old flower heads. Some weeds are visible now, but will be hidden as soon as the intended plants start to bulk up, so we must set to very soon, as the increasing temperatures suggest that growth will start very soon.

The part of the garden which has been under water since Boxing Day is gradually emerging, but it is in a very sorry state. The coating of mud and rotted leaves not only looks most unpleasant, but it is further smothering the soil, preventing the recovery of the grass and plants. It is still far too wet and soggy to walk on, so and remedial work cannot be attempted yet. Time will tell what damage has been done to the contents of the beds.

December 27th 2015

Whereas normally the eastern edge of our garden is the drier side, as there is a strip of woodland along the boundary, today the situation is reversed. As a result of the excessive rain and the flooding throughout the greater region, the drainage becks and channels are full to overflowing, with the result that we have six inches of water covering about one third of our garden. It would seem that there was a strong gust of wind during last night, with the result that the bird table and feeding station was lying down in the water this morning. The small birds were fluttering around trying to find their breakfast, most of which was in the water. Donning my wellies, I ventured out into a mid, still and sunny morning, and I had to wade through three to four inches of water to reach the table. The seed feeder needs to dry out before I put more seed into it, or the grins will start to go mouldy. The peanuts are wet, but as the bluetits eat these very quickly, I have left them, and will keep a watch on them for a day or so, and not add new nuts on top of the old ones. If there are still some nuts left after a couple of days, I will completely replace them, as peanuts turn into a solid mass is left damp for too long. However, I shall not be visiting other parts of the garden for a while, as I do not want to cause additional damage by walking on saturated land. Looking round, we feel sympathy for all those whose gardens and homes are inundated for the second or even third time within a month. Roll on next year, let’s have a new start.

May I take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy New Year, and to wish you a very fulfilling 2016.



December 6th 2015

While there is a great deal to do in the garden in the wake of the latest storm, we have to be so grateful that we have not suffered the floods and gale force winds experienced elsewhere in the country. Our garden is extremely wet, and the duck hut in the pond is almost submerged, but we have had it worse. All but a few determined leaves have come down this past week, and many of them have blown right away. However, some are hunkering down in various corners, waiting to be added to the leaf mould bags. Meanwhile, there are indoor jobs to be done. The greenhouse has been stripped of all tomato plants, and any other remaining plant life, and the compost bags have been emptied. Spent gro-bags provide excellent mulch material, with all the added benefits of any remaining goodness left behind, the soil improving properties, and insulation from frosts for tender plants. Another indoor task I have been occupied with this past week is cleaning up tools ready for their winter rest. Cutting tools such as shears, loppers and secateurs all benefit from a thorough cleaning. The cutting efficiency can be impaired when there is a build up of grease from the plant materials being trimmed, so a rub down with WD40 oil applied with Wet and Dry sandpaper removed this build up, and cleans the blades. Plus, the thin film of oil left behind protects the metal from rust if kept in a damp place. Spades and forks also benefit from a clean up, and again the coating of oil will help prevent rusting. Besides which, there is great satisfaction to be gained from the sight of a rack of clean, oied tools waiting for the next season.


November 29th 2015

As we ease towards December, being only just over three weeks from the shortest day, after which the days start to become longer, there are still quite a lot of leaves on some of our trees. The poplars, ash and all the fruit trees have dropped virtually all their leaves, but the oak and willow trees are still clinging on to theirs. The oak leaves are a beautiful golden colour, but the willows are still a dull green. At this time of year, we do wish that they would hurry up and finish dropping, so we can clear up, and add to our leaf mould collection.

Now is the time to finally clean up the flower beds, as the few frosts we have had managed to finish off many of the annuals, such as begonias and nasturtiums. These two both have fleshy stems, which are broken down by the frosts. Some others, such as mimulus, are much hardier, and have actually survived two winters so far, without any special treatment. They have been left out in the ground exactly where we initially planted them, and both the original plants and many self-seeded young plants are thriving.

The strappy leaved plants such as crocosmia and kniphofia are looking very untidy as the leaves start to droop, but I like to leave them as long as possible, so the leaves can continue to feed the plants or corms. However, there comes a time when I feel that they must be cleaned up for appearance sake. Our peonies have already been stripped of their dead leaves, and the crowns are protected by mulch. Our weather patterns are so strange at the moment that some plants start growing again far too soon, and are then cut down by frosts. Some plants cannot be protected, but those that can will have a layer of leaf mould or compost over them, which will also feed the new growth next season.


November 8th 2015

The past week has presented us with a true mixed bag of weather. Plenty of rain has made the exposed part of our garden extremely soggy, while the winds have brought down masses of leaves. Temperatures, however, remain high, with daytime highs of about 17-18ºC and overnight lows still in double figures. So the grass is still growing and flowers are still colourful. In fact, I noticed only yesterday that I need to do more deadheading to keep the borders looking tidy. A gardening article in this weekend’s FT suggests that we are now enjoying about three weeks extra growing and flowering season than we did in the 1990s. Another article suggests that there are no tangible signs of global warming. An interesting conflict!

The apple and pear crops have mostly landed on the ground now, assisted by the winds of the past couple of days. I have used what I can in puddings and preserves, and have absolutely no more space in my freezer for more apples, so the last will be collected for the neighbouring pigs. The promised trip with our young visitors and a wheelbarrow full of windfalls was very successful. Not only pigs, but cattle, sheep and poultry were fed the apples under the watchful eyes of the farmer. Our chickens were fed the pulp following my jelly making, but they are obviously too well fed, and turned their noses up at it. The second jelly batch was much juicier, so I have a cupboard full of mint jelly to last a year or two. My family keeps me well supplied with glass jars for preserves, and they come in all shapes and sizes, which makes a visit to the store cupboard quite interesting!



November 1st 2015

Mist and fog is the order of the day today, making a typical start to November. It always seems so much darker when misty, and the days seem lots shorter. The hens are in bed by about 3 pm in this sort of weather. However, this is an ideal time to make the second batch of mint jelly; an excuse to stay indoors on a mucky day.

The autumn weather seems to be getting warmer and warmer. Overnight temperatures are in double figures and daytime temperatures approaching 20ºC. Not at all seasonal. It is however quite damp, with mists and rain to remind us that is it getting towards winter. We harvested some of our parsnips for a roast dinner for our visitors, and they really do need a frost to bring out the sweetness we all love. However, several apple puddings were well appreciated and enjoyed.

A few days of wind have brought down lots of leaves. The poplar trees are nearly bare now, but the oaks still have lots of green leaves, as well as lovely autumn coloured ones. As soon as we can we need to collect the fallen leaves, before they become too wet and soggy to pick up. There is a pleasing amount of colour still in the garden, with cyclamen flowering in several places, and a few clumps of sedum spectabile being more vibrant than usual. Penstemons are also still flowering, as are the potato vines. When the sun shines, there are many insects drinking their fill of the goodness still on offer. This year has been good for butterflies and hoverflies, and latterly there have been a lot of speckled wood butterflies.

As the season draws towards Autumn, we are making a concerted effort to complete all those tasks we planned for this year. One job I have been intending to do all year is to clean out under the long Leylandii hedge which separates our garden from our neighbours’. When we bought the house, there were two parallel hedges, each about 45 feet high, with the resulting impact on light and water availability. Our first step was to remove the top 30 feet of our hedge, leaving a very untidy hedge about 15 feet high. Our neighbours followed suit, dropping their hedge to about 10 feet high. Immediately we gained about two hours of sunlight in our garden, and the lawn began to grow where before it had been starved of light. Eventually we removed our hedge completely, as it formed a pointless narrow corridor. So now, behind our long border we have a 10 feet high conifer hedge which was sadly neglected for many years. It is still about six feet wide at the base, as leylandii cannot be trimmed hard back beyond green growth, so we are limited as to what we can do. However, this past week we have been concentrating on removing unwanted elder and honeysuckle, as well as nettles. Our neighbours, whose hedge it is, have done a brilliant job of cleaning up their side of the boundary fence, so now it is our turn. Sadly, the green growth does not go right down to the ground, but the long border will hide any gaps, and maintain privacy for both sides.

We still have water lilies flowering, and our white solanum (potato vine) is producing a splendid late summer display.


August 9th 2015

As we approach the middle of August, and seem to be experiencing a couple of weeks of mild drought, everything in the garden seems to have slowed down somewhat. The grass is still growing, but not as quickly as earlier in the year, and even the weeds are not as rampant as formerly.

The major task being undertaken at the moment is the removal of the fruit cage, as discussed a couple of weeks ago. Removing the netting was quite tricky, as fruit bushes and blackberry canes had grown through it, needing to be severely cut back to extricate from the net. The canes had spread throughout the entire area, rooting wherever they touched soil. We had planted goji berries and honey berries, neither of which lived up to expectations, but both of which grew rampantly. We have completely removed both of these, as well as one very dead gooseberry bush. We have retained a dessert gooseberry, two redcurrants, a blackcurrant and a jostaberry, which is a large fruited form of blackcurrant. All the rest has been cleared, and plans are afoot for the making of a rose garden instead. As there were a number of rose bushes planted by a former owner, we have a start, and just need to decide which others we want to add.

We have just had two dogs stay with us for a week, and they thoroughly enjoyed the various paths, and especially the long grasses in the meadow, where balls could be successfully hidden. We have had a chance to enjoy the garden at different times, especially last thing in the evening when the dogs went out for a last wander before bed.

July 12th 2015

The weather this past week has been wonderful for working in the garden, and we have managed to get on top of the maintenance and weeding. We purchased a pair of lawn edging shears which have transformed the appearance of our beds. As I weed and trim, I imagine that I am doing it for an open garden event, and that there would be many critical eyes studying my efforts. It does concentrate the mind on overall appearance, and finish. We cannot easily rake and hoe at the moment, as we have large areas where annual seeds have been planted, and we are not always sure whether the tiny plants we can see are seedlings or weedlings. However, gradually they are becoming obvious, and we can now identify most of them. Many of them are in flower already, and we intend allowing some of each to seed, so we should have more next year as well.

It often amuses me that those plants which are really happy, and grow and increase their numbers, soon become a menace. What starts out as a highly desirable plant soon becomes the equivalent of a weed. Some years ago we planted a pheasant berry, or Leycesteria, and it has really done well. We have divided it many times, using it as a filler whenever we started a new bed. However, it is now in as many places as we want it, and still it keeps spreading. Friends and family as well as local plant sales have all been given plants, and we have no more places to put them. We shall just have to compost the unwanted plants.

May 24th 2015

We have a very large willow which until a few years ago was audibly noisy with insects during its flowering weeks, late March, April and Early May, but these past few years there have definitely been considerably fewer bees, hoverflies and the like. Earlier this year there was one day when there was little wind, and we could see some insects in the blossoms, but nowhere near as many as we would like to see.

The first hatchings of young birds have been enjoying their first outings this past couple of weeks, moorhens, sparrows, blackbirds at least and quite a few too far away to identify. The parents are being kept very busy feeding these insatiable mouths. The worm population in our garden must be very depleted by now.

As the land dries out, and the weather improves, the prospect of getting to work in the garden looms ever closer. Where we were able to walk on the grass areas, we have had a large amount of twiggy material to collect up, and areas of flattened leaves to attack with the spring rake. We decided that we would cause less damage by raking up the leaves and moss thatch than would be caused by leaving it to smother any new growth of grass. In some areas the grass is completely dead, so we shall probably have to spread seed, and ironically this will probably need watering in!

We anticipate a really long daffodil season, as the bulbs from the drier side of the garden are in full bloom already, while those on the inundated side are significantly behind. Not only do we have brilliant yellow splashes of daffodils, but the polyanthus are performing strongly as well. Not only the yellow and orange, which seem to be the strongest, but also the blue and the red. The blue looks particularly good with snowdrops growing through. The contrast shows really well at this time of year, when we do not have a great deal of colour.

We visited a winter garden last week and were impressed by a red leaved bergenia, so we bought a couple of plants to add to our winter appeal. We were also tempted by a red flowered broom, which we will add to our front garden, which has a predominately red theme. A couple of winter aconites which I have always loved and some wild primroses complete our purchases for the week. It is always dangerous to the purse when we visit good gardens with plant sales areas



So much happens so quickly at this time of year, it is quite a challenge prioritising all the urgent jobs. Following the demise of our pergola, a new stronger one has been made from timber and trellis. This is far more imposing than the previous one, so the two halves of the flower bed it traverses will need more dominating planting. I have an increasing collection of Penstemons, but something will be required for early season impact. I like achillea and astrantia, with asters in and among. It is completely coincidental that all begin with the letter A.

In preparation for the new bolder planting, we have been cleaning up the two halves of the bed. Last year we removed most of the self seeded foxgloves, or at least we thought we had. This last week we have removed at least twenty more, and there is no guarantee that we have found them all. However, our need for more is now exhausted, and friends have all been showered with plants, so any more will have to be sacrificed. My shade and woodland beds have absorbed as many as possible, but there has to come the time to say enough. I have also planted out many more self seeded pulmonaria. We bought quite a lot of different pulmonaria last year; they were very small plants which are now beginning to bulk out well. The first shade bed is looking good now, but I still want to add some more heathers. A couple of Bergenia donated by my sister-in-law are showing well, but have not flowered this year.

While planting out some of these home propagated plants, I lifted about one third of a snowdrop clump. The flowers have finished, so now is a good time to relocate them while in the green. Next week I shall try to lift another third, leaving the last third in situ until next year. It is so satisfying when plants increase so readily, showing that they are happy in their locations.

February 5th 2017

So 2017 is marching steadily towards springtime. We have plenty still to do before the warmer weather sets in, but much of it is planning. The extension to the long border is to be home primarily to azaleas and camellias, so we made a wish list last week to try to ensure variety of colour, a balance between evergreen and deciduous, and as long a flowering season as possible. Later this week we shall be visiting one of our favourite nurseries, which does not have an on-line catalogue, so a personal visit is necessary. We do know which national nurseries stock our selection, but wherever possible we like to support smaller, local businesses.

The days are getting noticeably longer now, which is always a cheering sign that the year is progressing. However, we must not wish time away, as we have several jobs to do, one of which is to lay down weed suppressing membrane over the long border extension. We like to place this at the back of the bed, with a wavy edged front margin left uncovered, where annuals and bulbs can flower freely. This method does entail a small amount of weeding, but we feel that getting down on our knees keeps us in touch with what is growing in the garden. This front margin is also where we shall be planting those plants being lifted from the tunnel beds, when we eventually get round to it.

The bonfire patch is also now ready for a tidy-up. The ashes and soil deposited from plant matter will be dug up and spread on various beds, especially where the soil needs improvement. Every year I vow to keep the bonfire patch sorted out and tidy, but then we have a busy weekend clearing old matter, and the pile grows high again. However, this year..

While out and about this weekend, we spotted not only lots of snowdrops, but also quite a few daffodils. Early, but a cheerful message.


February 22nd 2015

While the weather continues its mixed bag of conditions, the signs that spring is not too far away continue. Our snowdrops are going from strength to strength. One clump is situated very close to a mature weeping willow tree, so last year, while they were still in the green, I lifted half of it, having to work round the tree's roots to get at the bulbs. I split and planted the lifted bulbs, and this year these relocated plants are doing well. Oddly, the area from which they were removed has produced an even denser clump of small snowdrops, most of which are flowering, although they are much smaller than their neighbours. So, later this year I am planning to lift the second half of the original clump.

Earlier in the week we visited a favourite nursery, and purchased a number of hebe plants for the bed around the medlar tree. The clearing of this area is continuing slowly, as the ground is so wet that any concerted efforts result in heavily compacted land. However, it will be done in time to plant out these new hebes. Also, a number of existing hebes will have cuttings taken from them, as most hebes take very easily from cuttings. I have a small area of Red Edge hebes, from which I took cuttings a couple of years ago. All rooted well, and after a year of growing on in pots, I planted the new plants out alongside the parent plants, to thicken and extend the solid clump I am trying to create. After one year of growth, the new plants have nearly caught up with the parents in size and density. It's always so pleasing to create new plants for no outlay.


February 8th 2015

As we come to the end of a week of cooler weather, temperatures do seem to be rising slightly. There are many signs of growth in the garden, Vibernums are flowering freely, as are several hellebores. Not to forget the beautiful snowdrops, going from strength to strength. The leaf spires of many bulbs are getting ever higher, and several of our shrubs are showing signs of leaf burst. Altogether a cheerful time.

However, there is still a great need for feeding the wild birds, as food is still scarce for them. I put out three feeders, holding peanuts, fat balls and mixed seed. The variety of birds visiting is gratifying; pheasants and moorhens, blackbirds and thrushes, pigeons and doves, tits of various type including long tailed, and chaffinches, sparrows, robins and the occasional wren. There are probably more types, as they flutter about so much it is frequently difficult to see what they are. One chaffinch, each day as I go out to fill the feeders, calls from the safety of a juniper bush, as if to say thank you. Yes, I know, that’s anthropomorphism in the extreme, but it is good to think that they might be grateful for the food. Also grateful is the increasing number of grey squirrels who visit and thieve. Our granddaughter made a seed and fat pudding in a yogurt pot, and a squirrel removed it from the container and sat happily eating what had been made for the birds

January 14th 2018

What should be done in the garden this month?

One of the jobs that can be beneficial is the recycling of your Christmas tree by shredding it for mulch. If you do not have a shredder, most local authorities will accept real Christmas trees for shredding and making compost, either for municipal plantings, or some distribute their compost to residents.

If you have not already cleaned all your pots and trays ready for Spring, now is a good time to do it, as your Spring seed planting will be so much quicker if you already have clean receptacles. Any vacant plots which have not already been dug over can be attended to now, and any frosts still ahead of us will help break down the soil into friable material.

It is suggested that worm casts in lawns should be dispersed. This can be done by the gentle use of a yard brush, In our case the main problem is not worms, but moles. One of our molehills was surely made by a jumbo mole.

If you have any stored tubers of Dahlia, Begonia and Canna, now is the time to check them for any signs of rot or of drying out. Any other plants over-wintering in the greenhouse should be checked for being too dry, as compost should be kept just moist, so the roots do not dry out and die.

Now is the time to prune apple and pear trees. Start by removing crossing, rubbing, weak, dead, diseased, damaged and dying branches. As the pruning is carried out when the trees are dormant, it can be difficult identifying dying and dead branches, so it is helpful to mark them during the time when leaves are still on the tree. Tie a coloured wool marker onto the branch to be removed. This will ensure you do not miss any. Always make sure that you use sharp secateurs and loppers to minimise damage which would allow disease to enter the wound. Any diseased matter should be burnt rather than composted, as the latter would allow the spread of the disease. The ideal to aim for is an open crowned tree, allowing free access for light and air. A badly maintained tree may need several years of gentle treatment so the shock is not too great.

Now is also the time to start forcing rhubarb, This is a device whereby rhubarb is forced into early growth by creating artificially abnormal conditions. Use a large pot, dustbin or decorative rhubarb forcer to cover the crown. Cover all holes to exclude light. In cooler areas or to speed forcing, insulate the outside of the pot with a thick layer of straw or bubble wrap. It will take about 7-8 weeks before the stems are ready for harvesting. A crown which has been forced should not be harvested during the summer, as it will need to recover its strength.


January 25tth 2015

Well, after all the weather excitement of December and early January, the past week has been very quiet. There has been a lot of sunshine, which is always welcome. It has been a good time to do lots of tidying up following the windy weather we have experienced. Bulbs are showing well, with snowdrops increasingly in flower now. There is still plenty of winter ahead, so we are not removing the leaves from the beds, as these form a natural mulch, protecting plants from frosts. However, the blackbirds have been very busy throwing the leaves around, as they search for grubs and insects.

The coloured stems of the dogwoods are showing well, and winter vibernums are in flower, adding their scent to the garden. This is the time of year when colour is in short supply, so shape and form is all important. Conifers are valuable at all times, but especially now, and particularly golden or blue varieties. We have a golden pyramid shaped conifer two thirds of the way down the shrub border, and it draws the eye to it and beyond. Similarly, our white stemmed rubus cockburnianus is like a shining sculpture with its long curving stems. As soon as it starts developing leaves, it will be cut back hard, ready for a new season’s growth.


January 11th 2015

The recent and ongoing windy weather is taking its toll in the garden. Seats have been thrown around, and the bird table is lying on the ground, where it can stay until the wind eases off. One heavy pot with a small conifer has also been blown over, with what must have been a very strong gust, as the centre of gravity is quite low. It is also staying where it is for now, as it cannot be damaged where it is. There are several tree branches down, which need tidying up when the weather calms down a bit. At the moment there is some risk of further falling limbs under the trees, so I shall wait a while before venturing there. The tunnel has also been blown down, and I shall have to study it later to see if it is repairable. I had done some work on it, but the last few days have been quite wild. Thankfully, nothing like as bad as some parts of the country have experienced. Some of the pictures on various news sites make one realise just how unforgiving wind can be.
Although we have had some frosts, the overall temperatures have been mild, and there are already signs of spring. There is considerable growth above ground from the snowdrops and some daffodils. The herb bed is still producing usable greenery, although it is not quite as tender as it was during the summer months. I plan to re-do the herbs this coming spring, as some are now over grown. The thyme is beautiful, falling off the brick edges, but it is too woody, and needs serious attention. I shall probably sort out half this year, and the other half next. It always feels good to be planning for the warmer weather. The mornings and evenings are getting steadily lighter, days are measurably longer.

January 4th 2015

Firstly, may I wish you a very happy New Year. May 2015 bring you health and a flourishing garden. As I write this I am watching my bird feeders. Following a fairly sharp frost this morning, I decided to make a concerted effort to render the bird table as squirrel proof as possible. I was given a seed feeder with a squirrel proof guard, but it only took our pests about five minutes to figure out how to open the top of the feeder and feast from there. The lid has projections which slide into a groove, then are twisted into a slot. The lid is held in place by a chain, through which I have threaded wire to prevent it from being turned in the slot. So far so good. The birds are enjoying the feed, and there is a large family of long-tailed tits working hard to fill up before tonight’s forecast frost.

We are gradually eating our root vegetables, parsnips, carrots and white beetroot, Sadly, so are mice, each root we dig up has tiny toothmarks. Christmas lunch had plenty of roast parsnips, a firm family favourite. Another favourite is Brussels Sprouts, and I am planning to try a new recipe from Jamie Oliver, sliced sprouts with smoked bacon and garlic. What’s not to love!

January brings planning, with many a happy hour spent perusing all the seed catalogues which land on our doormat. Although much ordering is done on-line, there is a lot of pleasure to be had in flicking through the booklets, looking at the pictures of what these vegetables and flowers should look like in some months to come. Happy days!

By now most plants which were being grown in the greenhouse, such as tomatoes, cucumbers and seedlings being grown on, are just about finished. There are still some green tomatoes on the vines, but they are not likely to ripen now, as our greenhouse is not heated. So now is the time for some housework in the greenhouse. This may be something of a chore, but cleaning out greenhouses, gutters and water butts is an important one. Whether your greenhouse is glass or plastic, removing the algae, moss and grime greatly improves the growing environment for plants. It also lets in more light and helps control pests and diseases too. Choose the right day to do this task, preferable a dry and calm day. If there are any plants which will need to be returned to the greenhouse, remove them and protect them with fleece or bubblewrap. Sweep up all debris for relegation to the compost heap, or removal from the garden. The structural parts should then be washed, either with hydrogen peroxide products, Jeyes Fluid, specialised greenhouse cleaning products or household products can be used. Using hot water helps loosen the stuck bits. Panes of glass should then be washed both inside and out, and any bits trapped between the panes should be teased out. Try using a flexible plastic plant label for this job. If your greenhouse has plastic panes, test a small area to make sure your chosen cleaning product does not cause damage. Replace any broken parts. Clean staging and thoroughly wash trays and pots, as well as any tools kept in the greenhouse. Once all is clean, tidy and dry, bring back the plants previously removed. Take this opportunity also to check your supplies of products such as water gel crystals and slow release fertiliser, checking both for quantities and for use-by dates. This is a good time to stock up, so you have plenty when you need it next spring.

A couple of really sharp frosts still have not removed all the leaves from our trees, so we still cannot do the final leaf collection. However, stiff winds have tended to collect the fallen leaves into select places. Where they are trapped in hedge bottoms, we do tend to leave them, as they provide a natural mulch, and the worms will eventually take them down to enrich the soil. However, some places do need to be cleared. Where they lie thickly on grass we remove them, to allow as much light as possible to reach the grass plants, especially beneath the trees, where even summer light is in short supply. So half an hours exercise collecting them together makes for a satisfying job with definite health benefits.


Visit to Abbotsbury

Abbotsbury sub tropical garden in Dorset just inland from Chesil Beach, there is a walled garden and a large very well planted, exotic woodland garden in which there are many different themed areas.

The garden was started in 1765 by the Countess of Ilchester who wanted a vegetable garden for her palace. Initially a wall was built to protect the garden from the elements then subsequent generations added a tree based shelter belt and the gardens increased over the years to the 20 acres that are present today.

Inside the wall are the entrance area and the Victorian garden as well as the restaurant, plant sales and shop and an interesting bothy which contains some of the old tools that have been used in the garden over its lifetime.

Perhaps the best aspects of the garden are in the area outside the walls. The Valley Garden is quite spectacular and has what is thought to be the largest gunnera plantation in the country

The Sino-Himalayan area has many choice plants and provide a very long early-season display of camellias, azaleas and rhododendrons.

The Southern Hemisphere and Mediterranean gardens really show off the mildness of the climate here with many tender plants growing well which would not survive elsewhere. However much damage was done in the storm of 1990 but after clearing fallen trees this was turned into an opportunity to plant many new species to take advantage of the increased sunlight. One fallen tree has been left in place and carved with an owl and a fox being chased by hounds, all exceedingly well done.

You should not miss the opportunity to climb up through the magnolia walk from the end of which you are treated to a stunning view of Chesil Beach to the east and the Jurassic Coast to the west. The proximity of the garden to the Jurassic Coast was the inspiration for the Swamp Garden in which can be found many plants which have also been found in fossil form.

November 23rd 2014

It’s fast approaching the end of November and there are still some leaves on some trees, but most are down now and need to be collected and composted. However, I do feel that it would be a waste of time right now, as by tomorrow there will be a lot more needing to be swept up. A truly iterative process.

The temperature is gradually dropping, but we do still have a number of flowers on potentilla, dianthus, clematis and penstemon, while the winter jasmine is showing beautifully at present. The vegetable plot is also still producing, albeit not a lot now. For some reason our leeks are all about the thickness of pencils, and show no inclination to thicken up. The spinach and beetroot in the raised beds are cropping very well, and being eaten by either squirrels or pigeons if we do not harvest quickly enough.

Since I wrote about last week’s heavy rain we have had yet more, and there is standing water in several parts of the garden. In the middle if the natural pond is a duck hut which is usually fairly high and dry. Today the entrance door is only just showing, with most of it submerged. The pond has left its hole and is spreading over the orchard. The nearby ings are also under water already, a condition not usually experienced until January. It looks as though a boat might be a good investment!

September 28th 2014

It has been a mixed year for produce. Early on it looked as though we were in for a bumper crop of pears, following some judicious pruning of the tree. However, the squirrels had other ideas, and we actually got no pears at all, our worst year ever. Apples crops have also been low this year, while blackberries have been plentiful. Currants always perform well, but despite a large netted fruit cage, the thrushes and blackbirds always beat me to it. My family love home made red currant jelly with our Christmas turkey, but sadly I have been unable to make any for several years, as I have not managed to harvest any.

The raised vegetable beds are already producing, spinach and white beetroots are ready for harvesting, despite being planted only a few weeks ago. Radishes are huge and tender, but the leeks are still not thickening out. In the original beds, the runner and French beans are coming to an end, but it seems there is no limit to the number of courgettes and gherkins. One of my favourite squashes is vegetable spaghetti, of which we have about three. This year the plants produced many male flowers, but only a few female, so the cropping is poor.




We recently visited the island of Jersey which has some major advantages over ours. There are few frosts, and those are short lived, burning off shortly after daybreak. Therefore, many tender plants can be left in the garden all year round. Endemic on the island is the Jersey Lily, Amaryllis belladonna, and it was in full flower during our stay. Also we noticed that many of the hedges comprised hydrangea bushes, also in full flower while we were there. These sported both blue and pink flowers, only in gardens were the different colours to be seen, such as deep red or white. Many of the wild plants are the same as we see here, despite the milder climate. However, we did see a lot of the very decorative black succulent, aeonium, which thrive in the coastal regions. All in all it was great fun spotting the differences in plants.

August 23rd 2014

We have had some strange weather this past few years. Some parts of the country have suffered badly with severe floods. We have had an excess of water at times, but nothing really serious. This summer we have had different types of rain, ranging from the best of light summer showers, which settle the dust and wash off dry plants, making everything smell so sweet and fresh, to torrential downpours as bad as, if not worse than, the monsoon rains of India and other tropical places. It is the heavy cloudbursts which cause the problems, as the land cannot absorb so much water so quickly. On several occasions this year we have had standing water, which can take several days to drain away completely. In between times, large cracks appear where our heavy clay soil dries out.

The fruit is ripening at an alarming pace, plums, apples, blackberries all need picking. We had the beginnings of a healthy crop of pears on a tree which was pruned last autumn, but it would seem that the squirrels also like pears, as there are none left on the tree now. We are still looking for an effective way of dealing with the squirrels, as they do so much damage. We like to feed the birds, especially during the leaner months of winter, but the tree rats get the pick of what we put out. I tried fencing in the bird table. It took the birds about five minutes to find their way in, and the squirrels about six minutes. We are still trying!


August 10th 2014

Back to strange weather as we are visited by the tail end of hurricane Bertha passes over Britain. Last evening saw thunderstorms and some truly spectacular rain, and this morning was similar. Thunder is rolling around at this moment. However, the temperatures are still fairly warm. The new raised vegetable beds are settling down as the rain helps the soil to fill all the gaps down below the surface, and the overall level settles down a couple of inches. We plan to add compost to all three beds, and rotted horse manure to one, so different crops will get their required conditions.

Meanwhile, the planned extension to the shrub border alongside the long walk is being delayed, due to a combination of the weather and other commitments. However, plans are being formulated for it, and autumn planting should still go ahead.
Maintenance of the two shade beds, one created last year and one earlier this year is quite time-consuming at the moment, as the newer one has not had its covering of mulch yet, so there is quite a problem with weed growth. We are hoping to take delivery of some wood chippings later this week, partly for the area between the raised beds, and partly for the shade beds. More barrowing ahead! But it is well worth the effort, for both the appearance and the weed control.


August 3rd 2014

The past week has been somewhat cooler, but still lovely summery temperatures. Many of our new flower plants, both annuals and perennials are performing well, enjoying the weather. A couple of proper summer showers, rather than the tropical-type downpours we have experienced recently, are so good for the garden, and the plants respond eagerly. The container of flame orange lilies is looking stunning, and another container of giant begonias is about to burst into flower. These are not my favourite flower, but they do look impressive when in full bloom.

The water lilies are also still showing well, even though the recent heatwave has reduced the water level by a couple of inches. A nearby town has a garden with a national collection of hardy water lilies, and we recently took some visitors to enjoy a day there, wandering round the various areas of garden, as well as the two lakes with some truly beautiful water lilies.

The year before last, we completely restyled our front garden, and that involved moving a very mature hydrangea, which split into three parts. Last year the three parts were just concentrating on survival. This year two of them are in full flower, although the heads are not quite as large as before the move. However, we are hopeful that they will improve as they settle into their new homes. A top dressing and mulch will help them on their way.

July 27th 2014

The weather is being super, and everything in the garden is doing so well. Last weekend we had a tremendous downpour, with about two inches of rain falling in a couple of hours. Needless to say, the land could not cope, and we had standing water all over the place. However, it did drain away in time, and little damage was done. Since then, the temperatures have been Mediterranean, and the vegetable garden is supplying us with a delicious variety of fresh, tasty food. The broad beans did not crop as well as we hoped, but we have not had great success with them in this garden. A former garden was brilliant for broad beans, and we are trying different locations to see if there is a better spot for them. This year we have the best carrot crop, and the flavour is wonderful. As always, courgettes are performing well, and I am challenged to find different ways to present them, as I prefer not to freeze them, as they tend to collapse, and are not good to use afterwards.

Our planters are needing daily watering this week, but luckily the beds are all well mulched with either bark or gravel, so we have only had to water once, as the rain we are getting from time to time is held in. Yesterday I planted some newly bought Astilbe plants, and the soil in the shade beds is moist below about 5cm depth. Most of the plants I transplanted earlier into the shade beds are doing well, especially the pulmonaria, which are in danger of becoming a nuisance! However, there is an area right on the boundary from where there is a lovely outlook across the shade beds and lawn, so I am planning a seat, surrounded by pulmonaria and foxgloves, where they can spread to their hearts' content! However, that is for next year.

June 12th 2016

We have turned our attention again to our own garden. One of my jobs this week is to clear out a very overgrown nitida hedge, which is home to a very large bramble. Last year we created a compound for bags of leaf mould, and for storing canes and timber when it is not in use in the garden. The hedge in question is just to the south of this compound, and alongside is a small shed in which we store the rotovator and surplus netting and fleece. We want to tidy up the hedge, and move the shed a short distance to within the area of the compound, making up a sort of quadrangle for hiding the less attractive aspects of gardening. Probably we will extend the hedge some to make a slightly larger area, as nitida propagates very freely. We will have to trim it back quite severely at first, but within a couple of years it will thicken up and become a respectable hedge again. We tried to tackle this job a couple of weeks ago, but yet another blackbird’s nest sited in the middle of the hedge caused us to walk away and leave the birds in peace.

As ever, there is ongoing maintenance in the form of weeding, watering, trimming and deadheading. At last the last of the daffodils have finished flowering, their season having been extended significantly by the very wet and cold spring. A number of our fruit trees need serious pruning, there being lots of dead branches to clear out, and quite a few crossing boughs to cut out. This is a job which should be done in winter, but it is difficult knowing which branches are dead in winter, when there are no leaves to demonstrate life. A cherry tree, which provides food for the pigeons but not us, looks as though it may be dying. We suspect that it was ill treated as a young tree, as it has a pronounced waist just above ground level, where it was probably tied to a stake and never released. This year it has so many dead branches, and even those which are still in leaf are very poor. We will probably trim it this year and see how it goes.

And of course, the grass needs cutting on a weekly basis. The meadow is progressing well, with an increasing range of grasses and wild flowers appearing. We have added a few new specimens ourselves, but nature is also giving a helping hand.



June 15th 2014

After a mild and wet winter we were hoping for a really good spring. We did have a couple of good weeks, but recently the quantity of rain has been somewhat distressing. As we have a heavy clay soil underlying our flat, low garden, the rain has nowhere to go. As, I write this, we have up to 6 inches of water standing in various parts of the garden. There is a natural pond, which normally at this time of year would be half empty, eventually leaving the duck hut high and dry. The pond has left its hole, and is covering half the fern and hosta garden, as well as a large patch of lily of the valley. Far from being high and dry, the entrance to the duck hut is almost totally submerged. Fortunately, there were no nesting parents this year. Maybe they knew what was in store!

We are certainly learning quite a lot about the resilience of some plants. On a bed which is raised about 60cm above ground level, the heucheras are thriving, and will require dividing later in the year. However, those planted where the rain frequently creates large puddles are far from happy. In fact two have completely disappeared. However, the mimulus we planted last year survived the mild winter, and are thoroughly enjoying the damp conditions. They do not like being rained on, the flowers droop and fall, but the plants like the copious drinks they are getting. Also, the moorhens are enjoying their selection of large swimming places!


June 8th 2014

The third and final garden we visited during our Dorset Holiday was Compton Acres, between Poole and Bournemouth. At the time the land was purchased, there was a gap between these two towns, but now the gardens are a green oasis within a densely populated conurbation. The sounds of passing traffic penetrate some areas of the gardens. This has to be one of the best gardens we have visited. Leading down into a steeply sided valley, the lower reaches form a sheltered area, where lush planting has created a magical water and woodland garden. Paths meander, cross again and again, sometimes by means of tunnels or bridges, affording glimpses of other areas, tempting one into further exploration. A very good map is supplied upon entrance, enabling you to plane a route guaranteeing that you visit the entire garden.

Different areas have very different types of garden, from the formal Italian garden to the woodland garden, and a truly stunning Japanese garden. Planted with acers and rhododendrons, camellias and azaleas, as well as many other plants offering a variety of foliage and colour, it leads you in, with stepping stones across the water, steps up to viewpoints, buildings and shelters, seats overlooking views, it is the best of its kind that we have seen.

Of the many lessons learnt, and inspirations gained, one idea stands out in my memory. In the Japanese garden, the woodwork was painted with the typical red colour, making a feature in itself. In the woodland and water gardens, the woodwork was painted with a subtle bluey green colour, blending pleasingly with the glaucous colours of the plants, and looking much more natural in its relaxed setting. This is a garden which will require a second visit.

February 18th 2018

Although we cannot by any means assume that the worst of winter is behind us yet, there are an increasing number of promising signs that spring is on its way. All round the country there are snowdrops and snowdrop walks to gladden the heart. Ours have been increasing in power over the past couple of weeks, and as there are so few other flowers at this time, it is easy to see where would benefit from the addition of a clump of these hardy little harbingers of spring. A couple of years ago I lifted half a very overcrowded clump, and divided it among about six new locations. All have transplanted successfully, and are busily increasing, so now I am confident enough to lift the other half. However, it is such a dense clump that it is impossible to get them all, so there will still be some left for future years. I shall wait till the flowers have finished, then lift them in the green, as this is the most successful method of moving them.

We spent some time wandering round the garden recently, noting down jobs to do and improvements to make over the coming year. While there is little foliage, it is easier to see what needs tidying up or pruning back, and where the gaps are. We were given a geranium plant recently, when my sister-in-law was trimming back hers, and it has been so successful that now I need to trim it back. Fortunately, we have plenty of places where we can put exuberant plants like this, and gratefully accept all the coverage it gives us. There is quite a lot of tidying up to do, as several very strong winds have brought down lots of twigs and branches from both conifer and deciduous trees. However, having just installed a log burner, the larger ones will come in very handy. We do have an area of the garden where we collect fallen branches, and keep it for wildlife such as frogs, toads, hedgehogs and the like as well as insects. In our last garden we had a grass snake, but we have not seen one of those here. However, we have acquired rabbits and moles this last year, neither of which is welcome. Sadly, that is probable the result of our policy of trying to maintain a wildlife-friendly garden. We cannot pick and choose who comes to live with us.


March 30th 2014

Mother’s Day, and the clocks change today as well. We are well and truly on the way into Spring. Today’s weather is lovely, too. Some hazy sun and warm temperatures. I have been under the rhododendrons, clearing out the brambles and nettles. Some of the woodruff we transplanted last year has taken well, and is starting to bulk up, creating a carpet of green. I hope to plant up with geraniums and pulmonaria for groundcover, and among them I shall transplant some lily of the valley. We were given some ajuga last year, and the winter was so mild the small clumps have almost doubled in size already. For height, I intend adding the pheasant’s eye ( Leycesteria ) which seems not to object to fairly deep shade. There are already plenty of bulbs, mainly daffodils, creating a bright cheerful focus at the moment.

The frogs have been busy, there are four or five large clumps of frog spawn in the pond. A couple of years ago we also had toad spawn, but despite having several toads in the garden, we have not had any spawn for a while now. Birds are pairing off, and a sparrow has shown interest in the nesting box, which was home to a family of sparrows last year. I wonder if it is the same birds, or members of the same family

March 23rd 2014

We have now passed the vernal equinox, and have officially moved into Spring. However, temperatures have dropped down again, and cold winds have returned. Today, however, is sunny and bright, so spirits are high. We bought a top up supply of decorative terracotta coloured bark last week, and spread it on the path through the front shrub bed. We had not realised just how much the colour had faded until the new was put down. We now have a bright orange path which even the blackbirds are wary of! However, the weather will soon cause it to moderate.

Last year seems to have been excellent for increasing numbers of bulbs. There was a small clump of Scilla, a beautiful small blue flower, which is now a much larger clump. Also our crocuses have increased both in number and in flower size. We think that the birds are helping propagation, as there are a few clumps of crocus where we have not put any, under a juniper bush much loved by small birds such as blue tits, great tits and chaffinches. We place the bird table near the juniper, and when the squirrels occupy the feeding platform, the small birds line up in the juniper awaiting their turn.

Despite having been under water for three months last year, our shade beds are starting to fill out again. Several of the pulmonarias, which I bought as very small plug plants, are now growing into serious plants, with a variety of coloured flowers. One new plant, which we bought as a result of seeing it in a garden in South Wales, is erythronium, or Dog’s Tooth Violet. This is a shade loving plant, and has just burst into flower for the first time. The flowers are very pretty, and hopefully, in a few days time, the whole plant will have a stunning display of blooms.

Work on the compost bins is progressing steadily, as I have to have them ready to receive grass cuttings by the weekend. The newly fitted out tool shed is making life so much easier, as all the tools are clearly visible and easily accessed. The garage looks better as well, encouraging us to dispose of many items kept thus far just in case they might come in handy one day. We are compulsive hoarders, but now we are trying to be brutal in our clearing out.


April 27th 2014

The spring weather is definitely smiling on me. Warm enough most days to get out and plant up lots of new plants, yet with frequent showers helping the new plants to settle in happily. We had a large delivery of small plants from an online nursery during the week, so it was all hands on deck to get them planted. The two shade beds are filling up nicely, and the transplanted pulmonaria and foxgloves are settling in very well. I have lots of self-seeded aquilegia which I also plan to collect up and put into the increasingly small spaces. The rhododendrons are beginning to show colour in the buds, so it will not be long not before the display is stunning. We have put in three new rhododendrons, trying to create a grove with underplanted groundcover plants. The woodruff and vinca major have both transplanted well, and will soon be a carpet.

In the top paddock we are trying out a wildflower meadow area, so the greenhouse is full of wildflower seed trays, the baby plants will have to be put out before we go away on holiday. Two years ago I planted some fritillaries, and these have also increased in number, so some will be put into the meadow area for early interest. There are already some forget-me-nots, and some lady’s smock or milk maids, as well as some scarlet pimpernel.


April 13th 2014

This spring is enjoying typical British weather, variable, with some sun, some bright periods, and some short sharp showers. There is also the wind, sometimes quite strong and coming from the north it can be really quite chilly. We spent a few hours on the beach during the week, and while in the shelter of the promenade wall the sun’s power was significant, but a combination of clouds and the wind soon chased us inside for a warming cup of coffee.

Progress on our second shade bed is slow but steady, but as we have some more plants due to be delivered soon, I must make a concerted effort to finish the de-turfing, so we can add compost and rotovate. I have collected a large pile of last autumn’s leaves which I plan to use as mulch when the planting is done.

One side effect of the early spring is the need already to dead-head some of the daffodils. We seem to have a wider variety each year without buying any extra. This year there are lots of blooms and fewer blind clumps than previously, possible because I lifted and divided quite a lot in the past two years. I confess that they are one of my favourite flowers, probably because of the promise they bring of warmer weather ahead.

May 25th 2014

The second of the three gardens visited during a holiday in Dorset was Kingston Lacy, a property owned and managed by The National Trust. A vast estate including numerous farms and homes, the garden surrounds the house. There are many wonderful features; from the house vast lawns spread out, housing an Egyptian Obelisk. Many paths lead out into the surrounding gardens. One thing I found somewhat unusual is the kitchen garden, sited nearly half a mile from the house. While I accept that the family would not want to see the working part of the garden, it must have been very inconvenient having to travel so far for the daily harvest.

Two areas particularly appealed; there is a Japanese garden complete with winding paths, stream, bridges, tea house and many wonderful acers. The undulating landscape allows for a rockery and a carp pond too. As with many Japanese garden areas, access was denied, but viewing areas allowed a good view of most of the garden. The other really delightful garden is the Victorian Fernery, recently restored. This has meandering paths through raised beds, which mostly have as yet young plantings, with blocks of ferns of a type, and several seating places from which to admire what will be a wonderful place in a year or so, but which is already inspiring and peaceful. Add to these masses of brilliantly flowering rhododendrons, and you have a garden to spend the best part of a day in.


May 18th 2014

A thoroughly enjoyable holiday in Dorset involved visiting several gardens. The first of these was Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens. A Victorian walled garden surrounded by twenty acres of woodland gardens, with the most wonderful display of rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias, enabled us to spend the best part of a full day there, visiting and revisiting, enjoying some wonderful view and vistas, and even walking up onto the cliff top from where a marvellous view of Chesil Beach and the Jurassic coast was to be seen.

The gardens have a chequered history, but now are enjoying great popularity as a tourist attraction. In 1990 there was a major storm, which caused considerable damage, resulting in the loss of quite a few large trees. One of these has been left propped over a pond, and is home to various epiphytic or parasitic plants. Another has had some wonderful carvings, a three piece suite of seats, some truly wonderful animals and fishes and a fierce looking owl.

Throughout the gardens, there are a number of buildings, such as the Chinese summer house, from which there is a marvellous view over the sino-himalayan glade. There is also a bothy, which houses a small museum of tools and artefacts. And a pavilion which is a picturesque setting for wedding photo opportunities. All told, this is a wonderful garden, to which I cannot do justice in this space,