The green and rolling countryside of Worcestershire, England, is home to the cider apple orchards which surround the gardens of Pear Tree Cottage. They enjoy a sunny south westerly aspect with sweeping views across to Martley Hillside, Woodbury and Abberley clock tower. The Teme Valley lies just over the hill and, not far away, is the Herefordshire border. Although our climate is temperate, our seasons are often uncertain and always a challenge to a gardener! This began in 2010 & follows the weekly ups and downs of garden work chronicling both successes and failures but, above all, demonstrates the fun enjoyed by three people who regularly garden in all weathers

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16 January 2026

Reginald!



A word on Reginald!!  Reginald Robin fledged last spring and continues to be a loyal and fearless garden companion!  Even as a speckeldy baby, he displayed courage. You can see his adolescent plumage on last year's photos.

He is just EVERYWHERE all the time!  I'm almost frightened of treading on him.  I felt such a character deserves a post all to himself!




Reginald Robin




 

Gardening with Grief.





Despite the pain of loss, snow, storms, heavy frosts, rains, high winds etc etc, garden work has continued uninterrupted - amazingly!  Andrew and I have been busy with tree work and hedge cutting.  Doesn't sound much but when you look at the bonfire pile one can see the results of a lot of work!!  Of course trees and hedges are also looking pretty smart with far less congestion and overcrowding.

Another satisfying job has been de-leafing all the Hellebores and Epimediums as the emerging flowers are revealed. The Snowdrops are also just emerging and always such a welcome sight!  The Sarcococca confusa (Winter Box) and Chimonanthus praecox are filling the garden with perfume despite the January weather!

Battling against the elements is the Acacia dealbata.  It lost one bough in Storm Goretti but is still managed to open it's tiny fluffy flowers which I've been cutting and putting in a vase indoors!

Continuing with gardening, garden work and garden jobs means one is surrounded by expectation and hope and that's the very 'THING'!




 

01 January 2026

MMXXVI - A new year & a new life!



 Well - today marks both a new year in the garden and, for me, a whole new and very different life!  I shall be testing gardening as a therapy to its absolute limits.  I am determined keep the garden going in Al's memory as I promised him.

On a very frosty and sunny day, work began with hedges and ivy.  I don't normally complain about working in the sunshine but it was so low in the sky and so brilliant some work was difficult when looking into it!

Andrew and I trimmed the ivy growing on dead trees and removed it from all living trees.  It's a menace in the wrong place!  Roses and Clematis were all tied, hedges were trimmed and we had a proper clear out at the back of the Woodland Border.  Andrew trimmed the inside of the boundary hedges form the Top Lawn Border down to Compost Corner removing damaged hawthorn branches as he went.  Even the ivy around Cordelia was trimmed! All this work added a huge amount to the bonfire pile and the compost heap. 




25 November 2025

Worcestershire NGS 2026

PTC Garden makes the cover on Worcestershire's National Garden Scheme county booklet!!  Lot to live up to and I need the extra incentive this year!


 

03 November 2025

Autumn


 The Woodland Border!  At its very best in autumn and early spring!

27 August 2025

Twilight Garden by Candlelight 2025


 An enormous thank you to all bakers, helpers, visitors and supporters!!  You're all amazing!!!