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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3 March 2014

Dogwoods get their annual haircut

Before...
...& after.
Having missed out on the usual full on Saturday, I made up for it by being out before breakfast and pruning all the dogwoods (Cornus Sanguinea) this morning.  I was loudly serenaded by our resident thrush and closely accompanied by a robin!  Not only do the Dogwoods all look very tidy but I have now ensured plenty of stem colour for next season as only the young stems take on the bright colours.  The really big bonus is now I have plenty of stems with which to make plant supports for the borders.  The Midwinter Fire's are just too twiggy for weaving but the more common varieties are perfect and I must say that I really do prefer natural looking plant supports - even if some do look a bit rustic and wobbly. Less than perfect homemade supports look so much nicer than the dreaded plastic coated metal or even bamboo canes. All I need now is more time to make them all! 
Plant support material

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