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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2 August 2017

Eggceeding All Eggspectations!

The girls worked very hard indeed last month as we had a new record in both egg production and egg sales. A total of 144 eggs were laid in the month of July by five hens. That's an average of nearly 29 each. As we have 5 different hybrids, we enjoy very varied egg colours which range between dark brown and white with a couple of shades of cream in between. However, Esmerelda lays the smallest palest blue eggs! 

Left to right: Tosca, Esmerelda, Wilhelmina, Beatrice & Marigold.

Eggs sales totalled a record £20.00.  With the money raised from sales we buy their layers mash and pellets as well as their mixed corn. They enjoy a very varied diet of fruit, green vegetables and once a week, at this time of year, they have a box of grass clippings to scratch around in.  Every so often, they are allowed out of their own bamboo 'Henclosure' for a general slug patrol around the garden.  For reasons of safety, they have to live behind fox-proof fencing.

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