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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6 November 2018

Dahlia Mission.

Labelled and packed
Lifting tubers
Another lovely mild autumn day and a swapped day for a visit from Chris. Work started on cutting down, lifting and labelling the blackened and frosted Dahlias. We were both a picture of quiet efficiency! Chris used petrol to clean off ink from old labels - another clever Pugh recycling plan! New labels were written and tied on the stalks of each tuber.
Just 4 weeks earlier.
 The tubers were carefully lifted, soil removed and laid out in fruit trays and, after 'a certain amount' of re-organisation down in the 'General Stores', placed carefully in storage for winter.  In this garden, it's just too cold and wet to leave them in the ground and mulch over and prize winning Dahlias are worth looking after!! When you look at the photos, it's amazing what stunning blooms are produced by a few ugly old tubers!

All finished and looking tidy!
That being done, it was time to fork over the soil with some added bone meal and chicken pellets then plant out the other Chris's Sweet William plants before a sweep and tidy up. As we finished, the mist cleared and the sun came out.  It's now looking a-w-f-u-l-l-y smart down by the tool shed!






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