Copying Castles!

Maybe, I should have posted a photo of Chris's finished Yew hedge! As the shapes have grown, so has Chris grown to like it!  In 3 years it's really taken shape.  Prior to that it was just boring straight lines. It's certainly one of those annual but transforming jobs.  What you can't see are the Secret Steps which fun up through it or the window!  All that is visible is the Magic Mirror door. The idea was stolen from Powys Castle but has been dramatically scaled down as their Yew hedge is ENORMOUS!  This is a mini version.

Pugh's Take on Powys!

Hopsy Turvey!

It's that time of year again! New hops are filling the kitchen with their perfume. Once again we went to Haven Hops - which I highly recommend enjoying  their heady perfume all the way home! Dried flowers from the garden and statice from Francis Hosken's flower farm on Scilly (https://g.co/kgs/sKZe94 ) are hung up every year. On a dark winter's day, they provide some happy and much longed for colour! If you don't  have an Aga, they are brilliant  for absorbing  cooking  smells.

All ready for the long winter days.

Twilight Gardens by Candlelight 2019

The conservatory.

Following many long hours of garden grafting, finally, the winds dropped, the sun shone, the temperatures rose as the garden basked in perfect still conditions for a Candlelit Opening! At long last, it WAS that perfect balmy summer's evening!

The Yew hedge sparkled as laser stars were projected on to it, 250 candles and tea lights lined the paths, fairy lights festooned the trees and lanterns hung from the branches as 180 (gulp!) visitors came from near and far to enjoy homemade teas on the terraces and Pimms & Prosecco in the garage!  It was a totally magical evening and the garden twinkled everywhere.  Chris made  Swedish log candles and lit them on the drive - a great focus of interest for the uninformed! A HUGE thanks to Chris & Ollie who were largely responsible for all the garden magic. 

The terrace steps.

In the conservatory, we had Iris, Pauline, Lindy, Tony and Pat.  In the garage, our barmaid for the evning was Sandra.  Later, she was joined by Pat and togther they served delicious drinks to appreciative visitors.  We were so lucky to have their help!  Pat made more cakes and even served gourmet homemade cheesy nibbles.  She even provided proper tables with elegant white table cloths and glasses.  It was SUCH an improvement on trying to serve everything in the conservatory.  We're even considering doing teas in the garage next time - (Deo volente!) it's actually nearer to the kitchen!

The Yew hedge never looked like this before!

We had 2 Paul's who ferried the less able up the bank - to and from the parking area.  Their services were much appreciated by everyone as they assisted with wheelchairs, walking frames.  Not too many gardens provide such a service!  A BIG thank you to them.

...And now get this! After we counted everything up, emptied the donation boxes, deducted the cost of the alcohol, done all our sums, we raised a massive 

£1,378.83 

in a single evening!!!  

It's interesting to note that our opening hours were 2 hours less than previous evening events as, instead of starting at 2pm, we didn't open until 4pm.  Having said that, 4 visitors came at noon!

The only thing we don't have are photos of any of our visitors in the garden.  Most of us were simply too busy. In such low lighting conditions, tripods are needed ...fat chance!!  Here's a few taken after they went home and some by Ollie! 

More photos here

Midlands Air Ambulance Hijacked by Gardeners.....

Their best cheesey smiles!

Al fancies a test drive!!

...with a cheque for £820.00!!  Never before had they had a donation from a gardening group. The Gardens of Wichenford event was their very first!!

More photos here!

....And the Vicar Came Too!!

The Gardens of Wichenford 2019 - FINALE

Gardening lessons PTC style!

As a follow-up to the success of The Gardens of Wichenford, garden owners, helpers and a few beneficiaries spent an evening in the gardenwhen the sun actually shone!  Pat and Sandra helped with drinks and refreshements and cheques were presented. I was very nice to see the Rev. David Sherwin and his wife.

 

Yew Hedge Trimming.

It's that time of year when the Yew hedging and topiary gets its annual haircut. This week, the big Yew hedge was top of the list. It's our tale on Powys Castle's famous Yew hedge!!  One sode of the hedge is all symmetry, precision and straight lines and the other side is all lumps and bumps and it meant to resemble a green waterfall.  Our Yew arch is so nearly formed and I reckon the 2 yews will have grown together by next year. Of course there was much clearing up but it's all neat and tidy once again.

Chris also cut the outside of the perimeter hedge and strimmed the ditch where there was MAJOR clearing up - so much indeed, the wheelbarrow was piled so high, the handles couldn't be found and Chris couldn't be seen pushing it! He couldn't see over the load and needed serious guidance!

Peeping Pugh!!

Contact the Elderly - Tea Party

                              

On Sunday, we hosted our annual tea party for Contact the Elderly.  We enjoyed the company of 11 members and their 3 drivers.  The weather held up for a turn around the garden.  However, I discovered that, although wide enough for wheelbarrows, the greenhouse entrances are too narrow for wheelchairs.  Mmm - interesting.  Tea was enjoyed in the conservatory.  Well, it is only August!! We were so grateful for Sue's help.  She looked after our guests wonderfully by waiting on them and escorting them around the garden.  She even sold some cards!!  Thanks so much, Sue!

Witton Henge!

Druids this way!!

After all the trimming, mowing and clearing up, it was time to unload Chris's latest garden acquisitions! 3 huge lumps of stone all bound for the Fernery.  We now have our very own Witton Henge and to give it an authentic pagan look, the finishing touches are some found animal skulls - just to give an impression of ancient pagan sacrificial rites!

On a slightly more serious note, the ferns will grow and soften the look and in spring, the Cyclamens will add some colour.  Thanks very much Chris!

Moons to Chickens!

Time lapse hedge cutting!

This Saturday, hedge cutters and mowers were on overtime as Chris trimmed both the Bay tree and the Yew hedge and I mowed all in readiness for visits from Contact the Elderly and fellow garden owners in Wichenford and those who came and helped back in June when The Gardens of Wichenford held it's biennial open gardens event.  The Yew hedge takes a little longer each year as the topiary grows and there's always one topiary shape that we puzzle over.  Things were made more difficult when Al said we ought to turn the moon into a chicken!!  THAT will definitely have to wait until next year now!

August Garden Chores.

This week, the Yew sofa has had its annual trim and the onions (few that there were) were dried, strung and hung. The hot, humid and rainy conditions mean that everything is growing well without the need for frantic watering! Runner beans are loving the sunshine and rain but hating these high winds.  Following these stormy conditions, the lawns are strewn with leaves and it's not even autumn!  THis year, I've been enjoying having some Sweet peas to pick and bring indoors. Placed on the kitchen windowsill, it positively encourages work at the sink!

Before the storms!

Another Successful Garden Visit!

Members of Stock & Bradley Green Gardening Club

Mine host + team photo latecomer

Helpers in  high state of readiness!

A visit from Stock and Bradley Green Gardening Club yesterday evening raised another £279.00 for the National Garden Scheme.  Trusty helpers: Lindy and Pauline served homemade teas to 31 members on a warm and sunny evening.  Some ladies were making a return visit and all said lovely things about the garden and they really seemed to enjoy their visit.

Outside in Gardening!

Spider plant (Chlorophytum)

Pelargonium L'Elegante

Here at PTC, not all gardening takes place outdoors.  There's always watering to do and plants to tend in the conservatory but somehow they are rarely mentioned here.  Strange how house plants could possibly have gone out of fashion.  One thing's for sure - they're bang on trend right now!!  All this talk of air quality has helped their popularity.

Ours range from Begonias and Echeverias to simple Spider Plants and Grape Ivies with some ferns.  These seem to thrive where others have failed.  Most have been propagated and grown on here.  This year, the coffees will come back in for winter as it proved too cold for them in the greenhouse and their survival was a close run thing!

A few more here.

Painting -V- Gardening!

Well lid restored

Beating the rain!

Head Gardener has been a tad busy working above and looking down upon the garden lately!  She has been busy painting the eaves of the house.  Such an opportunity was just too good to miss but it was  weird seeing the garden from such a height!  

Dark & thundery but neat & tidy again.

Now painting is all finished, it's back to gardening BIG time.  With all the heat and rain, everything has been growing furiously.  With August's garden visits looming ever closer, Head Gardener was just beginning to feel a little uneasy at so many overdue jobs.  Luckily Chris arrived unusually early this Saturday and together, we just ploughed on.  Edging, strimming, trimming, weeding.....it was just non stop - that was until about 5pm when heavy rain stopped play.  As well as house painting, a couple of garden projects were completed whilst Chris G was working here.  He made a new Wisteria arch enabling me to train our (historic) wisteria to grow from the Studio across to the front of the barn.  He also erected some shelves on the end of the tool shed and detached the well covers enabling me to remove much of the well fern growth and also creosote the lids before reinstalling them.

We finished the day feeling smug as we'd beaten the rain and we're rather more in control again - phew!