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
Our garden is full of baby wrens. Wherever I go, they are cheeping and scurrying around. Given that our garden is 3/4 acre - that's saying a lot. We reckon we have 3 wren families.
They have all fledged their nests but the parents are still feeding them. Last year, a pair nested in an old disused letter box on the studio but I don't know where this year's nests are. We try to keep our garden free from song bird predators and wouldn't entertain the idea of having anything vaguely feline - EVER! They are absolutely tiny - not much bigger than a moth. Talking of which, they love eating moths! For our smallest bird, they have such a distinctively loud song. By the way, I can't claim credit for the top left photo, they're too fast and too shy for me!
When Al found Mr. Morse in the greenhouse water butt the other day, he took immediate action and made a floating pontoon to ensure he didn't drown. As it hinges, it can rise and fall with the water level. When the level drops, the incline is a tad steep but we're in and out (of the greenhouse, that is!) so frequently, we'd fish him out. Amazing that such a small creature could even jump in given it's height of 3 feet!
Have been doing some cucumber and vine tying in and pruning thanks to Chris G. for the loan of his portable staircase! Gone are the days of teetering around on the top step of a wobbly pair of steps that were too low! These 'super steps' have extra wide rungs and are rock steady so ideal for messing about high up in the apex of a greenhouse. These are so tall, I don't even need to stand at the very top. The cucumbers which are trained above the far door were hanging down below the door frame and so were in urgent need of elevation! Genuine binder twine was called in to play to ensure a rustic edge!
Head Gardener took a day off yesterday and paid a visit to Hergest Croft gardens (here) We loved the architecture and the faded glory of this garden with its extensive collection of mature trees and shrubs. I especially enjoyed the old conservatory (and its contents!) and some of the views were just glorious. More photos here
Yes, it was time for the annual Yew hedge cut! Time consuming it may be but,whereas the native mixed hedge which surrounds the rest of the garden needs cutting every couple of weeks at this time of year, the Yew is cut only once a year. I know many people like to cut Yew later in the year but, now we no longer need a machete to fight our way along the terrace path between the Wistereria, Jasmine and hedge. Out with the shaggy shapes and in with clean sharp lines. Now, spare a thought for Chris teetering around on a pair of steps with a heavy pole cutter all afternoon!
This hedge was originally about a foot lower than its lowest point and I had this idea to cut dips and pillars. Having done that, Chris had the idea to leave a leader to grow up allowing is to do shapes. We all came up with ideas for the shapes.
Thanks to the clever people at Cherry Aid and their protective nets, we were able to enjoy a delicious crop of cherries. The branches were covered just as the cherries began to show signs of ripening and beneath the diaphanous fabric - away from greedy beaks, they continued to ripen to perfection. The sleeves have velcro fastenings down the sides and draw string openings at each end. The blackbirds had to make do with the wild cherries on a neighbouring tree!
It's impossible to garden in a heatwave! This gardener has been busy unpacking her new GTech rechargeable cordless hedge trimmer. This is what was in the box. I realise that Chris is OIC hedges here at PTC but, I felt I needed something light weight I could use for light trimming such as shaping shrubs and trimming perennials which have finished flowering. If and when the temperatures drop a little, I plan to try it out on some hardy geraniums that are over. Clumps of fresh green leaves soon reappear and a second flush of flowers, if we're lucky.
In the meantime, this is all I fancy doing in these temperatures and it's FAR too hot to contemplate a visit to the greenhouse - sneaky or otherwise!!
I had another idea! This time to use garden sieves (or riddles as they were known) and thought they'd make useful hanging shelving for plants in the greenhouse. I bought lengths of chain and Al and Matt drilled 3 equally spaced holes in the rims of each sieve and inserted lengths of chain from which they could be hung. So far, they've proved a great success as they allow excess water to drain out ensuring plants don't sit and stagnate. Chains can be lengthened or shortened to suit and, should they be needed, I only have to unhook them for use. Unlike macrame plant hangers, these won't rot in the wet and humid atmosphere of a greenhouse. The smallest galvanised sieve is quite modern and only a few years old whereas the largest is a much older original wooden example. Never to fall of its nail and on my head ever again!!
