Loving Trees and Views!

I know we were only meant to remove Aspens but also getting the chop was a misshapen apple tree right at the bottom of the greenhouse steps.  We had no view from the greenhouse terrace and no view of the greenhouse from our little orchard.  A very brave decision was made.  The apple tree has now gone and we are really enjoying our new views!  It also means more sunlight for the greenhouse.  After all, we do have other apple trees - 3 in fact.

This view pf the greenhouse was previously obscured by an apple tree at the foot of the steps.

The danger of having a garden with a view and loving trees.  We plant trees and lose the view! Even on this dull and misty day, I don't want to lose the view across the valley to Hillside and Woodbury.

I can guess what you're thinking!  Look at the height of the cherry down at the bottom!  See what I mean???

A pile of grass marks the spot where an 
apple tree once stood .

Aspen Removal

Brashed and ready for felling.

Logging.

Chris came armed with a selection of chainsaws - one rather natty one which can be used as a pole saw.  It was out with the Niwaki steps and away to go.  First, he brashed all the trunks and one by one he felled them so expertly that every single one landed in the pre-planned spot. The 2 tallest at the front had only a narrow landing spot between 2 fruit trees.  Despite the adverse high winds even they landed bang on target.

Now. Here's a thing!  We don't miss them.  That has come as quite a shock as we all thought their removal would lave a huge gap in the sky.  In fact, the copper beech can now be seen in all its glory and the cider apple trees in the neighbouring orchards can be seen again.

Burning the brash.

 The trunks were logged up and the brash lugged away and burnt.  Next week, the plan is to grind out the stumps and commence sucker removal.  Watch this space!

WARNING! Think twice before planting these invaders.

Invading Aspen suckers

OK!  What's this photo I hear you think? Well, it's about 185 reasons not to plant Aspens in your garden.  What you see used to be a grassy mini orchard with 3 or 4 fruit trees.  In this photo all that can be seen are Aspen suckers - and they're taking over the world! In June every sucker was removed. Each one of these has grown back in less than 4 months. Surely, this is as bad as a certain knotweed! We've grasped the nettle and decided to remove the Aspens, dig out all the suckers and replant with multi stemmed Silver birch (Betula utilis jaquemontii). A BIG mistake was made back in November 2011 when we planted 5 Aspens.  We will treat them as a crop and even though it's not the best wood in the world, we will season the logs and burn them.  Carbon neutral heating!! Mistakes in a garden mean opportunities to do something else and that is exactly what we plan to do!

Beginners Luck at Malvern Autumn Show

Papyrus cyperus haspen

Rabbit's Foot Fern ( Davallia fajeensis)

Pelargonium L'Elegance

We decided to have a go at Malvern this year.  Ideas above my station? It felt like it.  I scrutinised the schedule and thought very hard.  How could we possibly get that Pelargonium over to Malvern? 4 feet of the most fragile, delicate and brittle trailing Pelargonium ever grown. I decided against even trying.  Chris was quite outspoken saying that if it meant him carrying it every step of the way, it was going.  Trouble was, he thought I meant the Spring show not last Friday!!  True to his word he sneaked away from his job for a few hours and we set off with the whole plant on its stand but leaning dangerously on only 2 legs with Chris holding it all together! The boot was full of plants and flower arrangements and I had another Papyrus between my feet. There was no room to sit in the front - only enough room for Al to drive!

Chris doing a balancing act en route

Garden flower arrangement

 We set off with much trepidation.

When we arrived and saw the size of the tent and number of tables, I was immediately overawed.  Still, no going back now.  A friendly steward issued my competitor number and entry cards. Having found the right tables, Chris and Al carried in the exhibits and stood them all in place.  A tad more titivating and that was it.  No news til Sunday - or so we thought.  The first surprise was a post on Facebook showing that the Pelargonium had won 1st!! At the time all three of us were having a bonfire and really couldn't believe it!

On Sunday, we set off in great excitement.  I could hardly wait to see a coveted red and gold prize card.  Imagine (if you can) my shock at finding 3 more!! The Rabbit's Foot Fern, the Papyrus and the arrangement of cut garden flowers had all won 1sts!!  If ever there was a cause for celebration - that was it!!  We'd already opened a bottle of fizz upon learning of the first win.  Finding three more the following day...........................we're still coming back down to earth!! 

We also made Worcester News: Success at Malvern

Gardening really can be full of the biggest surprises!

Comparing Pollards!

February 2013

September 2019

One Liriodendron tulipifera but 6 years plus between the photos!

Interesting to see the growth in the girth of each leader and also the inosculation at their base.

Pruning, Pollarding and Planting

Tidy Wisteria!

Aboreal Haircut!

Not the best time of year but when internet signal is being severely impaired the Tulip Tree (Liriodendron) had its pollard a little earlier than planned.  Every few years, this job gets done and whilst winter of spring is preferred, if it had been left any longer, I wouldn't have been able to write this post! Needs must!!

Other jobs completed were the Wisteria and Hebes by the Well Steps.  All credit to Chris as his  usual helper found herself observing from a chair due to a shoulder injury!  She felt more like Canute than the gardener!!  What seemed like miles and miles of whippy side shoots were removed. Next year, I swear I'll lay them all out end to end and measure the total length of growth removed next year!

A perfectly sculpted Hebe meant the steps are not only easier to negotiate but look very smart.  My feeble contribution was a little light deadheading!  Chris brought some more Hesperanthus plants which he planted opposite some planted earlier which flowered their socks off and we were really thrilled.  A south African native, I hope they make it through the winter!

Hesperanthus coccinea

Trimmed Hebe alongside the Well Steps.

Sucesses & Failures

Looking back at summer's ups and downs; tomatoes have to be top of the failure list!  It was one long long battle against plague proportions of whitefly from the beginning.  Crops were poor and foliage looked unhealthy at the outset.   As well as pestilence in the greenhouse, we endured an unusually long, cold and dry spring.  The Brugmansia has also looked miserable all season with yellowing leaves and few blooms.  A Canna bought from Costco by my Under Gardener has been a total failure and is heading for the compost heap!

Pelargonium Palace Penthouse!

Autumn Kings & Scarlet Emporers!

Sweet Williams were an amazing sucess but I sacrificed  the Dahlia border for them.  Chrysanths have also been successful and continue to provide lots of colour for the house.  The Pelargonium Palace Penthouse also proved a great success in providing a perfect spot to display miniature and dwarf Pelargoniums.  The avian penthouse remains vacant but hopefully will attract some tenants next spring!

In the vegetable patch: potatoes and peas did well.  Runner beans suffered in gales and high winds and broad beans didn't crop very well.  Carrots have done better than ever before! Hopefully, I can organise some well rotted manure before next spring.

September Catch-Up

Japanese anemones - Anemone hupehensis var. japonica

Our view of Woodbury looking more autumnal.

Head Gardener & Chief Blogger has been a tad quiet of late so here's an overdue update. 

Autumn is fast arriving here at Pear Tree Cottage and we had been enjoying some beautifully, still and warm days.  Many robins fill the garden with their songs and as Rudbeckias, Echinaceas and Phlox begin to fade, Japanese anemones sparkle, Sedums  are nearing their moment of glory and the rich reds of the Rowan berries, rose hips and haws glisten in the sun. Cider apples in the adjacent orchards glitter like jewels as they catch the ever lowering sun. Mornings are cool and dewy with mists hanging in the valley below.  Pears are ripening and over ripe figs are falling. Butterflies are feeding on the figs and wasps are feeding on both!

Gradually I'm returing the Pelargoniums and tender plants to the greenhouse. I should have preferred a big clean out first but alas, a shoulder injury is preventing this annual activity - sigh!

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.