New gravel for the drive

2 days to go before our open garden evening and 4 tons of gravel is dropped on the drive.  Thanks to expert tipping by Rob Thomas (one of Chris G's bonsai chums!), raking wasn't so very laborious although all 3 of us took turns.  I mostly raked round in circles!  Chris did the best job although I was OK in the small tricky areas by the wall!  It did look a whole lot better and, we have to hand it to he who decreed 4 tons was the amount needed!  ( I was tempted to ring and say it was not nearly enough!)  4 tons actually was the exact amount required for about a 1- 1 1/2 inch top up! Oh to have brains!!

The Demise of Henny Penny

The late Miss Henny Penny

It's with a heavy heart that I have to report the sad death of Henny Penny.  She was found unwell yesterday and had picked up a respiratory condition.  She died overnight and had even laid an egg prior to departing this world - gulp!  Surprising that such a healthy, weighty chicken could be overwhelmed so very quickly. Now our little flock is down to 4.  We won't replace her immediately as we know from experience that the remaining four would terrorize a new 'intruder'.  We'll wait until we can home a minimum of 2 and gradually introduce them as before.

In my view, Henny Penny was the most beautiful of the five and also the shyest and least arrogant.  We will miss her super dark brown eggs!

"Chance to see award-winning Worcestershire garden in a different light."

 Our last open garden evening for the National Garden Scheme is drawing ever nearer, our local paper has given the event a little publicity - see   Pear Tree Cottage Garden in the news!.  We also have Sarah Winton coming in the 'Daisy Bus.  She plans to drive around the area and help to advertise our event.  Sarah has spent the summer driving around the country and helping gardeners who open their gardens for the National Gardens Scheme.  What amazing thing to do!!!  We are very much looking forward to meeting her. 

Sarah Winton and the Daisy Bus!

'Contact the Elderly' Tea Party

On Sunday we hosted a small tea party for Contact the Elderly.  This is an extremely worthwhile charity and although it's 50 years old, few people have ever heard of it.  It's aim is to give less mobile elderly people living alone a break from their solitary and lonely lives by bringing them out to the homes of hosts who are willing to give them afternoon tea.  Perfectly simple and easy to do. They were a perfectly delightful group of ladies and it was a pleasure to entertain them and their volunteer drivers.  Luckily it was warm enough for them to be served tea in the garden and even have a walk round.  One lady even remembered coming last year and spotted the fact that this year's figs aren't nearly as ripe yet.  More hosts and drivers are being sought in and around the Worcester area.

 More photos

Working with Wood - dead and alive.

This Saturday it was logs, logs and MORE logs.  Moving dried logs from the log seasoner, sweeping it all out and re-stacking these dried and seasoned logs in the log store was our first move. Then came the sawing, splitting, loading, lugging and stacking the 2 tons of Sycamore tree that Chris and Kyle dropped off on Thursday!  We finished the lot and there was still enough time to finish pollarding the ornamental cherry which we started last Saturday.  It looks a tad bare for now but the Herb Garden now has lots of much needed light and the cherry  will be kept in check.  After all this - did we feel smug or what?

Hurrah - Rain at long last!

Thank goodness for some rain!!  We haven't had the really heavy downpours like other areas but at long last, we have steady rain for 24 hours.  The rain chain loved it but the painters doing the outside window frames weren't quite so enthusiastic!  The garden was really desperate and many Hydrangeas were wilting and looking very sorry indeed. Hopefully this will perk them up. Camellias and Witch Hazels also hate drying out and this garden is just too big to water everywhere. 

Late but Yummy!

At long last the tomatoes are ripening and the runner beans are setting. We've had a generally very dry, cool and dull summer but recently have enjoyed the odd sunny and hot day which has made all the difference to ripening fruit. These tomatoes were all germinated from seed by Chris Genever and include Sungold, Gardener's Delight, Black Krim and Country Taste Beefsteak.  The Sungold are unbelievably sweet but all are delicious and will be put to good culinary use! I was late sowing runner beans and having done so, the weather was cold so ours are really very late and this was our very first picking.  With heavy downpours predicted tonight and tomorrow, we might strike lucky and have some MUCH needed rain - fingers crossed!