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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26 September 2016

Worcester News Article

Whoopsie! I forgot to share this on the blog:


Big-hearted couple raise nearly £1,500 for charity by opening their little country cottage garden to the public

  • Some of the 143 tea lights creating a magical twilight event
    Pear Tree cottage

It's an article about the money we've raised this year for the National Gardens Scheme. We couldn't do it all without all the help we have from friends who make delicious cakes, sell teas and slave away washing up in the kitchen! It does however mention Chris by name.

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Wisteria Pruning


Wisteria curtains
Pruning a Wisteria doesn't sound much of a job does it?  In reality, this 'King' of climbers is a real thug.Whilst I'd never be without a Wisteria (or in our case, three!) they really need to be kept in check. Yes, I know we're a month late but even so, the long whippy side shoots had found time to push their way under the eaves and into the attics. They had forced their way between the opening window lights and also between down pipes and the wall. Some were 15 feet long. This is despite an earlier pruning around the dining room window which was so overgrown in a single season, the dining room was enjoying a wonderful green filtered light! As usual we thinned out the unwanted twining stems and cut back the side shoots to about 7 buds. We now have winter light in both the dining and sitting rooms ..................that is, until next year!


Before....
..and afterwards.

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24 September 2016

Mellow Autumn Day

Jewel-like rose hips
Sedum


Autumn!  It's so nice to see the brilliant scarlets of the berries, hips and haws in the garden at this time of year - to say nothing of the brilliant red chilli peppers.  I've had 3 pickings and the results are being dried for use later on.  Also the Sedums in the borders are not only looking colourful but are covered in insects!
Cider apples in the surrounding orchards are being harvested and our own pears and apples are ripening well in the late autumn sunshine.

More sedums in the Lower Border
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19 September 2016

Show Successes!

Basket of Produce
Foliage pot plant
Surprisingly, we managed a few successes at this year's annual show at Stoke Bliss.  The biggest triumph being first in the 'Basket of Produce' class.  In total we had 4 1sts, 2 2nds and 2 thirds. Chris was dragged along despite grumbles about little work getting done!  He even found time for an ice cream!  |As it's also the venue for ploughing competitions, it's always nice to see the vintage tractors working away and the real highlight is  to see horses ploughing.  The only thing wrong is seeing someone leading them from the front! More photos can be seen here:



A collection of herbs


Make mine a double!
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Show Successes!

Basket of Produce
Foliage pot plant
Surprisingly, we managed a few successes at this year's annual show at Stoke Bliss.  The biggest triumph being first in the 'Basket of Produce' class.  In total we had 4 1sts, 2 2nds and 2 thirds. Chris was dragged along despite grumbles about little work getting done!  He even found time for an ice cream!  |As it's also the venue for ploughing competitions, it's always nice to see the vintage tractors working away and the real highlight is  to see horses ploughing.  The only thing wrong is seeing someone leading them from the front! More photos can be seen here:



A collection of herbs


Make mine a double!
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16 September 2016

Win, Win, Win!



Achieved in 2016 just by opening the garden gate....
....and a bit of hard work!








This little garden - all alone in deepest rural Worcestershire has raised the grand total of £1450.17p for the National Garden Scheme this year.  They give to the caring charities and don't have huge numbers of executives on fat salaries unlike certain cancer charities we know!  Of course we couldn't possibly do this if it wasn't for a husband who gives me too much encouragement and help and Chris who does a zillion things including lighting 100's of candles (please save all your jam jars for next year!) and a band of dedicated and hardworking volunteers who give up their spare time to slave away making us cakes to sell, serving teas to visitors and washing up  for hours on end!

WELL DONE TEAM PTC!



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Win, Win, Win!



Achieved in 2016 just by opening the garden gate....
....and a bit of hard work!








This little garden - all alone in deepest rural Worcestershire has raised the grand total of £1450.17p for the National Garden Scheme this year.  They give to the caring charities and don't have huge numbers of executives on fat salaries unlike certain cancer charities we know!  Of course we couldn't possibly do this if it wasn't for a husband who gives me too much encouragement and help and Chris who does a zillion things including lighting 100's of candles (please save all your jam jars for next year!) and a band of dedicated and hardworking volunteers who give up their spare time to slave away making us cakes to sell, serving teas to visitors and washing up  for hours on end!

WELL DONE TEAM PTC!



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