Loads of Lovely Lavender

Preparations for yummy Lavender shortbread need to begin early! Lavender flowers have just been picked and bunched and are now drying ready for storage. The most tedious job is de-flowering the stalks when it has dried! Sometimes I make Lavender sugar as well as keeping the dried flowers for shortbread. 

This year, Chris suggested we leave some to self seed in the gravel by the summerhouse. Our Lavender came from a late customer/friend of Chris's and is known as Mrs. Slingby's Lavender! The flowers were all covered in 100's of bees and hover flies and not all enjoyed being displaced!

Enjoying our reclaimed view

On a glorious summer's day, we have been enjoying our view of Woodbury Hill once again.  It was exposed yesterday by the pollarding of a Tibetan cherry. A difficult decision but we believe that  the view is worth tolerating a rather bare tree for a while. Difficult to believe that the tree bottom left completely obscured the entire hill!

Woodbury Hill in the summer sunshine

The Joy of Jasmines

Jasminum officinale clotted cream

Jasminum trachelospermum Asiaticum

Jasminum Sambac

Got a but of a Jasmine thing going at the moment.  We have Jasmine officinale clotted cream in full flower on the trellis and in the greenhouse, we have a couple of Arabian Jasmines - Sambac (the one used as a perfume base) as if that wasn't enough perfume, we also have a Jasmine trachelospermum Asiaticum. 

Pity these pictures can't transmit their heavenly fragrance!

Operation Woodbury View

Tibetan cherry but no view

Woodbury looms into view

Over the years our perfect specimen of a Tibetan cherry (prunus serrula) had grown and grown AND GROWN.  It obscured the entire view of Woodbury Hill.  

For those who enjoy a little history: Woodbury Hill is the furthest point reached by the self claimed Prince of Wales: Owen Glendower (Owain Glyndwr) who, in 1405 brought his army to fight the English before retreating back to Wales. 

For years, we talked about, pondered over, discussed and debated possibilities. Tree or view?  View or tree?

Woodbury Hill & a pollarded Tibetan cherry!

Two years ago, we thinned the crown but it made no difference. Our view had gone. It was a plain choice - tree or view. The choice was so difficult because it was such a fine specimen and such a perfect shape. The view won and because we have planted so many trees in the garden, we consoled ourselves. The decision was made to pollard our precious Tibetan cherry.  Knowing what was on the cards - Chris arrived bright and early and we set to work! As the crown was rediced the sun came out and the hill loomed back into view.

We know we will have to tolerate a tree with no canopy for a while but we can now see over it once again. Its the age old problem of right tree in the wrong place.

Before the clear up

Triumphant Chris!

Having done the pollarding, there was a huge amount of brash on the lawn requiring a massive clear up and poor Chris managed to break a pair of ear defenders but....

Woodbury won the day!

Broken ear defenders.

Sunday 27th August 2017 - The Next Date for your Diary

Pear Tree Cottage Garden Participates in "THE GARDENS OF WICHENFORD" Weekend 2017

Relaxing in the sunshine....

Visitors admiring the bonsai exhibits

....& slaving in the kitchen!

After the world's busiest week, I can reveal that our 'Gardens of Wichenford' weekend event was a resounding success. It was always going to be different without dear old Alan Green but, thanks to Sandra stepping into his organising shoes and the tremendous help from open garden stalwarts AND of course the weather, we all pulled it off!

In a couple of afternoons, Pear Tree Cottage had 473 visitors, many of whom were 'shuttled' up the hill from the orchard car park by Dave and Malcolm.  The bonsai exhibition had everyone enthralled with their precision in miniature. We couldn't have participated without our own helpers who made cakes, served teas and washed up for 2 whole days! So a BIG thanks to Pauline, Lyn, Pat and Di for both bringing cakes AND slaving away here. A special thank you to Ann Newton for making so many fabulous cakes - every crumb of which was sold. We made a total of £689.90 90% of which was made on teas - the rest being gate money & raffle tickets.  (Most people bought their entrance wristbands & tickets in other gardens.)  We had a total of 473 visitors - again, most of whom arrived in the afternoon for tea!

We also send our thanks to the members of South Worcestershire Bonsai Society who spent time and effort staging a really popular and professional exhibition. Without exception, our visitors loved their magical little trees. Incidentally, they would welcome anyone interested in becoming a member of their (very friendly!) society

A special mention to Di and Dave Evans who, having already booked their holiday cottage gave up an entire weekend of their holiday to help serve teas and wash up when they should have been walking along an empty beach hand in hand with the waves gently lapping their toes! Weren't they stars!

 We await news of the grand total and will keep you informed.

Fairy Tale Forest in a Garage!

These amazing exhibits are examples of perfection in miniature. These truly prized and highly valuable specimens are grown and tended by a few members of the South Worcestershire Bonsai Society. Malcolm Styles, Carl & their fellow team mates staged this exhibition in our garage a part of Wichenford Open Gardens.  Our many visitors really appreciated the skills involved and expressed a genuine  admiration. Any new members would be warmly welcomed & the team are happy to share their wealth of expertise with other interested parties. 

Trees versus cars? Trees win!

Check out more photos: Fairy Tale Forest and view full screen. Thank you 
South Worcestershire Bonsai Society for sharing your fabulous trees!