Summerhouse Painting

On the run up to open gardens, it's all hands on deck! Today, Brian finished giving the summerhouse a new look. As a change from the green and rather anaemic white,we have Farrow and Ball's heritage colours -  French Grey and Dorset Cream.  The cream has far more depth and warmth.

Thanks to Chris, the doors now open freely and the hinges have been well oiled! Head of Maintenance has been spoken to about more frequent and regular oiling of hinges in the future!

...and after.

Brian at work                                                                                     Before...

Much Ado in May!

The Genever seat

New Dahlia border

Much happening in the garden and precious little time to blog about it!  The  Beech hedge around the Henclosure has had a trim and the border beneath cleared of Forget-me-nots.  As it's been 'mini-pleached' the girls can now see out again! We have to keep the top trimmed so as to ensure the electric fence above doesn't short out and Monsieur Le Reynard doesn't pay another visit.

Chris also trimmed the boundary hedges on the inside and also the Lonicera spheres (as I have to call them!) Totally transformed is the Genever seat in the Herb Garden as Brian has given it a fab new paint job! He did the niche above it and the contrast made us realise that the seat deserved a make-over too! Now it's all ready for the first of our open garden events on 4th June!

We finished off the day be planting up our first ever dedicated Dahlia border. It's only temporary as, when Chris can find the time, our plan is to extend the stone terracing and maybe push the border further across to the left. Despite poor soil, we enriched it with chicken manure pellets and bone meal so fingers crossed for a bit of colour and a few cut flowers!

Mini-pleached hedge

New Uniforms

Eve & Di try out their new aprons ready for our 1st NGS opening on 4th June 2017. Wait 'til you try the cakes!!

''If you can't stand the heat...............!''

Carolina reaper - the world's hottest chilli!

Although he always claims the greenhouse is not within his jurisdiction, there's evidence that Chris has been plotting (or should that be potting?) in the greenhouse. Further circumstantial evidence places Chris at a certain chilli festival at Eastnor Castle the weekend before the appearance of these additions - showing opportunity! 

In the past, I've grown Apache chillies (which feature about half way down the scale but they're not in the same league as these monsters. 

Even if we can't eat them, we do love his signs!

Pear Hut - Shed of the Year Competition 2017

The Pear Hut Writing Room

The Pear Hut interior

Despite Head Gardener and Chief Blogger being a little indisposed of late, it hasn't stopped  the Pear Hut being paid a huge amount of attention!  Following its entry into the Shed of the Year Competition in 2014; the Pear Hut was spotted by a most charming Channel 4 TV programme researcher and, as a result, they  a film crew arrived at PTC.  Bearing in mind that we built the Pear Hut in 2012 and the competition is massive as loads of people all over the entire country build the most amazing edifices in their gardens so it's utterly surprising that our humble Pear Hut (More photos here) is even a consideration.  As if an entire film crew wasn't enough, the sponsors of the competition: Cuprinol also sent out their own photographer.  We actually used Cuprinol forest Green to paint the frieze round the top and the matching seat in front.  One thing's for sure, it was HUGE fun building it although hard to believe it was in 2012 that Chris Genever sacrificed quite a few Saturdays to head operations!  A BIG thank you to the entire film crew who, when I lost my wedding ring when one of our new flock escaped from the Henclosure and was loose in the garden.  All of the crew and their presenter were down on their hands and knees searching the garden! Luckily, it had come off my finger inside my jeans pocket and, all the time was safe and sound - phew!  Their concern and help was most appreciated!

How could this be a Pear Hut?

PS This is what it looked like when it arrived on the drive! 

Here's wishing our little Pear Hut lots of luck!

Spring Sowing & Planting

Newly planted veg patch

Genever tomato plants

Busy week coming up and much to do in the vegetable patch.  3 rows of potatoes, broad beans, carrots, beetroot and onions all in now.  I decided to adopt a more agricultural approach and earth up after planting. It seemed to work quite well last year and there's less chance of damage from late frosts. We're still eating the rainbow chard.

Lots of lovely plants from Chris Genever so even more to do in the greenhouse.  Much moving around to in order to expose the tomato border which was used to stand Oleanders on over winter. It was then dug over and fresh potting medium mixed for the tomato plants. I use bottomless pots filled with a decent mix and was able to squeeze in 9 plants of different types and varieties. Some seeds were brought back from Australia and NZ, all germinated and pricked out by Chris so, it'll be interesting to see how they all do. Hopefully this year, we can keep the dreaded white fly at bay.

Panic in the top Lawn Border!

Following the castastrophic loss of our much admired Persian Ironwood, we cleared out the top lawn border just leaving the Catalpa. This was unexpected and unforeseen but, as with all garden losses, we saw the opportunity for a new scheme and a shopping expedition to Frank P Matthews  a third generation run family business at Berrington just outside Tenbury whose propagation skills and expertise are of international repute. In fact, the grandson: Nick Dunn has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's highest honour, the Victorian Medal of Honour. They propagate and grow thousands of trees. 

As the border in question is more than just a tad tricky, I did serious research into which trees and shrubs can tolerate wet winter conditions and very dry soil conditions in summer. Together with Steve's patient help and expertise we are now the proud owners of:

    Amelanchier La Paloma
    Ekianthus campanulata
    Euonymous atlatus Compactus
    Magnolia Daphne
    Malus Admiration (Adirondeack)
    Pinis strobus Minima
    Viburnum opulus Roseum
    Viburnum plicatum Mariesii Great Star

It's a fab place to go and we're lucky to live so close. Now, this really is my kind of shopping! Even better than reclaim yards! We came home with so much, we had to arrange delivery.  No prizes for guessing what will be on this Saturday's jobs list after hedge trimming! It's our attempt to turn disaster into triumph so with open gardens in June, let hope things settle, establish and we have no more deaths!