Raindrops and Roses

WOT a good job our hay is drying under cover. The rain has varied between light, heavy, persistent and equatorial with only a 20 minute break all day!  I don't mind much needed soaking rain but it's so unseasonably cold for July. 14 degrees C is hardly usual for a summer's day! Whilst the garden and the new fruit trees needed a good soaking, the geraniums and roses all hate it! This year, we have a massive crop of apples which I haven't got around to thinning out yet.  Last year, we had hardly any so a bumper crop is very welcome indeed!  We hope to juice and bottle the results again as well as freeze enough for culinary purposes. Hopefully there will be enough to keep the Under Gardener in apple sauce throughout the winter months!

Doing Away with Damaged Dogwoods

Having mown the hay, we took a long hard look at the Aspen Grove and the damaged Dogwoods which had suffered so much wind damage and just didn't look right any more.  Their big leaves mean much wind resistance and so many had just broken off.  Also,they seemed to be overtaking the Aspens themselves and just didn't look 'woodlandy'.  Initially, neither of us said anything  but both Chris and I were thinking exactly the same thing, they had served a purpose but were now redundant.   We won't be short of winter colour as we have many more around the pond.  Having mulled over all these thoughts: it was out with the axe and spade!  Half an hour later they had disappeared and the Aspen grove looks better for it.  We hope to get some more wood chip and mulch next week.  As for now, it looks altogether 'cleaner' without untidy leggy Dogwoods.  Who needs 'em???!!

Invisible Pruning?

Pruned or not?

Pruned or not?

It's a tricky situation when a perfect specimen of a Prunus Serrula grows so big it begins to obscure a fabulous view.  It has the most fabulous bark.  It looks strikingly elegant in winter with the sun reflecting on the polished nut brown bark and shining brightly through the papery whisps.  BUT from where we sit on the terrace, beyond it is a wonderful view of Woodbury Hill. We couldn't even contemplate losing the tree so; how best to prune it with out seeing any evidence? Because of the prevailing wind, its a little one sided so we decided to tread very carefully, try to even it up and carefully thin its canopy - thus reducing  its spread. Our idea was: put simply to have the best of both worlds! To be able to enjoy the view by looking though its boughs and beneath its canopy.  Well - can you spot the difference? (Apologies for the fact that none of the photos are taken from the best angle.)

A lighter & airier tree?

Making Hay.

After all the excitement of our silver medal status, it was time to get back to work and make hay while the sun shines - literally. Time to mow our meadow grass on a rare sunny Saturday!  It's the same old gripe in so much as, all we read about is to have a trendy meadow area with NEVER a suggestion how to make use of it when its cut!   Even finding a power scythe to hire is a tricky business but, we turned to HSS Hire and, for the grand sum of £68.75 plus £10 each way for delivery & pick up, we found one!  I should mention the deposit of £300.00 returned when the equipment is returned.  Also, this year, I had to go into the depot and provide ID - a complete pain!  These are so rarely required not many hire companies stock them and I'm hoping that HSS won't decide to phase them out.  We've been down the strimming road and it just chops up the grass, strews it everywhere and renders it useless for anything but composting.  We like to make hay!  We use it for the chickens' nest boxes and we make garden kneelers by stuffing old compost bags with it and tying the tops.  We also have had previous successes and even won 3rd prize for our meadow hay at our local show!

All safely gathered in!

Anyway, having mowed the grass and turned it once, at the end of the day we lugged it into the garage and spread it out to dry knowing that heavy rain followed by more heavy rain would be its fate.  Yes!  I know I wasn't brought up to make hay by this method but: needs must!!  The garage doors can all be opened where drafts blow through freely and any morning sun shines in.  

Oh.  Just one more gripe to all you garden writers!  Now is NOT a good time of year to visit wild meadow gardens!!  Why?  Because all the rain has flattened the long grass and it looks horrendous!

Silver Medal Winning Lawn Mower Arrives!

Great excitement today as our silver medal prize in Britain's Best Gardeners' Garden arrived and we are now the very proud owners of a sparkling brand new Premium Cobra MX51SPH lawn mower!!  It just so happened that the lower lawn was just ready for mowing so it was put to instant and immediate use.  It's MUCH lighter that its Haytor predecessor and cuts like a dream. Having a Honda engine, it's SO easy to start and they are renowned for their easy starting reliability.  It has a very handy compartment (much like a glove compartment in a car) for storage.  Surely such a useful feature HAS to have been designed by a female?  We could hardly have won anything nicer or, in our case, more useful. 

 A VERY

  BIG 

thank you to the lovely people at Cobra for their generosity. 

 This mower has gone to the very best home!!

Click for more photos

PTC Salutes the Marines!

We are very proud to have been given a Royal Marines' flag and within 30 seconds Al ensured it was fluttering in the sunshine beneath the Union Jack - which, I notice, is looking a little the worse for wear.  Anyway - thank you, Ian.  It has already been commented upon by several visitors to the garden!

Garden Aerobatics!

We enjoyed another afternoon of aerobatics from a Pitts Special biplane which was put through its paces just the other side of Martley Hillside.  We even saw a Spitfire on its way home.  Honestly!  The things we see in our garden!!