'UP THE GARDEN PATH' by Pam Thompson
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- 2005 - 2016 GREENHOUSE UPGRADES
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- 2005 - RABBITS OUT-FOXED
- 2006 - BOUNDARIES
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- 2005 - PUMP RESTORATION
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- THE WORLD'S MOST RECYCLED GARDEN!
- 'UP THE GARDEN PATH' by Pam Thompson
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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4 May 2018
Beating the Weather!
Cornus florida |
Pieris forest flame |
A recycled chair! |
Cowslip (Primula veris) upstaging some Purple Saxifrage |
After the appalling spring weather we've suffered it's good to see a few things looking good in the garden. Actually, I'd say it's more a relief!! It's definitely the year of the cowslip as our lanes are just carpeted in them and there has been much comment locally. The wild ones in the garden are no exception. A Pieris forest flame looks more like a raging inferno up on the top terrace even on a dull day!
In the Top Lawn Border, the Geums have really bulked up and spread out and make very pleasing underplanting for their arboreal neighbours as well as perfect weed suppressants!
It looks like the weather is actually warming up and maybe, just maybe, spring will be here to stay!
Geum tequila sunrise |
3 May 2018
IMPONDERABLE!
Just as the pond is settling down following very recent major
rock placements, intensive weed removal, replanting and some very serious
titivating..............the pump gives up the ghost. BIG SIGH!!!!
A new
one (gulp!) is on order and will hopefully be installed on Saturday. Meanwhile,
I'm consoling myself with the fact that the broken pump has lasted 4 years and
1 month and it it's run for 8 hours a day so maybe I shouldn't complain.
It's just very BAD timing!
Here we have Chris installing the now broken pump: Pond Pump Installation 2014 Much water under the jetty!!
Looking settled |
1 May 2018
30 April 2018
Lighting up with Leaves!
Arum italicum Marmoratum |
On yet another dark and freezing cold spring day, it was a variety of leaves that stood out. The daffodils are fading fast and maybe that's why they all caught my eye on such a dark day. It was exciting to find a single Smyrnium as I've been trying to establish a small colony in the Woodland Border for a few years and it's taking ages. Still, there's only a single plant. I understand that these plants are a triennial and that once established, they'll be everywhere. I wish I could speed them up - we need their lime green colours in a shady border on a really dark day.
Also of interest is the highly poisonous Veratrum with its concertina-like leaves. These were a present and I can't wait for them to flower down in our Poison Patch. I understand that the sap was used by Indians on their arrow tips. Leaf well alone, I say!!
Pulmonaria Blue Ensign |
Epimedium perralchicum Frohnleiten |
Veratrum |
Smyrnium perfoliatum |
29 April 2018
Rocking Around the Pond!
Finished pond with its newly placed rocks! |
Chris levelling the Sarracenia pot |
Despite the sulking dark skies and sullen clouds to say nothing of the incessant drizzle and freezing temperatures, most of Saturday was spent around the pond with Chris moving exceptionally heavy rocks and boulders and me shouting, 'Left a bit. Left a bit more!' The very biggest and heaviest rock had always been a bit of a historical garden landmark as, since time immemorial, it had resided in the top of the Woodland Border - quite a trek from the pond! Chris managed to roll it on to a sack truck and drag it to the pond before rolling it uphill on a wet and slippery wooden plank into position. Well done Chris!
Other jobs done were to divide and plant some hardy Geraniums and also plant out Lilies-of-the-Valley, move a Eucalyptus and some huge clumps of Nerines. It was pretty heavy (pun intended) wet and miserable going in freezing temperatures. Last Saturday in was in the 70's and yesterday it was way down in single figures. Little wonder we Brits are always droning on about our weather!! Where exactly did spring go??
It doesn't look much here but this was the heaviest rock of all! |
27 April 2018
Nortyculture!
Guess what! The spring sunshine has disappeared, it's freezing cold and pouring with rain. Luckily, mowing and edging was done yesterday and the newly sown lettuce seeds are germinating really fast. So here's a little light hearted offering from Pear Tree Cottage Garden on a very dreary day!
24 April 2018
Keeping up with the Weather!
The end of another long Saturday! |
It's still all go in the garden as we try to keep up! Notice I said keep up and not get ahead! The vegetable bed has been dug (thanks to Chris) and I've now planted 4 rows of potatoes and sown beans, peas, carrots, onions, beetroots, radishes and lettuces. The top lawn border - the wettest in the garden has now been thoroughly weeded and self set Foxgloves at the front have all been moved to the back of the border thus allowing all the Geums to fill any gaps and spread beneath the shrubs and trees. Chris managed to scramble beneath the Beech hedge and eradicate all weeds and debris there too! He strimmed edges and just when it was time to call it a day, spotted some Bryony. Even though dusk had fallen, he dug and dug and positively mined until every bit of a huge Bryony root was removed.
16 April 2018
Removing the Invaders!
It's difficult to imagine that weeding around a little pond would take all afternoon! Well actually more than that as it went on well into evening. two reasons, wet soil - especially around the margins and more importantly removal of as much Lysimachia as was possible. I have never pruned Dogwoods this late in the year as usually, they're all done in early March.
Anyway, 'tis all now done! Chris has placed a stepping stone at the entrance to the jetty and we have reshaped the grass border and its levels. Having replanted some pretty striking stripey irises near the Jetty, the plan is to allow the Symphitum to grow down towards the edge of the jetty. Where we had planted Lysimachia to hide the electric box, there is now a low growing conifer stolen from the bottom of the Sofa Border! Lysimachia was just far too invasive and it just flopped everywhere. After yet another day's rain; will I ever get around to edging the grass with long handled shears and the half moon edger???
All Change in the Greenhouse!!
Botanical Neonatal Unit! |
A Saturday without glacial temperatures or rain!! Instead, spring arrived and not a moment too soon. Although very late, it was a good time to move out the biggest winter hibernators from the greenhouse before the inside temperatures start to rise and give overwintering plants too much of a shock in the outside world. Out came the Oleanders and the lemon tree leaving the need for much reorganisation in their wake. It's that brief in between time when the big things are out and the babies are all most definitely in. In this case, the babies are Nemesias, Antirrhinums, Tomatoes, Gazanias, Chrysanthemums, Chillies, Geraniums (of all types and ages!). In the cold frames are Lilies-ofothe-Valley, Heleniums and some Geneva Mallows of differing varieties. Next job is to prepare tomato beds and secure a cane framework for their supports.
Who knows? With some really settled spring weather later this week, we may even get some vegetables sown and planted and borders weeded!
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