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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24 September 2021

MORE WINNING SUCCESSES !!

  We had a few successes in the homecraft and produce sections at this year's annual Stoke Bliss & District Ploughing Match,  We came home with a total of 3 x 1st's, 5 x 2nd's and 2 x 3rd's!  That's a  surprisingly respectable number of prize cards.


My homemade garden book won 1st in the homemade craft class!  This much used garden jobs book was made from unwanted ply which I decorated with pyrographic illustrations. As well as a first for 'Farm Life' in the photography class, I had another 1st for a floral arrangement.  I really did some panic picking to achieve all the colour.  Other successes were with watercolours, foliage plant and dahlias.

Despite these successes, we still desperately need your votes as the garden has been shortlisted in 

The Nation's Favourite Garden Competition.

 There is still time to vote here:

PEAR TREE COTTAGE GARDEN 


3 September 2021

PTC's Twilight Garden by Candlelight MMXXI

 
What a few weeks it's been!!  Getting ready for our Twilight Garden by Candlelight event is always a hectic few weeks and this year has been no different!!  Chris has clipped perimeter hedges and between us we did the Yew hedges and topiary around the house - not to mention the Bay tree the day before!!  The Bay always makes the biggest mess but this year it rained all day when topiary clipping so everything stuck to everything else make clearing up and even bigger pain!!

Most of August the days have been dull cool and very cloudy and dark.  Luckily for us on the day of our big event, the sun came out!!  Visitors rolled up and when all the sums were done, we made a MASSIVE £2,099.00!! We beat our own personal best!! 

Now a VERY big thank you to Chris who not only ensured the garden was spic and span but together with Ollie and Ian he returned to place 500 tealights, lanterns and candles around the garden.  He also lit some Swedish log candles on the drive which were a great magnet for everyone!

As dusk fell, the garden was magically transformed into an absolute fairyland.  Visitors were both enchanted and entranced!  It certainly ensured that we secured a few more much needed votes (and in case you haven't already voted, you can: VOTE HERE ) 

Greg came up from Harpenden and took turns with Richard on the piano - whilst I couldn't hear the music, I did hear all the applause!! Of course we couldn't do this without all the help so freely given by friends and neighbours.  Our heartfelt thanks go out to them!  Well done team!!  



15 August 2021

PEAR TREE COTTAGE GARDEN IN THE NEWS!

 I nearly forgot to say, we made the local newspaper again - see  Pear Tree Cottage Garden featured in the Worcester News Hopefully the article will translate into a few more MUCH needed votes! You can also vote here: Vote for Pear Tree Cottage Garden



6 August 2021

Shortlisted in a Nationwide Competition

 Today we heard that the garden has been shortlisted in The Nation's Favourite Garden which is being run by the English Garden Magazine.  Our little rural cottage garden is up against the 'big boys' in the horticultural world as many great and glorious gardens are competing.  We desperately need votes and they can be cast here:  

VOTE HERE!



5 August 2021

Participating in The Gardens of Wichenford 2021

 It goes without saying that the lead up to our biennial village open gardens is always hectic - to say the VERY least!!  We borrowed tables and chairs with accompanying cloths and napkins, urns and even a giant coffee percolator!!  We had been slaving in the garden for days and even managed to overcome a major pond problem as a pipe had partially fractured which lead to emergency repairs the day before.  Lawns were manicured, last minute spot weeding and much sweeping and tidying - despite high winds and scudding clouds.  Cake numbers started to mount up as friends made deliveries.


On the 1st day, the weather looked anything but settled but at least we had ladies to serve coffees and afternoon teas which was just as well as 177 visitors trickled through the garden gate.  This year, we chose to use disposable tableware which, again was a wise decision as, the following day, visitor numbers increased to 308!!  At the absolute 11th hour, several, local ladies came to our rescue, donned on aprons and served teas from the garage. 

On Saturday Richard Goldman played Greg's old (and now rare) yachting piano - much to the delight of visitors sitting on the terrace.  Click on the photo in this link: Richard on Greg's old piano. It sounded so fab and even attracted 4 ponies which arrived at the garden gate!!

As well as thanking every single person who made cakes, delivered cakes, parked cars, served teas: a special thank you to Janine Fox who provided the star prize for our garden Treasure Hunt and the one and only (often elusive) Chris Pugh - without whose help, the garden wouldn't look the way it does and who roped us into this open garden lark in the first place!!!!

Looking back, we were incredibly lucky with the weather and the event raised a staggering £6,400.00 for our local church and for the Nora Parsons Day Centre (which provides activities for our local elderly residents).  Once again - a MASSIVE thank you to all helpers - it simply couldn't be done without you!!  

Checkout the link below!

                                                   Photos from The Gardens of Wichenford

25 July 2021

No Wheelbarrows were actually hurt !

 

Most of Saturday was spent hedge cutting, pot tidying and moving and then doing the dreaded pond work.  Chris donned on the waders and  looked as he's heading out into unknown and dangerous territory as he waded out!   did battle with overgrown water lilies, irises and oxygenating weed - Ceratophylum demersum alias Hornwort.  




It's a bit of a villain and practically filled the entire pond!  Having discovered that we ow an amphibious wheelbarrow, we filled 5 of them. All rubbish all ended up on the compost heap and, at the end of the day, with the pond water level topped up from the well, it all looked neat, tidy, clear and actually much larger!  The fish certainly have a lot more room and can actually be seen again.


More Garden Visitors.

 It's been a busy BUSY week in the garden!  We had a visit from Cleobury Mortimer W.I. on one of the hottest evenings of the year.  It was far too hot for tea and coffee so we served Prosecco with a selection of homemade cakes.  Even though we were practically all melting, it was a successful evening and more money 



raised for the National Garden Scheme.  They certainly enjoyed a fabulous sunset and were all lined up taking photos!