New Look for the Greenhouse Terrace.

 

A new experimental project!  This border proved far to dry for dahlias - the original reason for its design.  We struggled on for a few years then moved all the Dahlias.  For the last 3 years or so, I filled it with wallflowers in the spring and Pelargoniums in summer.  This year, I decided to make life easier!  I bought some tiny Hidcote Lavender seedlings (reduced to £5.99 for 24 in Dobies sale!) and grew them on.  I kept them trimmed to ensure compact and bushy plants. 

Our long hot drought meant conditions were too hostile for planting until now.  Yes, the spacing is tight but I don't want them to grow very high as I want a particularly low dense mini hedge.  The soil in this border is perfect for Lavender - poor, very well drained and is hit by the full sun.  I'm a big believer in early autumn planting as the soil is still warm allowing plants to establish quickly. Hopefully, they will thrive and spill over the the south facing stonework.

Twilight Garden Soiree 2026

 Despite vicious downpours our team of loyal volunteers turned out in force to serve 90 visitors with teas, coffees and amazing cakes!  We feared the worst but just tipped the £1000.00 thanks to Tricia Ward-Jones who donated £32 to take us to our total.  Unlucky with the weather after such a long dry/hot spell but that's British weather for you.  

I had ruled out the possibility of candles because of the very real fire risk - and I live in a wooden house!.  In the event it was rain that prevented their use.  Luckily lots of people donated extra fairy lights.   Dave gave up an entire a Saturday afternoon expertly arranging half a mile of lights following every contour of a our newly clipped Yew hedge and over our new Wisteria arbour! 

Mowers were evicted from their cart shed and extra tables and chairs accommodated to keep visitors dry.  Pat baked amazing cakes and sausage rolls. Brian lugged tables and chairs to and fro.  We're so lucky to have such a team!
All in all: totally worthwhile and a HUGE thanks you to all who helped and supported in any way!

Renamed!

In view of droughts and fire risks, I can hardly call it a Twilight Garden by Candlelight this year!  We are ditching naked flames in the hopes of begging, borrowing and stealing extra fairly lights!  Inevitably this will mean extension cables which hopefully won't present trip hazards!  We are hoping that the desperately needed rain doesn't fell on 30th August!  As always the event is in aid of the National Garden Scheme. Read all about us!

Garden Post Catch-Up!

How can I not have posted anything since May?  Even Wimbledon has come and gone!!

Maybe blame it on the heatwave and drought conditions! Desert or dust bowl?  The Lavender, Cacti & succulents have all loved this weather!  Whereas, I'm totally fed up with the relentless need for watering!  The Wisteria is loving the heat as, never before have there been this many blooms for a second flush!  The roses were amazing but lasted no time at all! 

The new chickens have settled in well and are a very happy bunch - well up until yesterday!  Dora is now broody and really vicious with it.  I've had to close the polehouse door to deny her access to the nest box where she would prefer to spent her entire time growling at the others!

PTC Garden Residents

Chris came and we built them new front door steps out of some left over stone.  All the exposed concrete is now skillfully hidden! We also made some pretty lead capping for the garden doors so than can be left open in the rain (if it ever does!) with impunity! Other news is the growing of lots and lots of Lavender and Ilex crenata.  I don't intend to battle with Box blight of caterpillers so amd growing replacements.  Also Lavender will be planted in the old Dahlia border as they can cope with the parched conditions!

Meanwhile following their prolific flowering, the coffees are all now happily producing beans which are gradually ripening as are the ornamental gourds which have replaced the usual vegetables this year. 

MORE JULY PHOTOS

                          

Wisteria Moments

Just can't resist sharing a little video of the Wisterias.  We only have one left to bloom - amethyst Falls on the garden tool shed is always later.  The others are pretty much over for this year.

WISTERIA MOMENTS

Wisteria sinensis

Busy BUSY BUSY!!

Getting everything ready for our forst NGS Open Day meant just no time for blog posts.  BUT - what a day it was!!!  We welcomed over 100 visitors in the first 50 minutes.  We overcame all kinds of hiccups from electrical problems which meant that urns were tripping out.  We ran out of change.  Then to top it all, the drain beneath the kitchen sink window became blocked!!  With our many supporters and helpers all were over come.  The weather cooperated despite dire forecasts and the womderful clarinettists from Barrels and Bells played for 2 hours in glorious warm sunshine,  It was the most unexpected successful day.  Even the Wisterias looked fabulous. 

An enormous thank you to every single person who helped in any way.  You all deserve a mention - Pat and Brian Finch especially for lugging so much furniture around the county and making so many exquisitely delicious cakes and sausage rolls ALL of which sold out!

  

Gradual Catch Up

 Too long since my last post but I'm gradually catching up after the awfulness of last autumn/winter.  The greenhouse was an utter disheartening mess! Dead, dying and rotting plants. Gradually and slowly plants have been disposed of where necessary, glass cleaned and pruned plants rescued.  Seeds have been sown and plug plants potted on.  I no longer dread opening the greenhouse door but walk in with hope.  Elsewhere in the garden, spring is well under way. Despite earlier gales and very cold - even frosty weather, the garden looks pretty tidy - if you don't look too closely!  The Hostas in the Hostalry are certainly waking up and Acers are beginning to leaf up. With Open Gardens looming on 3rd May, I'm hoping the Wisterias will be at their best!