GOOD NATURE GARDENING

Today I met fellow apprentice, Clare.  We worked together to clear the path that provides access to the shop.  The Euphorbia growing around the base of the tree was making the path inaccessible to wheelchair users.  The stems of the plant contain latex, a white sap that is toxic and causes skin irritation.  With sleeves […]

Another sun-soaked day in the garden.  Even more tulips have come into bloom. In the central bed behind the pond are Tulipa “Queen of the night” (almost black), “Apeldoorn” (brilliant red), West Point” (yellow) and “White Triumph”. In this bed opposite the front door to the house are more “West Point” amongst “Blue Amiable” (purple), […]

The garden is in full sunshine again today and colour is appearing everywhere.  The Forsythia intermedia over the patio doors burns brightly in the sun and red tulips (Tulipa) join the blues of forget me nots (Myositis sylvatica), hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) and grape hyacinth (Muscari) and yellow and white daffodils (Narcissus) in bringing colour to […]

Week two in the Walled Garden.  Glorious sunshine!  So I’m put to work on the flower beds.  My first job is to dig up some Phlox paniculata “Mount Fuji from beneath a small apple tree. The flowers of this perennial will be white and Mark tries to allow this colour to appear sparingly across the […]

My first day at Charleston House.  As I step into the Walled Garden for the first time it starts to rain.  I make my way down the gravel path to meet Mark Divall, Head Gardener, in the shed beyond the gate at the other end of the garden.  I have the garden to myself and […]