Summer's End - August 2019

Summer's End

As July proved to be a month of contrasts, so the unpredictable weather continued throughout August. Rain aplenty and a couple of miniature heatwaves!
The end of summer always seems to roll around quite unexpectedly as we're left to slowly mourn the loss of the warmer weather and vibrant colours of the garden.

On the south side of the stableyard, there is a passage which leads towards the fields beyond. In years gone by, people could walk through the gate and into this land. However, escaping livestock rendered the need for a wire fence to be erected around the perimeter - blocking the gateway in the process. A new gate was installed last year to replace the existing perished one, but the entrance was still blocked by the wire.

Only now has there been a suitable opportunity to remedy this. Giles set me to work digging four (deep!) holes in which to install huge wooden poles. Two of these would be installed next to the wall, and the others adjacent to provide a passage between the wire fence and the gate. The holes were dug and the following week, the poles installed - ready for the fencing to be altered.

Before...

After

The earth was tough to break through and I was glad of the offer of help from Alan who helped me to finish off the holes to Giles' satisfaction.

Elsewhere, the grass was being cut - in and around the garden - and the meadow in front of the house was having its annual trim - a big job! Whereas last year, the dry weather had made this job much easier, this years' wetter weather made the grass harder to cut and more effort was required to rake it too.

I joined the effort in the afternoon, raking the damp grass into piles and taking it away to the woods in the dumper truck.

Although they are fading now, many of the garden's most vibrant summer hues were seen in August, with Antirrhinums and Agapanthus adding colour and form. 

Agapanthus

Antirrhinum

The main border overflowed with plant life - more subtle tones now on display. 'Bears Breeches' (Acanthus) are a particular favourite of mine at this time of year - with its towering structure in purples and greens - its leaves smooth and spiky.

Acanthus can be seen in the middle of each border

Fruit and vegetables continued to be harvested throughout August, with a particularly varied basket of goods being put together to take to the house.

But as the summer raspberries and loganberries bore their last fruit, it was time to cut back dying plants before tying in new growth. It is a satisfying (but prickly) job!

And as August progressed, the focus shifted towards cutting back, with bushes being pruned and annuals being uplifted.

As the cooler months progress, so there will be more opportunities to develop the garden further for next season. In September, we all look forward to Apple picking and juicing! 

Spring Blooms and NGS Opening - May 2019

May promised to be a busy month in the gardens at Norton Conyers. With 2019's first opening of the House and Gardens,  a wedding and the NGS (National Garden Scheme)  opening just around the corner, the only short-cuts being taken would be when cutting the grass!

It was also the month in which some of the garden's most popular flowers bloomed.

But on my first day in the gardens in May, it was the simple emergence of fresh growth on the White Willow (Saxis alba) which piqued my interest. The willow was pollarded in March, and the new growth will reach remarkable heights.

Saxis alba (White Willow)

Before pollarding, March 2019

But the real excitement of the month was seen in the unfurling of Iris flowers. It is known that irises are best two years after splitting, and 2019 is that year! As each bud began to fill out, so its shade gradually transformed to reveal the flower's eventual colour.

The yellow irises were the first to bloom - petals reaching out as though stretching from a slumber. Their true form gradually revealed itself, with intricate delicacy. However, it wasn't until mid-May that the border truly began to truly show off its colours. 

5th May

13th May

13th May

20th May

30th May

30th May

Iris border, 9th May 2019

Iris border, 3rd June 2019

The timing of the NGS Opening on the 2nd of June was perfect to allow visitors to see the Iris border in their absolute prime.

So, the Irises somewhat stole the show in May, but many other glorious flowers made their presence felt.

The Wisteria above the apple store door sprung to life in its lilac radiance - emitting its sweet, intoxicating scent.

Wisteria

Surrounding the South entrance to the Orangery is the glorious Rosa banksiae lutea - its subtle beauty was revealed with its gentle golden hue.

Rosa banksiae lutea

Outside of the gardens, a carpet of bluebells provided Spring enchantment - stretching over acres of verdant woodland. 

Bluebells

Walking through the woods, I came again to the lake, which had transformed almost beyond recognition since last seeing it in January.

Work for me this month mainly consisted of grass cutting and road repairs - both time-consuming jobs!

NGS Open Day, June 2nd 2019

And so one of the main highlights of the year at Norton Conyers arrived. With the new car park full for much of the day, plant sales and afternoon tea proved very popular.

In contrast with last year's NGS Opening (which fell on 3rd June), tea was served in the stable-yard, and the peonies were not yet in flower.  

With mixed weather reports, the rain thankfully held off, allowing visitors to explore and enjoy the Spring beauty of the gardens. 

The year is now in full flow and we look forward with anticipation to the warming summer.

Tea in the stable yard

Plants for sale

The Transience of Nature - April 2019

April 1st 2019 - Norton Conyers gardens looked very smart with its newly-laid gravel paths.
Having witnessed the subtle emergence of Spring colours in late February and March, the season was now in full flow - the speed of change accelerating.

The month began with weeding the vegetable garden, and removing the remaining crops from last season. After hours of painstaking work, it was ready for planting - a blank canvas once again.

In the afternoon, Sharron and I attended to the garden's hazel supports - most of which are in the main border. Repairing and strengthening these structures is a painstaking, yet therapeutic task; weaving the branches requires both delicacy and intricacy, but the process also comes with a great deal of satisfaction. Here, I am once again led to draw a comparison with a blank canvas. The hazel supports stand strong and skeletal over winter; in Spring, the 'colouring in' begins as verdant growth emerges from the earth. Over the course of the seasons, the supports are completely overwhelmed by nature, and cannot be seen. They are the bare bones on which many plants in the garden grow.

It was a joy to walk around the gardens at leisure today. Although every example of 'beauty' and 'perfection' quickly shifts, this transience of nature is to be celebrated.

My personal favourite plant at this time of the year is the stunning Crown imperial (Fritillaria imperialis). With its many bright, drooping flowers, and 'crown' of spiky green foliage, this plant brings exotic ecstasy to the borders in which it briefly blooms.

Crown imperial (Fritillaria imperialis)

There is also something special about the humble Primrose (Primula acaulis), which flowers in a most understated fashion. Its gentle beauty and pastel hues provide unexpected charm throughout the garden.

Primrose (Primula acaulis)

Among many other highlights this month were Spring Snowflakes (Leucojum vernum), (which bears a strong resemblance to snowdrops - except the petals are green-tipped and more pointed) and the beautiful white apple blossom.

Spring Snowflakes (Leucojum vernum)

Apple Blossom

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I was most confused when Giles mentioned the use of a 'Wacker plate'. I wondered what this contraption might be and how it would be used. Either way, I would be using it.

And so the (extremely heavy) machine was lifted onto the ground outside the entrance to the garden. It had the appearance of a lawnmower, but with a completely flat base. A Wacker plate!

Wacker Plate!

Throughout the course of the day, Bex and I used this machine to flatten the path by compacting the gravel. It was a slow and noisy process, but the result provided a smoother, more serviceable surface.

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With a wedding in the gardens in early May, mowing would be a regular activity. The expanse of lawn on the east side of the garden would require mowing by hand and the cuttings would have to be collected! A time-consuming business, but extremely satisfying.

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As some flowers (including daffodils, Spring Snowflakes and Crown imperials) withered, so fresh life continued to emerge; mute purple hostas broke through dead earth; peony stems reached towards the sky in rigid exultation; fern fronds unfurled their verdant coils.

Hostas

Peonies

Fern

Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) had also begun to emerge. Being a cut flower, it is important to provide support at an early stage to ensure strong, upright stems. To this end, Alyson and I assembled a frame of Willow. I always look forward to the Sweet William's dainty 'fireworks' of colour.

Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) supports

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April also saw the colour of the irises begin to emerge; the plants tease with their deep purple and yellow buds. We are expecting great things from the iris borders this year; having been divided two years ago, the flowers are expected to be at their best this year!

Iris Border

And with Dahlias now potted up, there is much to look forward to in the gardens. But, if the last month has taught me anything, it is to savour every moment, and to enjoy and appreciate every flower; without consciously appreciating the garden at each stage of its development, one always runs the risk of missing out on something truly special. Therefore, it's so important to 'keep up' with nature by paying close attention to its cycles of growth, fruition and death.