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

Misty Mornings - October 2018

A blanket of mist hovered across the landscape as I drove towards Norton Conyers. It is the eighteenth of October - days before the clocks go back - and there is a real nip in the air; the first morning of the season where car de-icer has been required! I arrived early and walked towards the house - the crunch of frosted grass underneath my boots. The adjacent fields were atmospheric as sheep continued to graze - seemingly unperturbed by the cold.

Later, the sky cleared and the gardens were bathed in autumnal sunshine, but for now there was work to be done.

With leaves scattered across the drive and courtyard, a clear-up was required before they had the chance to degrade. Leaf-blower, rake and brush were used to gather, and dumper truck and wheelbarrow to convey them to the compost heap.

Clearing Leaves

*

The lawns had their final trim of 2018 in late October, after which the machinery was given a little maintenance. A pressure washer was used to clean the lawnmowers, tractor and dumper truck to prevent rusting over the winter. Months of grassy build up and mud were removed. Unfortunately my waterproof boots didn't live up to their promise...

By lunchtime I was already saturated. The lack of wellies was a mistake. But - unfortunately for me, there was more pressure washing to be done in the afternoon (the paving outside the house this time!).

* 

Yellowing Pear Tree

Dahlias

With the temperature dropping, it was time for the Dahlias to be cut back in preparation for winter storage. The masses of foliage collected held on to glimmers of their summer shades. After depletion over the summer, the compost heap was quickly filling again.

The following week, each plant was easily forked out of the ground before being placed in a labelled crate. The many different varieties are curiously - often amusingly named - 'Chat Noir', 'Sean C', 'Thomas Edison', 'Bishop of Canterbury'.

The afternoon's work was more challenging; the Dahlias in the top border of the garden are not labelled and are mixed in with other plants. Giles' encyclopaedic plant knowledge was required to help identify each variety.
As I labelled up a Dahlia as 'Murky Eye', I sensed Giles' amusement - it is in fact spelt 'Merckii'.

After a full day digging up Dahlias, the Orangery is once again filled with dozens of crates of them - protected from the chill of winter.

Dahlias

*

Apple Juice

Apple juice continued to be produced throughout October and into early November - a team effort required to produce the necessary three barrels in a day.

Each batch is a completely unique combination of apple varieties, and so each bottle of Norton Conyers apple juice has its own subtly delicious flavour. 

*

The compost heaps rapidly filled with cuttings from this years' growth. 

But the woody stems from the berry plot were taken into the woods to add to habitat piles.

Redcurrants before pruning

On my first day at Norton Conyers, Giles and I installed wooden supports for new plants in the berry plot. But now, some of the older supports - installed by Giles in 1995 - had given way, and so it was time to replace them.

Installing new supports

*

It is nearly one month since the first paragraph of this post was written - the fifteenth of November. This time mist overwhelmed the atmosphere on my morning commute. And the temperature was bitter. But, as has become a pattern for the time of year, the sun came out unexpectedly and the temperature rose to give a spring-like feel to this Autumnal air. I wonder for how long we will continue to be pleasantly surprised by the weather?

Spring into Summer & NGS - Norton Conyers, 2018

Spring into Summer & NGS - Norton Conyers, 2018

Iris croatica

What has struck me most whilst working at Norton Conyers has been the rapid speed of change. Giles is keen to ensure all work is completed efficiently, and this shows in the garden's maintenance and progress. However, the speed with which nature works is even more surprising. 

It has given me a heightened awareness of the passage of time: the brief yet stunning flowering of the irises; the blossom - falling as quickly as it blooms; the rapid growth of willow. Somehow it has made every moment of my time in the gardens more precious - everything needs to be absorbed and appreciated in the moment, as the beauty shifts fleetingly from species to species.

All of this change is hard to keep up with! As Giles often says, there is always so much we could do!

Pride is taken in all of the work we undertake and the progress we make working two days a week is quite remarkable. I suppose there is a certain charm in the fact that the garden is always a work in progress. Any 'perfect' garden is fleetingly so. However, perfection always exists in some capacity, and can be found in individual species at certain moments in time.

Papaver orientale 'Victoria Louise'

Whilst writing this, I am reminded of a book by Jon McGregor, 'If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things'. Perhaps that is what I hope to achieve with my blog to an extent - bring to life those moments that cannot be repeated or replicated, and that can be so easily missed.

The vegetable garden began to take shape in May, as brassicas, beans, root vegetables, cauliflowers and spinach were planted. The strawberries had been introduced in April as the paths were completed. Much watering was required due to the hot May weather.

Grass

Pressure mounted in mid May to have the gardens ready for the National Gardens Scheme (NGS) Charity opening. But the grass doesn't stop growing for anything! The huge main green in the walled gardens had to be mown in its entirety by the push mower. The bag stayed on to collect cuttings too - this was a time-consuming process, but worth the effort; it was satisfying to see games being played on the pristine lawn on the open day itself.

NGS Open Gardens

The day for the charity opening of the gardens arrived (June 3rd), and as I pulled my car into the temporary car park (normally known as the paddock), there was little sense of the busyness that was to come. The weather was unremarkable - overcast, but dry - and so the forecast for the whole atmosphere of the day itself also seemed fairly unremarkable.

Rosa banksea ‘lutea’ outside the Orangery 

I stood by the gate in a fluorescent yellow jacket and looked down the winding drive adjacent to the house. As 2pm (the opening time) approached, cars begun to slowly meander their way towards me. As they approached I waved them towards the car park.

By 2.40, nearly 100 people had passed through the gates. Monty Don had given the NGS a mention on Gardeners World on the Friday; it appears his plug was a success!

Bex ushered the cars into neat lines, as Steve (Bex's husband) and volunteer Sue manned the gate. Meanwhile, Giles and Emma sold plants outside the orangery; inside, Carol (Giles' wife), Beth and her two boys served tea and cake. Resident artist David's wife, Becky, had set up games on the lawn (and a miniature golf course around the peonies) There was much to do and see for the £6 entry fee. 

David's completed 'Wandering Aengus'

I was soon employed to help Hazel (a volunteer I hadn't yet met) in the washing-up area in the Bothy. A fast turnaround on the crockery was required to keep up with the demand for tea and cake!

A blooming Peony

Hazel had set up a book stall in the neighbouring room, but with an honesty 'basket' in place, her services were in greater demand in the catering department!

Despite the luke-warm weather, the atmosphere was first rate - relaxed and convivial. With the garden at its best, and areas to be enjoyed by all ages, the day proved to be a tremendous success.

But no one worked harder than Mr and Mrs G! Carol had spent five days baking cakes, whilst Giles had brought and set up garden furniture, games and tables and chairs for the day. 

Takings for the NGS were substantial and the money from plant and tea and cake sales went towards the upkeep of the gardens. A successful day, enjoyed by all! But the hard work in the gardens continues...