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...

Supporting Norton Conyers!! 27th March 2018

A glorious start. Today's weather brought out the very best in the gardens. It was milder too. Despite it starting off dry, the weather is fickle, so I had still come fully prepared for the worst. In the event, this wasn't needed, and I could soon take off a few layers.

It was the perfect day to bring the benches out of their winter rest - having treated them with linseed oil a fortnight ago. Alyson and I manoeuvred the benches out of the Bothy and lifted them to their appropriate places in the garden. Benches are awkward things to carry - your legs keep getting in the way, meaning you can only make small - but quick - steps. It must be quite comical to watch thinking about it.

Benches bring something unique to a garden. I can't quite place it but perhaps it is the human spirit - the reminder that others have been here before you and enjoyed this very same view.

The benches looked superb in situ and felt soft to the touch. But there wasn't time to sit around; one more bench lay ready to treat - once again, Alyson and I used rags to do so.

My next task was back in the vegetable garden, continuing the task I had started on Thursday. Bex had already used the strimmer to cut back the Manure grass. This made for easier work - upturning these plants, and returning them back in the earth.

Having used a spade the previous day - I thought a fork might be easier. It was. My progress on the patch was quick. Giles soon joined me to lend a hand - he dug with a spade. He said that although it's easier to turn over the earth with a fork, the spade delivers better results. Giles got me a spade from his van and we returned to work.

I had baked a cake for us hard-working gardeners - Jamie Oliver's Torta Di Nada - a blueberry and olive oil cake previously mentioned in my blog. It went down a treat - a moreish, moist and fruity recipe, which gave us all a boost of energy.

We returned to work, and Plum promptly arrived rather proudly with a dead rabbit. It hung limp and lifeless in her mouth as she chewed - its eyes misted and matt black. Giles was happy for her to eat it if she wanted, but wanted to get the tail for the purpose of pollinating first. However, Plum wouldn't give up her catch - she frolicked with it as her Dad made a vain attempt to catch her.

I finished off my stretch of Manure grass, and Giles asked if I wanted a change. My back was starting to feel the strain, so I was glad to be offered this.

I joined Alyson in building and restoring pea supports. Some of the current supports had come loose in the earth - others were broken or no longer fit for purpose. These arched supports are a thing of beauty in themselves when finished - offering  shape and structure to the garden in the absence of plant growth and also shape to the growth when it comes. The knife on my multi-purpose tool came in handy for this task. However, I nicked my finger on it as I cut the twine - there are bloodstains on the branches to prove it!

We retired to lunch. I had saved half of the cake for Sir and Lady Graham, so walked to the house to deliver it. The daffodils had opened up, and looked glorious in the backdrop of the Spring sun and sky.

I finished off my supports, before joining Alyson again on the main border. A support was needed to straddle two neighbouring Heliopsis plants. The support would need to be tall and strong. The earth was tough, and I plunged the branches in vain. Alyson suggested I use a fork to break up the earth. This was just one of the many useful tips and hints she proffered throughout the day; like Giles, Alyson is also a fountain of gardening knowledge, and believes in doing things properly.

At this point, Giles arrived and asked me for my help. I followed him to the area outside the Dumper shed where a huge van stood, bearing the moniker East Riding Horticulture. This was our compost delivery; clearing out the shed the previous week had been very useful, giving up a clean, empty space in which to store it.

The bags were heavy - 75 litres - and there were lots of them - 40 to be precise! Fertiliser, gravel and plastic sheeting completed the delivery.

I returned to finish off the supports - it took a lot longer than I was expecting, but I was pleased with the result.

Resident artist David Stead had hosted a group of ladies for an art class today, and was showing them the gardens. They commented on the beauty of the supports we had created - it was pleasing to have this appreciation.

During all this time, Alan, Bex and Beth had been busy in the vegetable garden - starting to build raised beds. Haven't seen the results yet, but as I'm on holiday now for the next week, it's likely things will have changed quite dramatically again by next Thursday!

As I tidied up, Giles and David ventured into the gardens, and I was called upon for assistance. David had acquired a huge tree stump - Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani). It needed lifting upright. Giles used his mini tractor to lift it up; David used a metal stake in the ground to prevent it from toppling; I looked on - ensuring the stump wasn't in danger of slipping. The stump was now upright, but not stable. We tied it to the concrete slabs in the yard using blue rope.

I ended my day - again tired but strangely refreshed. I looked forward to the fresh challenges I would face the following week.