Weekly catch up with garden & propagation

Garden Team

It’s been a week of sunny spells, heavy showers and some blustery weather, although not quite as windy as expected, and there’s an unquestionable autumnal feeling in the air despite the weather being so mild. In the Woodland Garden Colchicum parnassicum heralds the colchicum season, greeting visitors with its pale pink goblets. In the Water Garden Vernonia arkansana, one of my favourite late flowering perennials and Patrinia aff. punctiflora make a great pair. Another favourite combination is Physostegia virginiana ‘Vivid’ and the soft blue pincushions of Succisella inflexa (the latter being a rather vigorous spreader so need to be kept in check). Pennisetum villosum needs well-drained soil to survive the winter.

Pennisetum villosum

Physostegia virginiana ‘Vivid’ and 

Succisella inflexa

Patrinia aff. punctiflora and

Vernonia arkansana

Colchicum parnassicum

The garden team spent most of the week weeding the central area of the Reservoir Garden, continuing with the long border adjacent to the reservoir itself. It’s interesting how visitors often view weeding as a menial task; some kind of punishment. Sure, it can be repetitive and frustrating at times, but it also gives us the opportunity to closely observe and get to know the garden intimately. Working as a team (albeit a small one), tackling a large border or area together makes the task less daunting.

While it’s still a bit too early for us to start planting, with the soil being extremely dry after summer despite recent heavy downpours, the team has been assessing gaps in the borders, setting some plants aside. A number of plants which were dug from our nursery’s stockbeds and potted up, months ago, needed checking to make sure they were still healthy and weed free - a perfect wet weather job as the trays could be brought inside the nursery’s polytunnels.

We’ve had the great pleasure of having Lauren and Justin, trainees at Fuller’s Mill (a plantsman’s garden in Suffolk created by Beth’s friend the later Bernard Tickner) join us and the plant production team this week. We’ve been very fortunate to have so many amazing interns over the years – you all bring so much to the team. Connecting, sharing experiences and ideas is such an important part of gardening.

Propagation Team

Our nursery stock is vitally important, it's the 'shop window' as Emily likes to call it. With this sentiment in mind we are constantly observing these 'window' plants, and tending to them as needed. This often entails a simple cutting back when things are getting a little rambunctious. We braved the elements this week to work across many of our damp loving plants to make sure everything was looking good. During a brief break in the torrential rain, Hollie and Rob created an autumnal nursery display. We can't wait to see those asters and symphyotrichums burst with flower!

Debs has been working hammer and thumbs over on the cuttings bench, with many new treasures on their way. One of these was Helianthemum 'The Bride'. This gorgeous evergreen rock rose boasts single, yellow centered, pure white flowers born in great profusion during midsummer, which contrast superbly with its grey foliage. Needs full sun and light, well draining soil. Another jewel in the works is Dianthus plumarius 'Maischnee', delicate and fragrant, stunning pink with green foliage and double white flowers with frilly edge petals. Maischnee, translates to May snow. We're unsure if this is the correct name for this plant, but if you have any ideas please let us know in the comments below!

Helianthemum 'The Bride'

Dianthus plumarius 'Maischnee'

We have just released a good number of Echinacea purpurea 'Alba' onto our website and nursery. These daisy-like flowers with greenish-white petals fall back from large central cones which look like tarnished brass as yellow stamens open and fade. They create a lovely effect beside miscanthus, beautiful late summer and autumn flowering.

The whole team has been working diligently in our tunnels and stand off areas, assessing growing stock and checking the health on our established cohort. Whilst the packing team have been ensuring all your orders arrive safely.