Weekly catch up with garden & propagation

Propagation team

Hallelujah it's raining! Well, only a little, but after the scorching heats of late it was most welcomed.

It's been busy week down in the growing department. Many new varieties of symphyotrichum, aster and helenium have found their way onto the nursery and online store. My favourite of these must be Symphyotrichum laeve 'Glow in the Dark', which will gift masses of luminous lilac-pink daisies, that contrast superbly with the plant's black stems and dark foliage.

Hannah has been busy cutting back within our shade tunnels. Where as Miya was over the moon to see the progress of our Dianella tasmanica [Blaze] ('Npw2'). This evergreen hails from Australia and with a little sun will sport chocolate brown leaves. And eventually, dark, almost black buds, which from the most stumnimg blue flowers equipped with vibrant yellow stamens.

Kathy and Lelia have been potting away, including Echinacea purpurea 'Rubinstern' and Astrantia major, which we look forward to watching progress. Whilst Sean brought some magic to our propagation building via the silky bronze heads of Deschampsia cespitosa 'Waldschatt'. It's always nice to have something beautiful to look at when up to your elbows in compost!

Echinacea purpurea 'Rubinstern'

Astrantia major

Deschampsia cespitosa 'Waldschatt'

Garden Team

On Monday the garden team and Miya from Plant Production braced the scorching hot weather and headed to The Plant Library, Serge Hill, where we spent an inspiring afternoon in the company of Head Gardener Millie Souter who showed us around and pointed out some of her favourites and best performers amongst the plants. We were bowled over by the sheer number of plants and how great it looked (we know how much hard work goes into managing an area that size!). Must come back again and spend more time exploring the plants. Tom Stuart-Smith kindly gave us a tour of his wonderful gardens. Mount Etna Brooms in full bloom in the court yard in full bloom. it was interesting to hear Tom talk about how the different areas have evolved; what plants thrive (some a bit too well) while others might be replaced.

We also stopped by Myddleton House Gardens, once home to the great plantsman E A Bowles. Thank you Gabi, senior gardener, for taking the time to tell us about the gardens and how you work. We’ll be back to see the bulbs in spring!

Gardens are, and should be, dynamic, always changing and evolving over time. Having said that, it’s always sad to say goodbye to an old tree friend, especially one that has given us so much pleasure over the years with its fabulous display of blossom in spring. Our Great White Cherry, Prunus ‘Tai-haku’, growing below Beth’s house in the Water Garden recently lost its top, finally succumbing to old age, having struggled for the past few years. While the crown is gone, Ben and Ned from the Estate team, left the hollow trunk standing as it’s beneficial for wildlife (we’ve had bees and hornets nesting).

Wednesday brought a welcome change in weather - a much needed respite for both plants and staff – with rain (only a couple of mm) cooler temperatures and grey skies. The team has been busy been weeding and pruning in the Water Garden, giving the Reservoir Garden a quick blitz and will do the same in the Scree Garden towards the end of the week.