Weekly catch up with garden & propagation

This week in Propagation

with Rob

Our winter protection plants are now almost all under plastic! Hurrah!

However, the work has just begun. Over the next few months every single plant will have its roots and top growth examined, before receiving a fresh mulch. Emily has been busy gifting this treatment to our stock irises. They're currently being cared for in pots, but will go on to form part of the new stockbeds.

Mel, Kirsten and Tina have been working on our sale stock, chiefly our salvias and verbenas. With myself focusing on the nursery plants, tending to our selection of shrubs.

Richard has been propagating Polygonatum curvistylum, which our Head of Horticulture, Steve has this to say, 'Slender arching stems clothed in narrow, purple-tinted leaves carry clusters of little mauve bell-like flowers, in early summer.'

Kathy has been potting Papaver rupifragum, a plant I adore seeing every summer. This perennial, semi-double poppy has a tissue-paper textured appearance. Their soft orange colour, rather rare for the garden, creating this fireball effect. I look forward to their eruptions next year!

Pete, Callum, Kiran and Olly have been hard at work picking and packing your orders. A huge thanks to all who have taken advantage of our 40% off range, and as always, for choosing to bring a piece of Beth's garden into yours.

This week in the Garden

with Cathy

The garden is on fire with autumn colour at the moment. It’s so nice to see the reflection of the trees in the clear water of the ponds - the dredging work has really paid off!

Liquidambar styraciflua is the star of the show with a spectrum of colours from yellow to dark red. Gingko biloba, Pseudolarix amabilis and Taxodium distichum range from yellow to orange, not to mention the massive oaks that tie the whole garden together.

We’ve spent the week blowing leaves, raking and tidying up in the woodland where the first snowdrops are already emerging. We also spent a day weeding at Chattowood, our neighbouring project planted in sand. In the drought of the summer weeds struggled to germinate but after a couple of wetter months the whole area needed a proper weed through before winter. We will be back again in March for the big cut back of perennials.

Last but not least, we spent some time pruning bay, holly and rosemary in order to gather materials for our annual wreath making sessions. Do come and see us, the colours are spectacular and the garden is looking great!