June and July 2022
Hello Everyone
Our work in the garden has paused while we, like many others around the country, are having lots of rain. It’s a good time to reflect and plan more. I am intrigued that I am frequently coming up with new ideas and that many of them are good, I think. It is part of the process of life that change is sometimes good, but we often resist it; it takes energy!
Most of the perennial beds have been cut back and we have plenty of compost this year, so the whole garden, where necessary, will receive its share. Rose pruning has started, weeding continues, and reassessing of plants is ongoing. Our trilliums have developed well over the years, but unfortunately are now in the pathway of where we walk to turn on an irrigation system. So, when they are in flower, they will be move to another area of the woodland garden. As we’ve been extending the woodland area there are plenty of options as to where they will go. As some of you know, I nearly always move plants when they are in flower, but in this case with the trilliums, it is also the right time to move them.
One plant that has grown very well here is Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Firedance’. One of Piet Oudolf’s cultivars, it’s a good doer in almost any situation and has been much admired, but I find the leaves are too much yellow-green for my liking. So, quite a few will be potted up for our sales table, and a lot will go to friends.
Photo 1: In the orange-red bed the penstemons will be cut back in September, and the Japanese blood grass, Imperata cylindrica ‘Red Baron’, which has died back and is on the left, will be cut back soon. On the columns of Berberis ‘Helmond Pillar’, last year’s twine, which has faded, will be replaced soon with a wine-coloured twine which is the same colour as the plant. As the leaves grow in again the twine can barely be seen, and it is used to stop any bits lopping out. Photo by Juliet Nicholas
Photo 2: There is so much to see on a winter’s day. On the left is gunnera, in its winter form. Photo by Juliet Nicholas
Photo 3: Winter flowering hellebores put on a great display under the wine-red stems of Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’. Photo by Juliet Nicholas
Photo 4: I always feel in good company when I walk amongst the silver birches. Photo by Juliet Nicholas.
Recently I held a Winter Workshop here under the umbrella of Secret Gardens. As the afternoon went on I realised how much Ron’s name came into the conversation. That is because he does many things around here, without which the garden wouldn’t be what it is. His most recent project was to renew the shelves inside and outside the shade house. His next work is to fix a leaky irrigation system in the potager garden. Today he is fixing leaks by the cattle’s water trough.
As I mentioned in a message sent two days ago, we are now on Instagram and Facebook. I will continue with my Writings from Frensham as there is more info there. And it’s a habit that I would find hard to break as I’ve been writing newsletters since February 2013!
Best wishes to you all,
Margaret
