Archive for May, 2016


PicPost: Pure

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12/05/2016
Whitebells- picture by Bryan Jackson

Whitebells- picture by Bryan Jackson

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Digging Therapy

Filed under: A musing: odd thoughts, Gardening techniques, Health, Soils and soil improvement, This and that — Leave a comment
11/05/2016

double-digging-hero‘There is great healing power in digging. This is so much the case that one is tempted to wonder if any actual electrical power comes up to one from the earth. Perhaps the benefit is merely from the rhythmic movements of the body. At any rate, however sulking and rebellious one may be at the start, sesitiveness creeps up the fork into hands and body and legs. Finally the brain surrenders and one is again at peace with the garden.’

Clare Leighton 1935

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PicPost: Just Wait

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10/05/2016
Peony flower bud by Ellen Zillin

Peony flower bud by Ellen Zillin

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Tulip Mania at Blickling

Filed under: Blickling Hall- rebirth of the Walled Garden, Community Gardening, Heritage Gardens & gardening — 1 Comment
09/05/2016

WP_20160505_10_34_04_ProA short session at Blickling this week, as I needed to get home to cut the grass before we head off for Scotland. I mentioned how the Tulips were looking great in the Double Borders last week. Well, I can say that as I turned into them again this week, I was truly ‘stunned’- a word I tend to resist because it has been over-used and devalued somewhat (rather like ‘awesome’ and ‘epic’!).

They must be at ‘peak tulip’ and in some instances are just about to go over, but the mid morning sun made them stand out marvellously.

After recovering (!) I headed off to the Walled Garden once more, and was soon joined by Norfolk Pete (who was detailed to start constructing the wonderful oak welcome sign board near the main entrance), Aussie Pete and Chris , who set about lightly forking over and hoeing, which is what I began with too. Project Manager Mike had heard the weather was going to be dry and warm- so perfect conditions for hoeing. This is  a job I really enjoy- a bit like scything – once you get into the flowing motion, you can lose yourself…..

Sign board under construction…
the gravelled paths…
..Chris and Aussie Pete getting to grips with the hoeing..

Well, by the time I left, we had been over about an eighth of the main four growing areas, just loosening the topsoil and removing weeds and large stones, all ready for some planting out. It was satisfying and we paused to share experiences, jokes and general banter as usual; this time comparing our efforts at tracing our family trees amongst other topics.

Mike, meanwhile was finishing off one of the few areas of gravel path still to be completed, and what a difference seeing those paths -plus the grassed ones- makes to the overall impact of the garden.

The Hoinesty in full flower under the Mulberry Tree in the walled garden…
..and the old bed still looking neat and tiody with produce and flowers on the way..this will soon be dwarfed by the new areas being cultivated

So, I miss my slot next week as I shall be up on the Isle of Skye; I’m really looking forward to this break with my wife and 6 old friends, lets hope the weather and midges are kind!

Further Information:

Blickling Hall website

Blickling Hall Facebook page

A 360 degree tour of Blickling Hall

Old School Gardener

 

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PicPost: Nearly There

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08/05/2016
Allium flower by Ellen Zillin

Allium flower by Ellen Zillin

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Sprung

Filed under: Wildlife and Nature — 1 Comment
07/05/2016

swarm-of-bees‘With tumbled hair of swarms of bees,

And flower-robes dancing in the breeze,

With sweet, unsteady lotus-glances,

Intoxicated, Spring advances.’

From an anthology of Sanskrit poems of the 12th- 15th centuries (Trans. John Brough 1968)

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PicPost: Easing Out

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06/05/2016
Allium opening by Ellen Zillin

Allium opening by Ellen Zillin

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Top Tip: Rejuvenating a conifer

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05/05/2016

PUB0006342V_711526Save time removing old, browning conifers by transforming them into a new garden feature by pruning.

Brown in the centre?

Remove the small dead branches, especially those form the centre, to reveal the shapes of the main branches. Cut off a few of the lower, larger branches so that you can underplant the conifer with ground-cover plants that tolerate dry shade, including vinca, Geranium (Cranesbill) and Lamium.

Brown at the base?

Variegated ivy or Periwinkle (Vinca) planted at the base of the tree will use the brown. lower branches as aclimbing frame.

Standard conifers?

Transform a conifer into a standard by removing all branches up to 1.5 metres (5 feet)- or lower if desired- and then lightly trim the top to shape.

Source: ‘Short cuts to Great Gardens’- Reader’s Digest 1999

Old School Gardener

 

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PicPost: Five past five

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04/05/2016
Dandelion clock -picture by Ellen Zillin

Dandelion clock -picture by Ellen Zillin

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The Levellers at Blickling

Filed under: Blickling Hall- rebirth of the Walled Garden, Community Gardening, Heritage Gardens & gardening — Leave a comment
03/05/2016
Ed, Mike and Pete rowing (nearly) together!

Ed, Mike and Pete rowing (nearly) together!

No, not the folk band, but a team of volunteers and gardeners getting down and dirty!

I mentioned last week that the gravel paths were just about ready to be surfaced. I arrived in the Walled Garden this week with Gardner Ed, who wound me up to expect to be doing a huge amount of Carr stone spreading . I was pleasantly surprised, because most of the hard paths had not only been given a tamped base of Carr stone, but had had their finishing layer of pea shingle too. What a transformation!

The other volunteers were doing some weeding in the inner courtyard and Parterre of the house, but Aussie Pete and I joined Gardener Ed and Project Manager Mike to press on with Carr stone levelling and tamping.

Ed and Pete demonstrating their screed board technique..

Ed and Pete demonstrating their screed board technique..

I’d not done this before, so it was interesting to see the technique in play. A screed board– two pieces of plank bracketed together (and with notches at either end to slide over the metal path edging) was used to pull the Carr stone over and then raked in a rowing fashion to achieve the correct profile. The board had even been given a 10 degree camber from the centre to ensure water run off from the path centre to the edges. This simple, but effective tool gave an impressive result. It was certainly a lot easier with three or four people on the board. I used to enjoy rowing, but my shoulders ached at the end of the day.

After our efforts…
…and in the path beyond the final surface- golden pea shingle

Still it was pleasing to see the result, especially after Mike had tamped the surface hard and spread gravel over the paths. After our efforts there’s just one side path and a little area in front of the Bothy left to do, so hopefully someone will get that done before we return next week!

Further Information:

Blickling Hall website

Blickling Hall Facebook page

A 360 degree tour of Blickling Hall

Old School Gardener

 

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