A 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…..
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.
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
I think it must be three weeks since I was last at Blickling. I got a chance to look around at the end of my working session and there were several highlights I hadn’t seen before, most notably the Azaleas round the Temple, the wall-trained Wisterias, the masses of Forget-me-Nots and Honesty in the Dell and some of the colour combinations in the double borders; especially the Tulip ‘Queen of Night’ and the black foliage of Mongo Grass and Black Elders. 
Old School Garden 