Autumn weather can be glorious - it's my favourite season, and
we're hoping that the sun will shine this autumn to entice you into
the gardens at West
Dean. It's a beautiful time of the year with fetching rays of
sunlight illuminating the landscape - just right for the budding
artists and photographers amongst you.
Summer was on a roll this year with several bright days and
relatively dry months after the wet June; just the ticket for
dazzling dahlias and zingy zinnias within the walled garden. These
show stopping blooms were enhanced by the lack of wind and rain and
there seemed to be just enough moisture in the ground to keep the
displays ticking over through the drier months. There's still time
to enjoy these beauties when you next visit.
Some garden tasks are distinctly hard work and no more so than
tarmacking. Over the years the footpaths at West Dean have been
progressively tarmacked providing a smooth service for push chairs
wheel chairs and garden vehicles. It means that the paths will be
long serving in all weathers and when tarred and chipped in the
future, they'll be like gravel paths and more in keeping with
gardens' surrounds.
During September we've been harvesting apples to sell at the
gardens shop and at the annual Apple Affair at the beginning of October.
Windfalls are also collected on a regular basis. The fruit is
stored in the apple store in the walled garden, with some on
display there and, later on, in the storeroom in the
kitchen garden. The harvest has been moderate this year as
opposed to the bumper harvest we enjoyed last year but there is
still enough fruit for us all to enjoy.
In preparation for a healthier life make use of the arboretum as
a regular destination for a walk at West Dean. I think you'll be
charmed by the new views within the space and next year, following
seeding bare areas with appropriate wild flower mixes, the site
should be an even more floristic bonanza for your enjoyment. You'll
also be able to see more of the trees now that a large part of the
laurel undergrowth has been removed.
Sarah Wain, Garden Supervisor @sarahwestdean
