Well - where to start? You will see as you walk around the
grounds and walled garden numerous trenches and machinery whizzing
about. Our outdated wood chip burning boiler or biomass boiler
(next to the
Gardens Restaurant) is being replaced after sterling work for
nearly four decades and a super-duper efficient new boiler is being
erected across the road from the main gates; consequently all the
pipe work is being upgraded hence the trenches. It's said that a
garden is merely a process and never finished which is probably how
we feel very keenly right now as the gardens team contemplate
restoring lawns etc after the workmen have left.
Following a rather dry spring and early summer last year, the
2015 annual rainfall romped home two inches shy of the 41 inch
average (1100mms in new money) last year. I don't need to tell you
just how wet it's been as we move into 2016 as I'm sure the whole
country is aware of it. The
Spring Garden has been living up to expectations with water
popping out of the ground in seemingly random locations and the
mighty River Lavant is ripping along, rising daily and worth a
slosh around in your wellies to see it roaring along, just keep a
good grip on littlies!
Needless to say the building work on the walls of the tributary
turned into a race against the water rising and then the gardens
manager decided to extend the project which meant all-hands-on-deck
to get the job done. The new bridge work will have to wait until
summer when the water subsides again but once that work is
completed this area should look relatively complete.
Along with the water this winter, the incredibly mild weather
which has challenged our expectations of plant behaviour. Bulbs
were up and flowering way too early and buds were swelling too.
Here's hoping that a cold snap of glorious sunny days and no rain
for a while will calm down this extraordinary season and that we
don't lose too much spring blossom to frosts.
Despite all that unusual activity the gardens team has completed
glasshouse cleaning and the re-potting is well on its way.
Recently the apples and pears have been the training ground for
Barry, our relatively new trainee, as he learns the gentle art of
fruit tree pruning from Stu, one of 'the woodies'. In fact, several
staff members have enjoyed a fruit tree training session to
increase their knowledge of how fruiting wood develops and how to
prune for shape space and yield.
Sarah Wain, Garden Supervisor @sarahwestdean