Gardeners Hibernation?

I'm afraid its not true, as i mentioned in a previous post there is much to do in those autumn and winter months that encompass our closed season.  Patently our garden is not designed with winter in mind, perhaps it would be a waste of growing space that could be taken up by plants that display their decorative merits when the sun is shining and the garden is full of visitors.  However we do have a few jewels in the otherwise spartan winter crown. The Wintersweet (Chimonmanthus praecox) is often detected with the nose before the eyes, being a winter flowering plant it needs to use every means necessary to attract the few pollinators that are still around.

 

Plants are always paramount in our plans and these last few weeks have given us an opportunity to renewal prune the shrubs that haven't yet been looked at since the rejuvenation project began. 

 

The last building project that were have planned is underway and going well.  The soft fruit garden is around half way complete and should be complete within a few weeks (weather permitting).  This will allow us to add soft fruits to our produce list including Strawberries, Currants, Raspberries, Blackberries and perhaps even Blueberries if we produce the correct soil conditions.

 

Vegetables are still finding their way to the Hall although in the form of a less diverse selection as dictated by our season, still we have been sending Jerusalem artichoke, Kale, Chard, Garlic, Radish, Spring Onion, Onions, Garlic, Leeks, Celery, Celeriac and even the occasional Globe artichoke.

 

The volunteers continue to bring their much welcomed assistance helping clear the last few overgrown borders before the marathon mulching mission begins in the next few weeks.

 

The dark mornings afford the opportunity to witness the sunrise from the Hortus conclusus that is the walled garden, this is a real privilege and something i wish we could package up and save for our visitors, for now however a photograph or two shall have to suffice.

Fair enough!

 

With just over a month left of our visitor season the garden is beginning to reveal more and more of the autumn hues that we are all so familiar with at this time of year.  Some of the less conventional plants are giving up pods and seeds offering excitement for the horticulturalists both on our team and amongst the visitors.  I takes just seven years from seed to flower for a Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox), if you fancy a go at growing one ask one of our gardeners for a seed or please get in touch via our comments section.

 

 

 

A successful first year's growth of our Vines (Vitis vinifera) leaves us in a perfect position to prune a framework for future crops now that they have started to put down good roots. We are toying with ideas for signage in the vineyard, please let us have your comments regarding our prototype bottle sign. 

 

The Genus Asteraceae provide more than their fair share of flower at this time of the year. Rudbeckia, Helenium, Galardia and Echinacia to name but a few, if your garden is looking tired at the moment these are all good plants to add thinking toward the future. 

 

There are plenty of seed heads present in our perennial plantings which is great for the charms of finches that fly regular sorties to gorge on the botanical banquets. Try to leave some seed heads in your garden as they tend to look great in the frosts and help to feed the birds through the winter when food is scarce.  If you must execute an annual "hack back" bundles of stems tied up and dropped under a hedge make great homes for beneficial garden beasties.

 

 

 

If like us you are trying to wring every ounce of colour out of your plantings then I'm sure you will be aware how important dead heading is.  Sweet peas (Lathrys odoratus) respond brilliantly to the procedure and will keep producing flower right up to the frosts.  A good tip is to leave just a few pods perhaps out of view so that you can harvest them when dry and brown.  The seeds inside these pods can be sown immediately to produce plants to overwinter in cold frame, these should give you an early flowering.  Alternately you could save the seeds in a dry paper bag in your fridge until spring when they should be treated as the half hardy annuals that they are.

 

This weekend we host our annual Plant fair, this event is a must for garden lovers, we shall have a host of excellent local nurseries and growers in attendance to help inspire your gardening aspirations with their wares and wealth of knowledge. We hope to see you there.

 

 See the exhibitors list and details in this link Plant Fair

 

Fruit, Flowers and Fun.

The eclectic mix of plant material in the walled garden offers a fantastic assortment of life at different stages of growth.  Fruits are starting to appear, such as this magnificent peach in our vineries, the trees were planted just last year so we are thrilled with the amount of growth and fruit that they are bearing.

 

 

Our Wintersweet or Chimonanthus praecox is also expecting, once ripe the unusual looking pods will be harvested and some of the seed will be stratified and sown for a new generation.

 

Embryonic pears are swelling on a daily basis turning our thoughts to pear juice, desserts and the essential summer pruning.

 

Its not all about the fruits though, there are still plenty of flowers in evidence, a notion seconded no doubt by the volunteers and gardeners who have been busy dead heading. Dead heading helps to encourage fresh flower regrowth.  Below our Calistemon is a delight framed by the original brick of the 18th century walls.

 

While we are looking at the red part of the spectrum it seems fitting to show you our Astrantia major also.

 

The cut flower room has been very busy churning out an abundant supply of blooms for the florists in the Hall, who are tasked with creating stunning floral displays for the family and our visitors.

 

On the Veg patch the hungry gap is receding and our harvests now include Beans, Peas, Turnips, Salad onions, Radish,  Early potato, Globe artichoke and Cucumbers.  This week we installed an irrigation system to help keep the thirsty vegetables growing in our sandy soils throughout the hot summer.

 

Last but by no means least, Thursday saw us host our annual Volunteer BBQ.  The event was very well attended and received.  The excellent weather augmented a fantastic atmosphere fuelled by top notch food and drink.  This fantastic setting is a perfect venue for us to say a massive thank you to our fantastic volunteers who work hard all year round.  There is a real feeling of progression and this is largely thanks to the efforts of the volunteers who support the full time staff, so if we haven't said it enough all ready.

 

THANKYOU.

 

 

 

 

 If you are interested in volunteering at Holkham walled garden please contact. p.oldham@holkham.co.uk or pop in to see us for a friendly chat.

Winter delights

Chimonanthus praecox   known as Wintersweet

Looking back to a mild December in the walled garden, mild weather, warm sun, Chimonanthus praecox fragrance in the garden and a skein of geese flying over from Holkham beach.

Chimonanthus and Geese in December at Holkham