Head Gardeners Blog May 2023...
It is already beginning of May and the last two months just flew by. A very wet and cold spring made our plant propagation and garden preparation a bit more challenging this year. Thousands of little seedlings were waiting to be moved outside to be hardened off but had to wait just a bit longer under glass. Once moved into the open elements they had to be very brave and withstand a few unpleasant weather conditions which meant that plants got a little setback, mainly our annual bedding plants like Calendulas and Tagetes. A feed of liquid seaweed is hopefully building up their strength and leads to a healthy growth. It seems like talking or writing about little children, but after months of caring and minding, it is only natural that we look out for them. Vegetable seedlings are just a bit stronger and didn’t mind the colder spells.
Picture 1 Healthy vegetable plants waiting to be planted into plots.
Most vegetableplots are already planted up with new crops, nearly all of the 15 heritage varieties of potatoes are sown by now. I could source four new potato varieties from the 19th century like the Dutch variety ‘Eigenheimer’, dating back to1893. Also, a sweet pepper ‘Spanish Mammoth’ from 1817. It will be interesting to see how well they will perform. Sweet peppers need a lot of heat and sun, hopefully our Vinery will create the perfect climate for them.
Picture 2 Preparing new potato ridges the “Connemara way”.
The spring display in our formal flower garden is slowly coming to an end. Few beds are already planted with the new summer bedding plants. All spring bulbs are dug up, cleaned, and stored until the next season. Spring flowers like Bellis, Forget-me-nots, and Wallflowers give together with the later flowering Gladiolus a colourful late spring display until they are also taken out and replaced by summer bedding.
Picture 3 Our “Snake” beds with a lovely Spring display at the moment.
Picture 4 Tulip ‘Coleur Cardinal’, white Bellis
and blue Muscari brightened up the Parterre in April and early May
Picture 5 Tulip aximensis, an old wild heritage Tulip from the alps in France, growing and flowering for the first time in our garden.
The Camassia or commonly known as Quamash, has a full display in our border in front of the Head Gardeners House at the moment. It is a great early flowering bulbues perennial and is doing well in all kinds of conditions. It will also brighten up areas which are lacking colour between the spring and summer season.
Picture 6 Camassia leichtlinii
Picture 7 Bluebells on mass in front of the trained pear trees along the brick wall.
The Herbaceous Border is just starting off with the first flush of colour. Geraniums, Bistorts and Irises are among the flowering perennials. Light shades of blues, pinks and creams are dominating at the moment.
Picture 8 Our double Herbaceous Border beginning of May.
One of my favourite spots in the garden must be the elevated position at the Head Gardeners House. It seems like the lush vegetation is competing with the surrounding mountains and the sky, which can look very dramatic on cloudy days like today.
The Azaleas give an amazing scent at the moment, much loved by all types of insects.
Picture 9 Flowering Azaleas between the Head Gardeners House and the Bothy.
I will be back with more updates from the Victorian Walled Garden in June, hopefully our little plant seedlings are matured by then.