As I sit in the garden shed to write this post, 2021 has brought with it a chill wind and the rain keeps coming in fits and starts. As ever, Ghillie snores at my feet and the grass looks less than prime. However, the wonderful thing about this time of year is that now that the mighty oaks have all dropped their leaves together with the deciduous ash, alder, beech, hornbeam and the rest, you can see their fantastic structures unclothed and the contours of the garden are there for all to see.
2020 was a funny old year and I am sure that we are all pleased to see the back of him. With a vaccine on the way we are planning for our NGS opening and the wonderful thing is that the natural rhythm of the garden continues as ever. It is very reassuring. A persistent doe continues to get into the garden despite our best efforts to remove all her entry points. The badgers and foxes are much in evidence – they of course like to dig things up whatever the season! Our battle with the local mole population continues and New Year’s Day showed a new set of mole hills in a totally new spot!
In amongst that and despite the fallen leaves and massive tree fall, the Christmas roses bloom fit to bust and there is much promise as spring bulbs start to pop their heads above the sodden earth. There are early buds and the garden is getting ready to the new season and all the colour, scent and spectacle that this will bring.
December saw a huge limb fall from one of the mighty Monterey pines. On the ground the bark looks like sinuous snake skin, so Dan the wonderful tree man after checking that the main trunk was safe, has shaped it and we will grow honeysuckle and climbing roses (deer willing) over him which will be fab. Smaller parts of the fall have been fashioned into a raised bed with Christmas roses and jasmine doing well.
Another big happening has been the moving of the bees. As we clear the centre section of the big garden they were, to be frank, in the way. They now have their very own spot on the west side of the garden with a winding path to their hives and plenty of room for expansion. Bee Village is now open.
Of course the kitchen garden elephant remains with an enormous amount of builder’s rubbish to clear from long ago. Excitingly the digger will be at Ferns Lodge to start this clearance this month. Our goal is to show you a cleared area and a glimmer of a place where vegetables might grow come June.
So as the world turns and Ghillie chases rabbits in his sleep. Closing this post, it is time for garden furniture painting and to start on the enormous job of compost spreading on the top garden. Wishes all for a very Happy New Year and just think of all those sunlit days, spring blossom and the promise of summer to come.
Contact sue.grant@fernslodge.co.uk.