As we trudge through February, it seems eons since I last posted just before Christmas, and so many winter projects have happened here at NGS garden Ferns Lodge.
Our lovely plant wizards from Bashly Nurseries have delivered industrial amounts of large shrubs – rhodos, camellia, photinia, and stacks more for a new shrubbery at the edge of the vegetable garden. This looks very wintery and is definitely missing a lovely new greenhouse! We have also planted a new deciduous hedge, as a wind break, as well as five oak trees to take over from the lovely big trees there currently. These are very handsome but now extremely mature!
We have dug, chipped and yet again cleared away vast quantities of builders rubble from the area – it just keeps coming! All the while it has rained, and rained, and rained! Ghillie has chased after sticks, endlessly – sadly his retriever heritage means that he ALWAYS brings them back to drop them on your feet just at the wrong moment. The garden has never been so wet, the watercourse which runs the whole length of the big garden has been full – I have never seen that before! Or, the sight of a mud coloured Labrador scrambling up the bank after a swim in it’s less than prime waters!
The wonderful circle of holm oaks at the top of the garden are showing their age although of course they are still totally fab. I am still in mourning for probably the largest of the trees which fell down on a quiet morning with no breeze. Dan and his guys have been here with chain saws and a chipping machine to clear him away. It was a very sad moment at Ferns Lodge… Worse still, the tree beside him has a crack right through the trunk – probably caused when he fell, and Dan says that this tree must come down too – it is a disaster. However, it is all part of the rhythm of an old garden so now it is time to rebuild.
Next week, the plant wizards will deliver seven holm oak saplings which will be planted in a circle next to the current ring (of soon only four). Of course neither writer or reader will see them grow into mature trees, but hopefully others will and they will enjoy and tend the garden, and enjoy the shade that they bring in summer, their lovely vivid dark green leaves and fabulous bark.
It seems quite close to our opening and there is an astonishing amount to do. Everywhere are signs of spring and the bluebells are not far away now. We look forward to seeing you all in June.
Contact sue.grant@fernslodge.co.uk.