Tales from the Walled Garden
‘Ne’er cast a clout till May be out’
A saying stretching back to at least the 1700’s, but what is a clout and when can you cast it ?
Well, seemingly a ‘clout’ appears to be an item of clothing, specifically your winter woolies and May might refer to either the month of May or the flower of the Hawthorn (Crataegus sp.) which will flower from late April through early May.
The Houghton Lodge gardening team have for the last few weeks certainly been casting our ‘Clouts’ then getting then getting them out again.
We are blessed (some might argue differently) with 4 seasons, each having its own character, whether of new growth, flower and fruiting, harvest and rest. They all have different light levels, temperatures and plant flowering periods. If one was unable to read a calendar then the plant season would in fact, tell you the season.Looking back thr ough photographs of this time last year we were basking in clear blue sky, admiring Roses, Alliums, Iris’s and Delphiniums. The Nepeta was quite bushy and in flower and Peony Bowl of Beauty was exploding.
2021 is proving to be either behind or perhaps where we should be seasonally. Either way we have a lot to look forward to.
We said goodbye to the last daffodils and tulips and the yellow Iris ‘bucharica’ which was new to the garden for this year. The apple trees are in blossomed beautifully creating nature’s confetti in the spring breezes.
This year we have said goodbye to our Achillea bed which has for the last 5 seasons given us a lovely pastel coloured display. It was originally sown as part of a wild flower seed mix, most of which didn’t reappear the following year apart from the perennial Achillea (Yarrow).
We have decided that a change was needed, and so have taken the opportunity to remove the Achillea and re-sow with another wildflower seed mix. In doing so, the area is now larger and will give a more diverse display of flower and a longer season. We hope you will enjoy the change.
2021 sees the Iris beds fully planted, they are located either side of the Kiwi Arch at the far end of the Walled Garden and have been a joyful display. The selection of Iris’s chosen by Sophie provide a range of pastel colours which should flower over an extended season. Sizes range from very small, small, intermediate and large. If you were to look carefully at them you will see the developing flowering buds and also a couple of the smaller varieties in flower now.
The Hosta bed is now in its 3rd season, the clumps of emerging leaves promise a bigger and better display for 2021, they have had their first watering in of ‘Nemaslug’ nematodes which should keep any slug life at bay.
Our Kiwi’s Mr & Mrs (you need one of each for pollination) have had their frame replaced from a rickety Wooden pole, Wire and metal top frame to bespoke metal side frames and roof onto which the Kiwis have been re-tied. It all looks neat and tidy and adds a certain formality to this area. There’s plenty of baby kiwi amongst the foliage.
Over the winter new steel edging was placed to the long border and paths within the walled garden. And wooden edging to the cut flower, asparagus, vegetable and scented rose beds within the walled garden. Not necessarily colourful, but visually both wood and metal edging provides a structure and definition that we sub consciously appreciate as being ‘right or correct’.
It is this ‘sense of ease and comfort’ that we as gardeners strive to curate, whether through plant selection, placement, pruning or the general appearance of the garden.
In order to maintain the appearance of the gardens, Lesley and I are blessed with our Volunteers Peter and Cat who come to help us at Houghton Lodge gardens.
Cat is currently studying Horticulture at nearby Sparsholt College, applying the old adage of ‘Never looking a gift horse in the mouth’ Cat has been busy sowing seeds, pricking seedlings out and potting plants on – she had better not fail that element of her course.
Peter has been coming to Houghton for longer than I have been here and can be relied upon to know what needs doing if I ever fail to let him know. He also loves to stop and chat with our visitors, so if you happen to be visiting on a Thursday say hello.
If you are new to Houghton Lodge Gardens this year, dare I say it, you are in for a treat.
If you are a returning visitor we hope that you enjoy the changes.
If you are getting married or having your reception here then we hope that the garden provides a fitting backdrop to your special occasion.
Kevin, Lesley and the gardening team here at Houghton Lodge Gardens.
