Wednesday 17 April 2013

March at Chastleton Garden 2013.



Another busy and challenging month at Chastleton Garden. The weather is still resisting warming up for spring and we had a good fall of snow in the garden again just before Easter. Even so myself, Jane (our assistant gardener) and the volunteers have been working hard.




Irene and Richard have been helping the other volunteers and me to dig over the first new veg bed in The Kitchen Garden and plan strawberries and rhubarb.


Alice busy digging and weeding.

Jean and Julie planting the strawberries.

John and Robin came in to run the RHS Pershore College advanced fruit pruning course this month at Chastleton. Even though it was heavy showers a good day was had by all.

 We have our plant sales out on the cart by the reception area.

The second early and main crop potatoes are chitting before planting. 
Easter weekend was busy in the garden. Julie Ogley helped with the garden trail and garden tours. 

 The spring plants continue to struggle with the cold and the snow.
Matthew West fitting a lovely hand rail for our steps in The Best Garden. 
The topiary has started to put on new growth despite the cold.

The finished bed in The Kitchen Garden - planted with strawberries and rhubarb.


The poor lawns are struggling in the weather and with visitor footfall.

The new cold frames are finished and in place in The West Garden.

So we have been busily sowing seeds in the green house and pricking out seedlings ready for planting vegetables and cut flowers in the Kitchen Garden. We have also been : mowing, strimming, weeding, edging, mulching, feeding and pruning roses and fruit trees. 

Leaving.
This is my last blog entry for Chastleton Garden as I am leaving the gardener post on 4th May 2013 to go to another job. I have very much enjoyed my time working in a beautiful historic garden with a fab team of staff and volunteers. I would like to thank everyone very much for their support and enthusiasm in the garden and at the property and all those I worked with while in post. 
  

I wish the new gardener and all those involved with the garden the very best for the future.
Regards, Anna Derrett - Gardener Chastleton House - March 2010 to May 2013.