June at Chastleton 2012

June has been a varied month. We have seen an extraordinary amount of rain and stormy weather - but we have battled on doing a lot of tying up and dead heading of the roses, climbers and fruit trees. The poor blooms are feeling a bit battered and the weeds and grass are growing apace with the warm, wet weather. The garden is looking green and luxious and the volunteers and I have been working hard to keep the garden looking good and moving on with the Garden Conservation Management Plan.

John and I pruned and tied in the old pear tree in The Stable Yard.

John planted the new Apricot tree in The Kitchen Garden.

John and I planted the new Black Mulberry tree in The Best Garden.

We have all been working hard to weed the green manure crop in the 4 new beds in The Kitchen Garden. The Red Clover will be mowed after flowering and then ploughed in to the ground later in the year. Sorrel (our intern for the summer) has been doing great work helping run the plant and produce stall. Other work done in the garden this month include:

-edging

-clipping the topiary

-strimming

-mowing

-weeding

-spraying paths for weeds

-sowing grass seed

-planning the water harvesting project for next year

-dead heading

-pruning fruit trees, climbers and herbaceous planting

-picking fruit and veg

-staking

-planting up the rockeries on the north terrace and in The Forecourt

-selling Chastleton honey

-tree surgery work on trees in the garden and the estate

-stump grinding old stumps in West Garden

-tours of the garden

-clearing and tidying The Wilderness

-potting on seedlings in the green house

-watering and feeding tomatoes and peppers in green house.

-etc.

We have National Garden Scheme Day (NGS) on Sunday 15th July 2pm-6pm and there is a Midsummer evening garden tour with Anna on 27th July 6.30pm-8pm.

Thanks again to all the volunteer help in the garden.