Clovelly Court Gardens
It’s a scorcher with lots of lovely sunshine although as gardeners we always think about how little rain we are getting too! The weather was certainly warm for our mammoth effort to take all the stunning hanging baskets from Merry Harriers down into the village. We were lucky to have help from two volunteers or this would not have been possible. Each basket weighed in excess of 20kg. And with trailing plants all around, had to be lovingly carried by hand to their hooks along the cobbles. We are all proud of the results.
We have brightened the terraces this week with colourful bedding in the stone urns. The Red Lion has also seen the return of its traditional deep red in the form of some joyous pelargoniums and begonias in its planters and window boxes.
Britain in Bloom
Strimming the wonderful wild flowers back to keep them coming next year on the drive continues as we aim to manage this big job around the Britain in Bloom work and our exciting work with the BBC. We had filming in the walled garden with myself and Sous Chef, Zach Broad, all afternoon last Thursday and it was great to showcase all we are doing for the Britain in Bloom effort.
Clovelly Kitchen Gardens
In the walled garden lots of crops have still been going in. We’ve seen the addition of leeks, onions, basil and our collection of Oca. We have 40 of these which are part of the Guild of Oca Breeders trial. They have already become an interesting talking point for visitors.
Work in the glasshouses has continued. The Black Hamburg grapes have received attention to keep them pruned back while they remain under boards as part of the renovation of their glasshouse.
Most exciting of all are the first glimpses of this season’s produce. The courgettes and tomatoes forming, lettuces and broad bean pods filling out and the apricots beginning to turn golden.
The juggle continues but we are very pleased that so much of the garden is now filled with burgeoning produce.