News of the week (1/7/09)
General: After being cajoled into applying for the East Midlands Enjoy England Excellence Awards for 2009 by our local tourism officer Emma Savage, we had the great news this week that we have been short listed in the Small Visitor Attraction section. It is not that I don't think we deserve to be entering these awards, if not winning them, it is just that when you live, breath and work there you never really see it in the same way as the visitors do, even when they keep telling you how fantastic the garden is! It is now a long wait until October to find out how we have done.
Nursery: This week the focus is on the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, with Annette, Sarah, Rachel, Simon and Nori all getting the plants together that will be taken down on Sunday. Annette and Sarah will be at the show for the duration, from Tuesday until Sunday, so if you are there make sure you pop into our stand and say hello. We are in the plant plots, stand number B73.
Gardens: This last week has given me an insight into addiction as the fragrances from both roses and Philadelphus in the gardens has really been like a drug and I have had to keep popping in and out of the gardens to get my hourly fix!
On Monday we had a Dutch student, Marc Groenleer, start a 6 week work experience as part of his college course. With so much to do it will give him quite a sharp learning curve, although he seems to be taking everything in his stride. At the moment he is clipping the box hedging in the knot garden, which is usually given its first clip about this time of year before being done again in October to tidy it up so that it looks good throughout winter.
The gardens are thriving in the heat, although we are having to water the productive areas. The ornamental areas are not suffering as of yet due mostly to our clay soil which takes quite a while to dry out, so although the surface may seem dry there is moisture still just below. We only water parts of the ornamental areas when they are desperate and use water from our many water butts to keep the productive areas going.
In the productive areas Susie is busy harvesting fruit and veg every day. We are having such abundant harvests and she has enough coming on to keep everyone well stocked with as much fruit and veg as we can all eat. At the moment it's raspberries, strawberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants and gooseberries with everything!
Thanks for your support.
Nick Hamilton
