A Peacock, a moth and growing vegetables

Recently, for me gardening-wise, life has been exciting and very eventful. I have been trying more new things in the garden as well as enjoying some lovely day trips to north-east gardens.

The wildflower hedge is always at its best during June/July.  Currently in flower are red and white campion, ox-eye daisies as well as umbelifers, I even spotted some Herb Robert tucked in amongst the taller plants.  I found some foxgloves seedlings in another part of the garden so quickly transferred them to the bottom of the hedge.

As the price of vegetables in the shops is still quite high, I am trialling growing salad plants and vegetables in the garden. With the glasshouse primarily being used for growing semi-tropical and tender plants, I start germinating the seeds on the window sill of our south-facing dining room window. Once the first true leaves have appeared I move the seedlings to the east-facing lounge window sill, then once each seedling is bigger enough I pot-them-on and move them to the north-facing garage window sill for hardening off.

Last week, I had a wonderful day coach trip to two fantastic gardens in Cumbria organised by one of the gardening clubs of which I am a member. We visited Lowther Castle and Chapelside in Mungrisdale, both gardens could not be more different from each other. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting these beautiful gardens but more about them another time.

Lowther Castle

Chapelside, Mungrisdale

This summer I am attempting to grow salad crops and vegetables in containers.  I have placed various containers within the fruit cage and filled them with home produced compost mixed with shop-bought chicken manure.   Growing edible crops in the fruit cage serves two purposes; firstly, I am hoping that the netting will prevent the large white butterfly from laying eggs on the leafy greens; secondly, as I regularly water the fruit bushes using a sprinkler system the containerised plants will be watered at the same time.

Runner beans growing up the fruit cage supports underplanted by turnip

Whilst on the subject of the fruit cage. The goji berry did not produce any fruit last year; I did some on-line research and learnt I should have pruned its branches in a particular way.  This I have now done.  Sadly, the Chilean guava was badly burned by two severe frosts; I have replaced it with a small fig (Miss Figgy). It is a compact variety so will be ideal for growing in amongst other fruit bushes.  The three blueberry shrubs have not fared much better, all three have produced very little fruit over the years.  They have been replaced by three new blueberries, Vaccinium corymbosum Julia (harvest time July), Augusta (harvest time August) and Septa (harvest time September). I have planted them in containers filled with ericaceous compost and am waiting to see how well they crop. Incidentally, the wild strawberries are fruiting well at the base of the pots.

I found a lime hawk-moth walking across the drive the other day, the first I've ever seen in the garden. It was incredibly beautiful and incredibly big. It fluttered its wings as it walked so this picture was the best I was able to get.  When I picked it up to take a better photograph, it flew high up into the tree canopy.

One evening, a few weeks ago, my family and I were sitting in the living room watching television when a shimmering blue/green bird walked passed the French doors.  What a wonderful surprise visitor to have in the garden! He lives in the grounds of the large country house further down our lane.  We often hear his distinctive call and believe he has been a resident there for several years.  He struts about the garden with poise and elegance, we all would love him to come visit again.

At this time of year, it is so tempting to spend every daylight hour working in one’s garden but please do take a few minutes to sit down, relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of your outdoor space.

Happy gardening, till next time.

Spring Walks Amongst Snowdrops and a Visit to Lancelot “Capability” Brown’s Birthplace

Well, I am sorry to say that my attempt at growing winter vegetables has not produced enough edible greens for a decent meal (see blog https://mirandasnorthumberlandgarden.blogspot.com/2022/10/autumn-colours-and-trying-new-things-in.html).   Despite keeping the plants protected and undercover, growth has been slow and weakly, but at least our pet guinea-pigs have enjoyed the leafy greens.  Therefore, I have decided that to stick to growing only fruit as I seem to be quite successful at it.

February brought with it the flowering of spring bulbs and in our small wood the winter aconites, cyclamen and native snowdrops have been brightening up overcast days.

In the courtyard area whilst the roses are asleep my small snowdrop cultivar collection is looking pretty.

G elwesii Grumpy (bought for T as a birthday present)

G Sandersii (originates from Northumberland)

T and I had a lovely trip to nearby Belsay Hall and Gardens on Valentine’s Day.  It was a beautiful sunny day and the grounds looked lovely in the spring sunlight.  We explored the main house; the local stone used in its construction helps it sit comfortably in the surrounding landscape.

Inside the ravages of dry rot have meant that no furnishings remain and rooms are left either unplastered or with peeling wallpaper.  The house is now used for hosting art installations and events.

In this room, the alcove is not a built in wardrobe but a space for a bed; the alcove forming a small area where it would be slightly warmer than the rest of the room.

The quarry garden was created when the local sandstone was quarried out and used in the construction of the Greek-revival style Belsay Hall.  The quarrying was carried out in a deliberate route in order to form twists and turns and towering cliff faces.  Small trees, shrubs and vegetation cling to the vertical walls.  We noticed that since our last visit in 2020 a great deal of clearance has taken place. 

 The trunks of large rhododendrons form interesting shapes and colours.

Approaching Belsay Castle we found clumps of crocus, snowdrops and winter aconites.

 

Belsay Castle and adjoining medieval house (both roofless shells) bask in the spring sunlight. The local sandstone is a stunning contrast against the blue sky.

Inside the Castle, the great hall is lit via large windows where sunbeams create a cathedral-like atmosphere.

At the back of the quarry garden a footpath leads one back to the winter garden,  it is bordered by sandstone walls to the left and fir trees to the right, carpets of snowdrops line the route.

 

The winter garden has undergone major renovation work; fir trees have been thinned and a great deal of rhododendron ponticum removed.  Underneath the remaining trees the ground has been replenished with fresh compost then planted with groups of shrubs and perennials.  Groups of ferns, hamamelis and hellebores will now provide winter interest in this area.

Due to the extensive renovation works being carried out to some of the buildings at Belsay, the on-site café was closed and replaced by a travelling food cart.  For lunch, we decided to drive further north along the A696 to Kirkharle as it is home to an extremely good coffee house. 

The Kirkharle estate was the birthplace of Lancelot “Capability” Brown, and where he lived until he was 23.
 
In 1980, the estate’s owners came across plans drawn up by Brown for the landscape surrounding Kirkharle Hall.  The plans were most likely to have been drawn when Brown stayed at the Hall in 1760 but were not actually implemented.  In the mid-2000s the owners then decided to implement the plans so permissions and funding were gradually secured and in August 2009 excavation work began. 

The appearance of a serpentine lake was achieved by excavating two large bodies of water separated by a thin strip of land.  Large trees and saplings were then planted around the lake and in 2010 a 1km fully accessible path was installed.

The walk around the lake takes about ½  hour and is easy to do.  Whilst walking the circular walk one can see how the local landscape helped influence Brown’s particular style of landscape architecture -  the surrounding fields of grazing sheep, singular trees and the rolling hills far in the distance.
 
If you are in the area, I would recommend a trip to Kirkharle; the walk around the Lake is enjoyable as is lunch or coffee at the Courtyard coffee house.

February, Flu and Day Trips

Wow, it’s February already, January seems to have whizzed by, and I haven't posted any journals for nearly two months.  In my defence for much of that time I was laden down with flu, my symptoms started in mid-December and lasted until mid-January.  Even now, at the beginning of February, I am still left with occasional uncontrollable fits of coughing but I am pleased to say that these are becoming less frequent as the weeks go by.

Last weekend I participated in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch which I do every year.  It was lovely to sit down, armed with mug of hot coffee and binoculars and watch and count the birds as they visit my garden.  Here is my first serious attempt at using my camera and its zoom lens so apologies for the grainy quality.

Despite being laden down with flu, we have had some lovely trips out over the past two months.

Christmas at Beamish (Living Museum of the North) is always beautiful and atmospheric. 

We visited two volunteer run steam railways and had trips on their steam trains – Tanfield Railway and Stephenson Steam Railway, their mince pies and hot chocolate are always delicious.

Tanfield Railway

Stephenson Steam Railway

For Christmas Pippin was given a new woolly jumper (I think the picture speaks for itself).

I ordered and received crataegus laevigata Paul’s Scarlet (bare root). I potted it up quickly as its new home will be the wildlife hedge (on our east facing boundary) and the soil will not have warmed up sufficiently until March.

Well, I think that just about covers the last month or so. 

I do hope you enjoyed the photographs.  I always think that images will hold one's attention for longer than lots of words.

Happy gardening and New Year to you all.