I always felt that ‘the Fall’ was a funny name for autumn and wondered at this strange American-ism until I started to garden seriously at NGS garden Ferns Lodge, which of course is a place of many lovely, mostly deciduous trees. I now get it totally! With the mower working overtime to scoop the ever present golden covering from the grass (with the leaves chopped up it makes wonderful compost) and the leisurely change from summer to the hibernation of winter that is autumn, the race is now on to divide iris, take cuttings of all descriptions and to clear, cut back and give everything a short back and sides ready for the rustle of the new season next spring.
A pumpkin planted to hide the top compost heap grew beautifully – although not on the scale of those produced by serious pumpkin growing aficionados of course! The quince tree has also done well this season, and whilst the taste I shall have to learn to love, the scent of the fruit is lovely.
However, by far the most exciting part of the Ferns Lodge harvest this autumn has been some wonderful jars of honey from the bees who have been busy in the bottom meadow and beyond. The bees have been a difficult subject this year… John, the wonderful bee man, has struggled with a rather unfriendly queen. Actually, that is too kind – she was a shocker and she and her offspring made developing the new bottom bed where they reside miserable. Dubbed ‘the Killer Queen’ (I am showing my age) the sight of gardener Simon in a full bee suit to plant shrubs in mid-summer was hilarious – but also no joke. We all ran from their rage (including Ghillie whose heavy coat protected him but he still got stung) and eventually it was decided – she would have to go. Weeks passed until eventually a new queen arrived in the post (yes, really) with a platoon of infantry accompanying her, and sealed in with a sugar wall that they would eat through once the hive had accepted them. The removal of the shocker was no joke and the bottom meadow was out of bounds for 4 days to everyone as her angry progeny were VERY in evidence. However, all is now calm, our relaxed new queen has restored the equilibrium and we are now a 3 hive family – with honey!!!
In December our buzzing friends will be moved to the outer reaches of the big garden where they can be free of the distraction of mowers and gardening and we can continue to develop the centre section without disturbing them.
Lockdown is with us again, and the garden shed has become more central than ever to my office as well as Ferns Lodge life. Seeing the drift from autumn to winter is very special. Stay safe and well and we are looking forward to seeing you next year at our NGS open days.
Contact sue.grant@fernslodge.co.uk.