We are now less than a fortnight away from our August opening for the NGS and of course, we are very far behind. No rain continues to be a major issue and I worry that our lovely visitors will see only scorched earth and drooping flower heads. No matter, we battle on!
So! the visit of Storm Hector, to Ferns Lodge Garden, was a shocker. Daylight on Saturday morning brought what I suspected – masses of treefall, loss of leaf and some really quite big branches down. Simon’s hard work with the lawn mower was hidden beneath a carpet of leaves, fir cone and sticks. All of this of course makes Ghillie very happy but the gardener at Ferns Lodge rather less so.
Sarah has recorded this sorry outlook and so the clean-up will begin. Sadly, Hector has delivered much wind but very little rain. However, as I sit in the shed scribbling the rain rushes down the windowpanes and I hope that having been a rather untidy visitor he will have the good manners to leave behind him some periods of solid, refreshing rain to help the garden turn from a muddy brown to the verdant bright green that we are after.
We are looking forward to seeing our visitors at the end of the month and we will be doing our best to clean up after Hector and return the garden to a semblance of normality.
Wikipedia tells me that Hector, in Greek mythology, was a Trojan prince and the greatest fighter for Troy in the Trojan War. He was their leader and defended Troy together with their allies killing apparently, 31,000 Greek fighters… The entry is however – pitifully thin on the subject of tree fall!
For all that, the agapanthus and lilies are flowering, the bees are buzzing and we celebrate August with the arrival of a second beehive – how cool is that! The tree fern has now put out four wonderful new fronds and there are two more babies developing in his crown. I could go on, but I am afraid that it is time for gardening gloves, wheelbarrow and stick collection. Doubtless Ghillie will offer the same help and support as ever in this mission!
Contact sue.grant@fernslodge.co.uk.