It is late Autumn at NGS Garden Ferns Lodge and the leaves have turned. As I sit before the keyboard, Ghillie snoring at my feet, leaves are fluttering from tree to ground.
This means frantic mowing to hoover them up for fab compost and to save the grass beneath. It is wonderfully warm, so we still have salvias, roses and much else in flower, as well as a number of confused camellias and azaleas offering some gossamer blooms that are really meant for spring 2026.
The mid-garden project, which started in July, is still taking a lot of time. We now have a central lawn, and industrial amounts of wood chip have been spread to denote the new areas to be planted. Now that the area is cleared, it is easy to see the amazing holm oaks, chestnuts and English oaks, and I cannot wait to begin the new planting and explore all the possibilities this will bring.
However, before we begin, we need to address the elephant in the room (or should I say the small roe deer who took up residence at Ferns Lodge this summer and who has thoughtfully now brought along a couple of chums to spend quality time here and eat EVERYTHING to the roots). This means fencing: a combination of close-boarded fencing on concrete posts and metal deer fencing to save my sanity and allow me to plant roses. The close-boarded fencing is now in place – Dan and his crew have toiled to put up the fence on the west side of the garden, and jolly smart it looks.
The bees have been put to bed for the winter. Sadly for Dan and the crew, the very mild weather had them flying, so putting up the fence close to three of the hives was problematic.
The sight of these burly chaps wearing bee hats and veils did make me smile. We meshed the hive entrances, but you cannot do this for long in warm weather, and once removed, Team Ferns Lodge Bee were VERY cross. But the job is done, and the normal rhythm of bee life has now resumed.
As the garden is put to bed, we are starting to divide plants, take cuttings, and grow them on for next year, to provide new plants for the new area and, importantly, for our NGS garden opening, when we will be selling all manner of plants on the last weekend of May – 30th and 31st.
A very big year for the garden, the fencing and new central area have changed the feel of this old place hugely—and all to the good. We are very much looking forward to sharing the changes with you in 2026.
Contact sue.grant@fernslodge.co.uk.