Winter is a time of renewal when NGS Garden Ferns Lodge slumbers. The shedding of literal truckloads of leaves from our mighty oaks and other trees is complete, the perennials are sleeping, and the days are short with little warmth. Of course, as with last winter, we have also coped with torrential amounts of rain and plenty of gales. I think that our skills in picking up tree fall have now reached an Olympic standard! Of course, snowdrops, crocuses, and the early bluebells can be seen peeping through the bare ground—they are the first sign of spring and the promise of the new gardening season.
Winter is, of course, also the time for winter works, and this year we seem to have been especially busy! As ever, we have the mulch—many loads of wood chip delivered by the lovely Dan and his team—to help with new beds, more mature ones, and also to cover our lovely work area (more on that later).
Then, of course, there is the magical Ferns Lodge compost, which slumbers for a couple of years before use, turned annually by a digger—cutting through it like thick chocolate cake. This is hauled wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow up to the top garden and beyond to nourish the beds. It is an unpopular but essential job…
Next came the removal of 27 unhappy saplings from the centre of the big garden, followed by the planting of a yew hedge and the replanting of hydrangeas, birch, and more—a precursor to a much bigger project in due course.
Then came the removal of the trusty polytunnel, to be replaced by a charming, elegant, and beautifully crafted new potting shed, built by the lovely people at Woodpecker to match the greenhouse. It is perfect for potting on—with Radio 4 playing and a great view!
The work area now has a wonderful edging strip with pretty turrets at the corners, and we have a parking area to one side. These were all big jobs, with Dan and his team tackling concrete, diggers, and more.
Even more exciting is our new heeling-in bed (I’ve always wanted one!), where we can offer a temporary home to plants and shrubs of all shapes and sizes.
Now that Dan and Co. have left us, and the roar of their machinery is just a memory, they’ve left behind the inevitable mud, track marks, and the rest—all of which will have disappeared by late spring…
Whilst they were here, they cut back our hedging along the lane and scaled many of the oaks to remove dead wood that might fall on those passing below—which would not be cool…
Soon, it will be time to start potting on, preparing the vegetable beds, and getting the greenhouse ready for all the wonderful things we will grow to eat—and to prepare for our opening on June 14th and 15th. See you then!
Contact sue.grant@fernslodge.co.uk.