What a glorious week it has been for our ‘Taste of Autumn’ event over the half term holiday. It has been fantastic to see the garden so busy and enjoyed by all. Autumn colour is continuing to liven up and brighten up the garden sparkling on a dull misty day. Many events have taken place during this week including Apple festival, where our visitors have been able to sample and have tasting sessions, advice and admire the display supported by the Northern fruit group. Now our displays have changed again and we have many fabulous pumpkins. We have grown some ourselves in the productive area and Wisley have supplied many more to add to the event. They look stunning with whole variety of shapes, sizes, colours, textures and not to mention there funny quirky names which add a smile
to everyone’s face!
To mark the end of half term there is cookery demonstration today in the study centre led by head chef Andrew Pern from The Star Inn Harome using seasonal produce. It makes our taste buds water as we see and smell the delights been created as we pass the study centre!
It’s that time of year again when we start planting bulbs for our 2010 spring display, I can’t believe a whole year has passed it only seems like yesterday! Each year we are trying to add and bulk up our spring interest and this year we have only got yes wait for it, 96,000 bulbs to plant, just one or two! It will keep all the gardeners busy and out of mischief, but a few less than last year! Bulb planting will consist of a variety of Tulips, Narcissus, Crocus, Iris, Erythroniums, Convallaria and that’s just a few. It is important to plant in large numbers so this will have the greatest impact and shows them of to there full potential and remembering to plant bulbs at a depth of at least 3 to 4 times the size of the bulb. Gardeners have been busy saving stock plants from there summer displays to make way for bulbs. We have been busy potting up many different salvia species so that we can take cuttings in the spring to generate new plants for next year. It is important to pot them up in a free draining compost adding perlight and grit, this will stop them rotting over the winter and place tender plants in a frost free place and cover with fleece if extra protection is needed through the depths of winter. If you have any tender plants you wish to save now is a good time to lift them and cut them back to healthy buds, although it seems a shame when they are performing so well due to the mild and glowing autumn we have been experiencing.
Many hands make light work and know truer word has been said due the fantastic help from Joe a work experience student who has given up three days of his school holidays to come and work with us in the garden. Joe is no stranger to us as he first came for work experience in the summer and enjoyed it so much has volunteered to help us in the school holidays. He has had a variety of jobs rotating round the different teams to enhance his horticultural development which he shows a keen interest, many thanks to him.
Enjoy the end of half term by visiting Harlow Carr to admire the sparkling autumn colour and be surprised by the many different types of pumpkins we have on display so don’t miss it or you’ll miss out!
Tom White