This week we have had rabbits that only Beatrix Potter could be proud of! I have searched in vain for small blue coats on the shrubbery. Joking apart though, they have been decimating the borders with a vengeance: there we were merrily planting bulbs for next year’s display, when out one of them popped from behind the Beech hedge. Less than a foot from where we were working, up on his back legs not caring a jot for us and started to settle into a jolly old snack! Even much shooing from us only saw him retreat to the other side of the hedge before sneaking back when he thought we weren’t looking.
Elsewhere in the garden our rather vain pheasant has been preening in front of what he considers to be his own personal looking glass, we have a rather elegant obelisk in the scented garden which is mirrored on all sides, and there he was this week peering at himself in a rather short sighted manner, when we come in and start working he just looks rather annoyed before strolling off with a couldn’t care less attitude!
Bulb planting has start in earnest and we have just completed the containers and started on the beds. It’s always an exciting time wondering how they’ll come out and hoping for the ‘wow factor’ display. All of our containers have got succession planting schemes in them for a longer showing and should start with the diminutive Iris reticulatas of varying species and shades.
It wouldn’t be Harlow Carr without some spooky happenings over Halloween and there where lots of exciting activities for the children last Saturday, from face painting to Pumpkin carving competitions and a pumpkin trail. Of course the staff on the entrance entered into the spirit of it (ha ha no pun intended) and dressed up as wicked witches, now I wonder if they could cast a spell on those rascally rabbits and magic them away!
Katherine Musgrove – gardener with Gardens West team.