Charlecote Park

Garden Journal 11.4.21

| Gary Webb

Well it has been quite a full month since I last posted to my garden journal, after taking a break for a while to take stock. I’m back now though and keen as ever to resume the weekly posting of my horticultural happenings to this journal, which is part of my Gardening Ways blog.

I suppose then that I’ve four weeks of shenanigans to account for, but whilst I’ve scanned back across the weeks and selected some memory jogging images, I’ll spare you from the general daily going’s on. Instead, and from my chosen picture, I’m going to skip across the month all spring lamb-like, if you can picture that!

Sulgrave Gardening

In my last journal entry I was still harping on about the “ongoing pruning” in the heritage orchard at Sulgrave Manor, which I’m glad to say is now all complete. In fact it’s more than complete, as some of the volunteers have thankfully returned to the fold, coming to my aid with a very thorough clean up of cut material – I had stacked it nicely of course!

Amongst the branches of an apple tree in a heritage orchard Up amongst the branches…

In addition to completing the orchard, which is now resplendent with thousands of daffodils and a few Continue reading →

Journal 31.1.21

| Gary Webb

Well there goes week four and after a brief walk out this afternoon, January is pretty much done and dusted. (And on the whole – good riddance to it!) I must admit that I had worked three paragraphs into this journal post before I realised, just in time, that I was spiralling into a cracked and bottomless pot of despair. To that end I deleted said words after getting them out of my system, and for the next few minutes I’m promising my usually positive post about my week in gardening.

Pretty as a picture – Rose Garden at Sulgrave Manor

This week has moved from a beautiful and not too deep covering of snow on Monday, through grey washed out days with enough sunshine between to keep the spirits up. The underlying issue, if there has to be one has been the quantity of rain, which has been frequent and persistent. As a result of said rain the ground all around is at full capacity, and beds and borders are too wet to touch.

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Where is Your Inspiration Destination?

| Gary Webb

 

I was asked a question last week which set me thinking; where outside of my workplace would I head to for inspiration?

Well I have to say that I do work in an inspiring place. It’s an art gallery and museum, and a real hive of activity and creativity. It is situated in a shallow, sculpted valley with a ribbon of water through its middle, and the surrounding hills are cloaked by farms and woodland.

‘Capability’ Brown’s classical bridge in the landscape at Compton Verney. © Gary Webb

In its midst sit a cluster of strong, mellow toned stone buildings commissioned by a wealthy Lord; all linked with renowned architects of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The venue is sprinkled with native and exotic plants and is a wildlife haven, playing host to a wide range of birds, badgers and rare bats; even visiting deer and otters add to the scene. 

After-all said and done though,  Continue reading →