GARDENING

Luca's Garden

with Bridget Sudworth

THE MILD weather of October/November accompanied with so much badly needed rain is all due to the position of the jet stream this Autumn. Although the temperatures have been unseasonable, they are the reason why it has been so wet with endless low pressure sweeping in over the Atlantic; we shouldn’t grumble. At least the soil is workable unlike some times during last summer when only a pickaxe could make an impression on the topsoil!

I was triumphant to harvest my carrots, the best I have ever grown. They were planted in late June, in a specially prepared run of sand and compost mixed. Thinking about those carrots from Lincolnshire which grow in light sandy soil (that County is just one long beach anyway), it seemed the logical thing to do and it’s paid off!!

The blackcurrants are now pruned and there are cuttings in pots with labels so I know which plant they came from. Lovely irises are planted in our little brook now. They started life in the pond being water lovers but grew ridiculously all over the place and got blown over by the wind but the seasonal brook at the bottom of the veggie garden is just the place - even during the heat of last summer, the ground there was always damp so they will flourish in their new home and I am glad not to have to give them away. Yesterday, there was a surprise in store to discover a shy and tangled clematis in flower among the rough and tumble of the back hedge - I have identified it at last as a C. Balerica, flowering in December and January, scented and freckled with complicated indented leaves. The clematis family are a remarkable group providing year long interest with such a huge variety to choose from. Bumble of several deceased relatives over the years, second hand tools have come my way to my delight, with no competition from the rest of the idle inheritors too lazy to get into gardening. Beautifully made old tools, well used, sturdy and generally cared for are quite special. For example, I still use my father’s secateurs, regularly sharpened and among the tools in my aunt’s house were a matching spade and fork with the

December harvest!

bees who might be tempted out would welcome the source of nectar that they provide.

Alan Titchmarsh must have been telepathising me as I recently read an article by him about garden tools; it has long been in my mind to put pen to paper and write a little about the joys of these essential items and this is the time of year to think about them.

Having sorted out the homes

Full ground preparation and laying service available

Tools.

initials of her father-in-law (which happened to be the same as my maiden version) inscribed on the handles! He was born in the 1850s into a wealthy farming family and those were definitely the days to mark your own things with a personal inscription, even those to be used in the garden. I did wonder, however, given the fact that the family would have had staff, whether or not he ever used them himself!

One bleak winter's day, while working as a garden volunteer for the NT in N Herefordshire, we were tasked with clearing up the old potting shed for the forthcoming season which included restoring the many old tools left there. We scrubbed off rust and mud and one of our number had a really good go at burnishing the steel elements with a wire brush before sharpening and oiling them. They looked magnificent hanging on the walls, each item labeled so our visitors would know what they were used for.

With Christmas upon us and the above in mind, I strongly suggest a plan of campaign should you have relations descending on you for the festive tide. When the going gets heated, head for the potting shed/garage/summer house with a well filled glass of hooch and have a good sort through your tools. Once cleaned, decisions can be made about

More tools. which need sharpening so get the job done before the next season is underway. By doing this and with earth beneath your nails which will make you very unattractive in the kitchen, you can avoid washing up, arguments, cheating at cards, charades, peeling the veggies, Monopoly, shouting at deaf relations and any other tasks that appear onerous. Other garden jobs could well call you away at short notice like getting in an order for seeds or drawing up a new plan for the herbaceous border - this will give you a well earned quiet space by the computer away from the brawl and enjoying a visual cruise through endless gardening websites!

An alternative but obvious letout is to be Chief Dog Walker. Most dog walkers greet one another when out and Luca with his different history from most other dogs, is certainly a cheerful topic to cover when escaping the household. He has a whole pattern of going to the full extent of his lead, standing with his back to folk and staring into the middle distance looking very bored. Which he no doubt is. But given the amount of time spent waiting for him to sniff over the millions of miles we have walked together, it’s no big deal to make him wait!

One very jolly Christmas, we were on our own and took our Shepherd to the seaside on Christmas Day for a lovely walk along the sand with many other escapee dog walkers. Sandwiches in the bus shelter followed while folk piled into the nearby pub for lunch, giving us pitying glances as they passed us. We could have put out a hat for alms! Back at home, we settled down to a lovely roast having avoided all the vegans and vegetarians in the family!

With these strategies in mind, one can relax into the season of goodwill which is upon us and hang up our hats and spades for a couple of weeks. This is the time to carefully cut the mistletoe; beware not to spoil the main growth unless you want to banish it from your trees, and plunder the holly before the berries are consumed by the blackbirds (cut it now and put it in a bucket in the garage). The all-plentiful ivy is there for the taking. Dried flower heads always look good sprayed silver or whatever takes your fancy and any dried seed pods endure the same treatment quite happily. Hang up your mistletoe and who knows?

There may be a few opportunities to catch a kiss or three when passing beneath it!

Christmas and New Year greetings to all and may 2023 bring us all a good growing season!

Holly. C.Cirrhosa.

Mistletoe.

Approved contractor to Dorset & Somerset C.C. QUALIFIED ARBORIST

ALL ASPECTS OF TREE CARE AND DANGEROUS TREE REMOVAL TREE PLANTING

Utilise the generous grants now available to restock neglected woodland or areas of wasteground

A Grand Day Out with Julie Haylock of Sandhurst Grden Design

EARLIER THIS YEAR I joined the Garden Media Guild, an association that brings together professional garden writers, designers, authors, photographers, editors, and lecturers in allied trades.

In December, the Guild held its annual Award Ceremony at The Savoy Hotel in London, for the first time in three years, so everyone was extremely excited to be back together celebrating ‘all things gardening.’

The experience was amazing. The Savoy Hotel was simply breath taking. We arrived at 12 noon for a champagne reception before being directed to our table in The Roy Lancaster Ballroom for our meal at 1pm, which, for the staff, proved a bit like herding cats!

Andrew my husband and me had the pleasure of sharing our table with Stephanie Mahon, Editor, Sorrel Everton Deputy Editor and Daisy Bowie-Sell Digital Editor of the glossy garden magazine, Gardens Illustrated, the iconic Rosemary Alexander, Principal of The English Garden School in London, and author of the books I used during my own training and the marvelous Anne-Marie Powell the multi-award-winning Chelsea garden designer. I have to say, I felt a little over-whelmed being in such esteemed company, but everyone was very friendly, and I soon felt at ease.

Lunch for 350 guests was served in a seamlessly military operation. Our starter of Scottish Smoked Salmon was followed by Adlington Farm Chicken Supreme, confit chicken leg, parsnip puree, heirloom carrots and pickled blackberries, and to finish a dessert called Granny Smith, an apple Yuzu confit, hazelnut praline, vanilla Brulé, and vanilla ice cream, it all tasted delicious, and the wine flowed freely! I bet after reading that mouth-watering menu it has left you all feeling hungry.

L-R: Anne-Marie Taylor, Julie and Rosemary Alexander. Delicious dessert - Granny Smith.

The Award Ceremony commenced at 2.30pm, our presenter for the afternoon was Simon Lycett the talented Florist whose clients include His Majesty the King and Elton John.

Familiar faces including Carol Klein, Alan Titchmarsh, and Arit Anderson introduced the various award categories and the nominees. Sponsors of the award categories included Westland Horticulture, The Beth Chatto Educational Trust , The Horticultural Trade Association and Thompson and Morgan to name but a few.

This year the Garden Media Guild supported three gardening charities Perennial, Thrive and Greenfingers with the marvellous work they do.

The event concluded at 4.30pm and we all made our way home, if not a little wobbly, and I cannot wait for next year.

Table setting at The Savoy.