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The first really cold night of the year has finished off the Dahlias and many other plants that were still in flower. In the relative shelter of the Walled Garden and with the help of Strulch we are not planning to lift our Dahlias. They will be cut down this week, checked for any damage or rot and then mulched thickly. We are hoping that will keep them safe over winter. Happily, there is still a lot of structure and colour in the stock beds and borders from the shrubs, Sedum Autumn Joy (now called Hylotelephium spectabile), various Salvia as well as the stalks and seed heads of the cardoons and their new grey-green foliage. We also have a pruning bed full of various Cornus which are coming into their own as the leaves drop and the beautiful coloured stems are revealed.
In the past few days we have been planting trees and hedging in the Walled Garden. Most of these are not in a permanent position but it was good practice on the Planting Trees, Shrubs and Hedges course to have a go at planting, staking, supporting both trees and hedging. We may run this course again in January or February, so get in touch if you would be interested in joining us.
We also had a packed day looking at Developing an Annual Maintenance Plan. This is essential for any gardener, whether you are looking after your own garden or other people’s. We looked at all the jobs which need doing each season, and even each month at the busier times of the year (which include November). Everyone went away with a comprehensive plan of what needs doing when. We will run this course three times next year, with the first one on 19th March. Let us know if you would like to reserve a space.
Over the coming weeks we have some wonderful floristry and wreath workshops with Sarah Hammond of English Peonies, a very successful Norfolk flower grower and florist. Next week we will be doing tablescape arrangements – collections of small vases or low arrangements to decorate a table - and have just a couple of places left if you would like to join us.
Don’t forget to book your place on one of our Christmas Wreath and Christmas Table Decoration workshops in early December. We have just a few spaces left now.
Upcoming courses with availability:
Floristry Workshop: Tablescapes 26th November
Floristry Workshop: Christmas Table Decorations 10th December
Christmas Wreath Workshops 3rd, 5th, 12th, 13th December
Introduction to Garden Design (6 week course starting) 16th January
Renovation Pruning 28th January
Introduction to Veg Growing 31st January
Plant of the Week
Mahonia x media
A strong growing evergreen shrub which flowers from late autumn into early winter. Suitable for sun, semi-shade and full shade on most soils that are moist and well drained.
Mahonia was named after Bernard M'Mahon a political refugee from Ireland who became an American horticulturalist and author of The American Gardener’s Calender 1807. He introduced plants and fruit to America from his seed shop in Philadelphia. President Thomas Jefferson bought seed from M'Mahon and the two corresponded until M'Mahon’s death in 1811.
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