The English-Gardener

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LETTER FROM AN ENGLISH COUNTRY GARDEN

BY LADY SHERSTON-BAKER

Dear A,

The garden continues to grow frantically and I try to keep up but with little success. I am finishing off the last of the pots –

1st resolution I will water them daily when necessary and feed them weekly mainly the susfinias, those wonderful trailing petunias in my big Ali Baba pots; they look wonderful falling down the sides and I love the deep blue/purple color. I have put marguerites in the smaller pots. The double pinks go well on the terrace where I keep the blue/purple/pink/white color theme going. I am trying this year to keep all weeds out of the pots but a thick layer of bark as mulch I knew I shouldn’t get weeds in my pots, but I do. It would be nice to pretend that all the weed seeds blow in from neighboring fields, but honesty forbids it. So this is a trial run and I’ll report results.

2nd Resolution. I will stake the perennials where necessary and before they fall, lean or even list. I have yet to decide how to stake them. I loathe the sight of hundreds of bamboo sticks before the flowers grow tall enough to cover them; I did order a load of metal U-shapes in various sizes from the blacksmith but he needs chasing up and I couldn’t find the energy last winter. I have got some of those Y-stakes in store. I’ll try them. Wind is always a problem in this valley and I can’t get away with nothing.

I’ve had to start spraying the greenfly already. I believe the pesticide I’ve chosen is fine according to the organic principles I try to uphold, but a tiny voice inside me says I really should be using a drop of washing up liquid instead. I ignore said voice because the one time I tried that method the resulting froth took several days to disperse and I killed the plant along with the greenfly.

The aqueligias are all out. I love the way they seed themselves about, but as they are so promiscuous they new plants are always a asurprise. I give them one year to check the colors and then ruthlessly rip out the dull ones. Last year I had the most beautiful pale blue one, but it seems to have vanished this year. One of the things I love about gardening is the continual change – like wine every year brings changes even to firm favourites.

The paths in the vegetable garden have been bricked over now. The grass paths were not practical, what with moving and edging and the mess when it was wet. It now looks very beautiful and I am proud of the design. Obviously the gardens of Villardry had a greater effect than I thought. The box parterre in the center is well grown now, which I think is adversely affecting the lavender planted in the square of hedging. If its not as good this year, I will replace the pink lavender with standard roses and the hidcote purple will go also. On the trellis around the bench I have put a wisteria (for Robert) and honeysuckle and clematis. The honeysuckle is Conicere japonica --------- an evergreen climber with bright green leaves and yellow/white flowers. Its not as neat as eg Conicera ‘americana" which clips into shape so easily, and the flowers are not as showy, without the red coloring, but I prefer its scent.

The clematis is one I haven’t come across before, Clematis integrefolia Aalbiflora, supposed to be scented. I never seem to haave much luck with clematis – except c. Montana which covers the garage and next week will be a mass of pure white flowers, all without the least help from me. The more difficult ones I plant extra deep, to help them recover from clematis ‘wilt’ (it worked wonders for the one on the terrace) and put lots….. I will also put sweet peas and Robert wants some sunflowers for the children but I will find somewhere else for those.

Right now I must go and put in some more seeds. Am very late on most of my vegetables due to the work on the paths, but the new potatoes are coming on well. I have four different varieties in, so should have new potatoes throughout the summer. It seems pointless growing ….. when so many of the farms around here grow them, and I can always pick up a sack later on in the season.

The runner beans are up, though I’ve concentrated on french beans, which we all prefer. They are being eaten by something, so I have to fill in some gaps, which is no problem, but they also look slightly yellow, and I’m wondering if they are low in nitrogen. As this is only my 2nd year of vegetables it’s still by guess and by God. It also helps to drag every visitor in and ask their advice – someone must have an idea.

I leave you for the pleasures of drilling carrots.

P. S.: We are finally moving into the 21st century in our home with the arrival yesterday of the technician to install our first computer for us – he fused half the lights on the ground floor and we are now without lights in the sitting room, living room and downstairs bathroom for the next three days until the electrician comes to fix everything. I am very glad it is not midwinter.

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