July 2006

Would it be immodest to say that the grounds are looking well, possibly, but they are. Warm weather at the tail-end of June has brought out all the shrubs and flowers and colour abounds.

Delphiniums in the herb garden are a wonderful show, various geraniums in the front border are excused their “thuggish nature” as they give a dramatic blast of purple…we will, however, cut them back hard as soon as they finish flowering. Our roses have been difficult. As with others who grow roses we have lost quite a few over the winter, especially the Golden Wedding standards. Those that have survived are now in full bloom offering a splash of colour as well as a strong perfume. The rugosa bed is coming away strongly this year, also. Tough and hardy they need much less care than their “softer “ cousins and they are well on the way to the continous mound of colour we envisaged when we planted them.

Our sweet peas have been very poor. Whether it was the young plants we bought or just the year, they sat for weeks in the ground doing very little…now they are putting on some growth but but I fear we will be short of cut-flowers for the hotel at sweet-pea time. Back to the herb garden. The various campanulas are very colourful, iris’ of various sorts offer pure, pastel colours and the climbing roses on the wall have come on well. If you are in the hotel in the next few weeks then “ Rambling Rector” near the compost bins and an unnamed rambler on the south side of the hotel are a must…not only to see but to smell.

A wren has a big brood of young in a lovely , mossy nest at the tennis courts, several flycatchers have nested with us this year and squirrels have been seen moving young in the last week. As ever if you like any plant and would like a cutting or small plant just ask, we can usually help . Enjoy the lovely grounds. Innes

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