Gardeners 3 Rabbits 0

Our fight against the garden rabbits continues, yesterday morning there were three in the vegetable patch and we knew we either had to get rid of them or lose the rest of our now depleted crop of cabbages. Cruel as it may seem the quickest way is to use the dogs and yesterday we had Shandy the mighty rabbit hunter and Bramble the daft labrador from coachman's cottage as our arsenal. Whilst Giles, Walter, Alyson and Nicky patrolled inside with sticks, I held the gate to ensure they didn't run under the netting. It wasn't long before rabbits were flying in all directions and maybe about ten minutes before Shandy made the first kill. Quickly making sure the unfortunate creature was dead it was thrown next to me on the grass and we all returned to the fray. Soon enough there was another scuffle in the place where I stood, having given it a good clout with my stick as it passed the dogs were soon on it and before they could devour it it joined the other on the grass beside me. The only problem was this poor thing wasn't dead and kept twitching and trying to get up, as the others were engaged with the last rabbit it was down to me to dispatch it, I didn't enjoy it but I also couldn't let it suffer so finished it quickly. Bunny number three followed thankfully leaving a pest free veg patch, and as Shandy claimed her prizes and took them off for burial, we stopped for a well earned tea break.
Things elsewhere in the garden are much calmer as we head towards August, one of the quietest months for a gardener, we will manage the weeds, dead head and mow until Autumn brings the harvest.

"Zucchinis terrific, like bunnies prolific!"
Anon

Make Time For Thyme

I read many magazine and newspaper articles about which are the best plants to grow for attracting bees and butter flies, and yet few mention the simple delights of thyme. It is at its very best at the moment, quietly modest in size and often unnoticed over the more exuberant summer blooms, yet there it sits with pretty pink flowers covered by our most coveted insect friends. It is a hardy plant unless you want to grow the smallest alpine species. There are dozens of varieties to choose from many that have culinary uses, insects flock to it, no pest will eat it, and it will grow in difficult soils and is drought resistant. Just give it full sun and you will be rewarded with all these wonderful properties, what's not to love!
This week the house at Norton Conyers is open for the first time in many years, and yesterday was the first day we gardeners have worked with many visitors and a tea room in full swing. Whilst the others went off to cut the meadow I managed to answer a few gardening questions, pick some soft fruit and generally help with visitor enquiries, and thoroughly enjoyed myself to boot!. During the morning we toured the house ourselves to inspect the flower arrangements made up entirely from blooms from the garden, see the picture below of the great hall looking resplendent. The house is only open for this one week, so if you want to visit ring up to book a tour and don't forget to visit the garden afterwards!

"I know a bank where the wild thyme grows"
William Shakespeare

When Nature Ventures In

There have been more unusual visitors at Norton Conyers today. Giles and I were helping move furniture in preparation for the grand opening in a couple of weeks time, and this necessitated the opening of the double front doors. The house itself is a stately home, but a home nonetheless to Lord and Lady Graham who are busily attempting to display the many antiques to best advantage. However for me the charm lies best in the personal touches that illuminate the history of the occupants, like the toy train that adorns a surface next to more valuable china. Taking advantage of the unexpected invitation three swallows decided to pay us a visit and were soon swooping around the lofty ceiling as if viewing the treasures first before the official opening. As it happens the swallow that flies into your home will bring considerable good luck according to British folklore, so they foretell that the house opening will be a great success!

Luckily Shandy knows her place and will not put mucky paw prints on the floor.

Meanwhile in the garden the peaches are ripe and luscious on the trees, ready to be plucked and consumed warm and fragrant, as fresh as may be had anywhere. The peach is also an auspicious symbol according to the Chinese, it brings long life and is associated with immortality. So all the omens are looking good!

"True hope is swift and flies with swallows wings"
William Shakespeare

Wild Orchids

Dave and I were up with the lark yesterday morning, my lift to work being on holiday, so we decided to walk the dogs at a local park on the way to Norton Conyers before he dropped me off. Imagine my delight to come across hundreds of wild orchids, they are Dactylorhiza maculata, the heath orchid and they really got my day off to a good start. Meanwhile in the garden everything is looking splendid, especially after the torrential downpours of the last few days, when I left work last Monday the plants were looking decidedly crispy so it was good to see them having drunk their fill and practically doubled in size since last I saw them. We contented ourselves with weeding and pruning for most of the day, this being the ideal time to shape the shrubs that have finished flowering for this year, if you give them a good trim now they still have plenty of time to form strong new growth and good flowering potential for next year. It never ceases to surprise me just how brutal you can be taking out the old wood, and although admittedly things look a little scrappy for a while it takes no time for new growth to kick in, so don't be too timid!

"Wisdom is often nearer when we stoop than when we soar"
William Wordsworth