January 2010

Thursday, January 07, 2010

A word of warning that I cannot be held responsible for my actions should any more customers, friends or family join ‘The Green with Envy Party’ that visit us on fine summer days to tell us how lucky we are to have such a lovely occupation that is “more like a hobby than a proper job!”
Apart from a couple of days between Christmas and New Year when it just managed to stay above freezing, the ground has been in a permanent frozen state since 17th December and we are blanketed in several inches of snow for the second time - with plenty more promised. So these past few weeks have been a damage limitation period, moving as much of our stock into the polytunnels as possible and then setting alarms to wake us in the night to check amount of snowfall (a heavy snowfall can cause polytunnels to buckle under the weight and need to be kept swept off.)
I am actually starting to wonder whether the Met. Office is in collaboration with the government.  Are their long-range forecasts merely economy and morale-boosting propaganda? You are probably now thinking why should those in the horticultural industry worry? You could even be forgiven for thinking we are in on it too. It is true, sales of bedding plants in particular, soar for us when the public are told it will be a BBQ summer or as the Met. Office promised us in the autumn `it will be a mild winter.`  With temperatures as low as -18c in Oxfordshire last night, i think that global warming should be re-named `planet pollution` until scientists really understand our weather patterns.  In the meantime, I will allow myself to feel a little smug for not bowing under pressure from trade and public alike to stock many exotic and mediterranean plants. Whilst it is great fun to push the boundaries and experiment with these, we have to be prepared to think of them as possibly short-lived.  Two hard winters in a row has certainly made us think of investing in further winter protection facilities.
After the excesses of Christmas, I was looking forward to a gardening workout and to commencing production of our spring and summer range of herbaceous perennials. Instead, I am actually working on those long-promised plant lists and hoping the big-freeze thaws soon so as I can actually produce the plants on those lists! However, before the snow the garden was looking stunning, with much colour and interest to draw the eye and easily as beautiful as in summer. Some of the stars worth a mention are coloured-stemmed Cornus and Salix, golden pines, winter-flowering heathers, white stemmed silver birch, berrying shrubs,evergreens such as Osmanthus Goshiki and the clipped order of box cones and balls. In contrast, the informal beauty of the ornamental grasses and lingering seed heads add yet a further dimension, With the beguiling beauty of the witch hazels still to come, there is much to be gained from incorporating winter-interest into garden designs.
Please remember that the nursery is closed during January (Just as well I say) and re-opens Monday 1st February, hopefully snow-free but a warm welcome is assured whatever.
Now with a warming drink in hand and looking out over the garden with not a single weed (or plant) in sight, I raise my glass and wish us all many happy gardening times ahead for 2010 because despite my grumbles and occasionally acting like a bear woken early from hibernation, I do love my profession and treasure the simple, if sometimes hard way of life it gives me and the family.

Christine Lee

Autumn 2009

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Welcome to our new website we hope you will find it useful and informative. Despite the recession, 2009 has been a great season, helped we are sure by the fine weather we have enjoyed since being frozen solid in January and February, and now because we gardeners are never happy, we desperately need rain!

Experienced gardeners amongst you will know that autumn is the favourable time to plant trees, hedges and most shrubs. We have a superb range of top quality plants to chose from and are more than happy to assist you in your selection.

Regular customers will know we now stock Yorkshire Flower Pots - a lovely range of English made frost proof pots. Select from a good range of autumn bedding to brighten up your patio.
We now stock Burgon & Ball tools ~ a fine Christmas gift idea for the gardener in your life ~ or why not treat yourself.

So, if you have yet to discover our nursery, set in delightful countryside, or have not been for some time please come and find us, we are sure you will agree our range, quality and value will not disappoint.

We are still in the process of compiling our extensive plant list. It was going to be a wet weather job but wet days seem few and far between at the moment! The list will be added to the new website during November 2009. In the meantime please do not hesitate to contact us by phone or e.mail to check our stock availability.