Walled Garden Volunteers' Blog August 2023

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The Peacock tiger flower

Were we to have a ‘Most Admired Plant’ competition in the Walled Garden, then this would be the August winner! The Peacock Tiger Flower (Tigridia pavonia) has attracted plenty of attention in the Bonkers Border, amongst the reds, oranges, and yellows of competing flowers.

Many visitors talk to us when we are working in the Garden and it’s lovely to enjoy their compliments.  At present, the talk also is all of the rain, then the sun, and how our gardens have been battered by wind.

Also, we’ve noticed much interest in the vegetables this year; what we grow, what happens with the produce, what variety are the apples, pears, and plums (pictured). Pictured below is Philippa and Helen harvesting the onions…

Clairgeau Pear tree

…Whilst Volunteers Susan and Caroline have been trying to identify our plum trees, which are original to the Walled Garden. The plums are ‘clean stone’ fruits, i.e.. The stone comes away easily when the plums are either eaten raw or cooked. Susan explains that they are “Switzers’ or in the original German, Quetsche or Zwetschen .

And David at ‘Days Cottage’ has confirmed that the pears at the edge of the meadow are the variety “Clairgeau’ and not yet ready to pick.

Back to the Flower borders:

In the Stellata border, Carroll is working on Miss Willmott – swathes of Eringium giganteum have now been removed. (Though seeds will come up for years to come!)

Below is a photograph of the shady bank in the Walled Garden where the hydrangeas and ferns are now becoming well-established.

The Gardeners look after the borders in the courtyard to the front of the Museum, too, when we have time.

Behind the beech tree hedge, one gardener, Cheryl, has transformed a neglected pocket which had become overgrown with Japanese anemones. Years ago, gardeners amongst the Friends of the Museum tended these borders, and Cheryl has uncovered some almost-lost plants, while making additions of her own.

Underneath the shade of the yew tree, Cheryl has made a truly delightful garden. She has chosen plants to suit the conditions and has used our own Walled Garden compost to improve the soil.

We encourage you to visit and enjoy this other little Secret Garden at the Museum, in the meantime here are some photographs…

As we started with a bright colourful flower, we’ll finish this blog with another - the ever popular sunflower, with a busy bee!