A peak at the work in the new cutting garden

Gardening in slippers

Hello my flower loving friends,

We missed last week as I was on my hols, however, lots has happened since we’ve been back and the new cutting garden is underway! There is so much to do but I am starting to see an end now. The greenhouse is up, it has no glass in it but it’s up! The rest of the wood has arrived for the raised beds and so has the gravel and edging. It’s time to roll up our sleeves! I’m still optimistic that I’ll be able to host flower days and workshops later in the year.

I’m planning what’s to be planted in the beds right now, this one is for my dried flowers and I’ll be doing another one for these too. Then there is a sandy one for my spring bulbs and corms. I also want to add a couple of rose beds directly into the ground and I want to soften the edges of the design with lots of lavender, grasses, echinacea, vabascum and nepeta. It will take a while to age down so I must be patient. Whilst all this is going on I thought it would be a good time to re-write my course on starting a cut flower patch- I’m adding so much to it and it goes quite in depth, I hope to be able to share a preview with you next week.

So I’d just finished breakfast outside and spotted some dreadful bindweed, before I knew it I was elbows deep in the flower beds and an hour had passed, I thought I really must get out of my slippers, then another hour passed and another. I’d spent the whole morning gardening in my slippers and it was utter bliss. The gravel garden is looking like something out of the Chelsea Flower Show. It’s a tangled wildflower beautiful mess that looks like it just happened yet I can honestly say it’s me designing and constantly editing it to look effortless. I let the foxgloves fall naturally where they want to go and don’t interfere with the nigella that has self set over the path around the pond, I just wont walk there for a bit. I do however cut some of the main foxglove spires down a little to give the side shoots some energy, I’ll keep some still tall and let them dry out naturally for the seed. The hydrangea Annabelle hedge that I planted last year has finally started to gain momentum and is just starting to bloom, it’s going to be a picture! Sure, the gravel garden throws up its surprises which I love and if I left it to get on with it it would still be beautiful but some things may end up strangled in bindweed.

On other news I viewed a commercial shop earlier in the week with a view to re-opening our in-person store. I was so excited, Lilly came with me and I had so many plans buzzing in my mind. This all fell flat once I’d viewed the property. Not that there was anything wrong with it. I just had a sudden moment of realisation that this wasn’t the way I wanted do things again. I’ve done the retail high street shop and on reflection-I’m not in a place to do it again. Then Lilly came up with a beautiful idea that fits us perfectly and I love it. Her idea is to create a shop in one of our outbuildings and to open it one morning a month. GENIUS! I’m thinking this could tie in nicely with the opening of the new cut flower garden and I’m so excited. I’m also so proud to have my youngest daughter join me in this venture. I’m also going to be re-opening my garden gate stall to sell our flowers, plants and produce, I’ll let you know when that happens.

On my walk around Wrest Park this week I was captivated by the rose garden and just want to share some of my pics with you. As you know I love my photography and my favourite subject is flowers and gardens. This rose shown above is a new favourite of mine and it’s called Dannahue by David Austin Roses. The colours vary from bloom to bloom and I simply fell in love!

Simply exquisite!

Last week we were away in Suffolk and was strolling round Orford in the evening when I discovered this delightfully dilapidated shed in a tangle of gorgeousness and just had to capture the beauty of it for you. I love the roof and all the textures in nature.

There’s so much more I could share from missing a week but I don’t want to keep you from your Sunday so I will conclude with a short clip of the garden.

And here we are…

It’s a mess but its going to look beautiful once it’s finished!

I’ll report in next week to share our progress of this space and how my plans are evolving. In the meantime, if you enjoy my journal and have a friend who would like it too, then please share it. And don’t forget to follow my garden on Instagram where i post regularly.

Emma x