July

Last week I attended a funeral on the south coast. It was for my cousin who has left this world far too early. Instead of flowers, donations were requested to be made to a selection of wildlife charities. His brother travelled from America to say a final farewell to his only sibling. He wanted to dress the coffin with some flora to acknowledge the place of their birth – Australia. He sourced plants from a local garden centre – eucalyptus, bottle brush and spider flower and took a piece of foliage from each. The plants will be lovingly cared for by one of my sisters and her sister in law.

Now, as we near the end of July, I’m at the other end of the country, in Northumberland with GR and Lily. We’ve taken holidays in the area almost every year, for the past 35 years. The walled garden in Bamburgh was in a sorry state when we first visited all those years ago. In recent times it’s been closed up, but this New Year there were signs of hope that it was going to have a makeover – and on this visit we haven’t been disappointed.

The garden is part of the Bamburgh Castle Estate. The current owner, Francis Watson-Armstrong has overseen the creation of a beautiful garden within the walls, to be enjoyed free of charge all year round, by everyone. And that really does mean everyone, Francis says:

“The Walled Garden will be part of the community here in Bamburgh and contribute towards making our village an accessible and welcoming destination for local people and visitors to enjoy. Changing Places Toilets are life changing for people who use them. They give anyone – whatever their disability – the freedom to go out and about.”

Dogs are allowed in the light and airy cafe, but understandably not in the play area or surrounding stunning borders planted by garden designers Natasha and Alex McEwan. There is plenty of outdoor seating from which to admire the garden with your furry friends though.

Over 30 native trees have been planted around the site and several old fruit trees remain in the garden. There’s also a young pear tree planted by Hairy Biker Si King.

Apparently there’s also an oak sapling planted by Francis, the idea being that oak trees symbolise longevity and how the garden will go from strength to strength. It was a wedding present given to him and his wife by a friend who had grown it from an acorn. I searched high and low for it but couldn’t find it – I hope it hasn’t been mistaken for a weed!

On the home front we’re in the midst of a hosepipe ban. It doesn’t really affect my gardening life because I don’t use a hosepipe to water my plants – just numerous trips with watering cans. If I can help it I don’t use tap water either. We have 8 water butts – they were nearly empty after all the lovely hot weather we’ve had, but in the nick of time the heavens opened and they’re full to the brim again. The same can’t be said for the reservoirs though. 

We’ve been enjoying the fruits of my labour in the form of courgettes, dwarf beans and some broccoli. They wouldn’t pass the supermarket shape tests, but they’re very tasty, which is all that matters as far as we’re concerned. There is a flaw in my cabbage white butterfly deterrent though. Firstly, the netting I’ve used isn’t fine enough so the butterflies can get inside the ‘cages’ I’ve created. I spent ages one day freeing a couple, thinking they wouldn’t be able to find their way out, only to witness later on that they are more than capable. Secondly, I hadn’t thought it through, that as the leaves grew they would touch the netting and the butterflies wouldn’t even need to get inside to lay their eggs. I’ve picked off as many caterpillars as I can, but I’m afraid there might not be much left of the leaves by the time I get home from my holiday!

For some reason insects do seem to be attracted to me – some for the wrong reason – leaving me with unsightly, blistering bites. I don’t mind these ones though – they’re not at all aggressive – sorry about the feet and my tatty gardening sandals!