The Masters Border (along the Southern side of the garden) is now nearing the completion of a makeover. From speaking with volunteers, it has been established that the last major work on the border was around 2002, stories the border being dug out and planted have come to light while digging out weeds and splitting herbaceous plants.
With a very limited budget for this project, we have been fortunate that Jan, one of our trustees, has donated plants that he has propagated, that will grace either side of the Masters gate, in the centre of the border. Either side, in a mirroring effect, our volunteer Kevin has supplied a number of Hydrangeas, plants that he has grown from cuttings from established plants on the Thornham Estate. With each end of the border then being planted up with plant material that already existed in the border, gaps where fruit trees filled with new planting and Ivy removed from the walls, the border, while as yet not fully established looks rejuvenated. With spring now here, everything is starting to shoot and with a warm summer we hope that it will be good year for each plant to settle in and grow into place.
While most of the planting is complete, there is still considerable work to be don on this project, hedging is going to be cut back to a more appropriate size (a two year project) and a final dressing of mulch will be added in the next few weeks to help show off the young plants and give them every opportunity of establishing themselves quickly.
We are looking forward to inviting people into the garden throughout the summer to see what has been done on this part of the walled garden of late, and offer the opportunity to watch the border establish and grow through the comping seasons.
Posted by Phill, March 2017