Weather report for Thursday 15 June:

A sunny, warm, breezy day, 23.5C.

Tea break:

More than 20 volunteers and Friends of the Harris Garden gathered during tea break for refreshments in front of the shed. We were especially pleased to welcome David Betts, whose wife Jill was a keen supported of the Harris Garden.

( read more . . . )

Weather report for Thursday 1st June 2017:

17C at the start of a busy morning, a warm, sunny day such that some of the 16 volunteers were seeking out shade.

Tasks for the morning:

Terry was fully occupied cutting back the lower branches of tree canopies to let light onto shrubs and herbaceous plantings below. Eunice and Trudi were working in the Meteor Garden, tending a glorious display of white flowers. Arne was staking asters in the Autumn Border. Chris and others were weeding by the stream. Jill was roaming over large areas of the garden, hunting that elusive weed, Impatiens parviflora, or small balsam, now in flower and so pretty, but ready to spring its seeds at the slightest touch.

( read more . . . )

Weather report for Thursday 18th May 2017

Mostly sunny, 17C and a light breeze, just right for the annual volunteers’ lunch.

An excellent lunch for hard-working volunteers…

18 gathered in front of Pete’s shed to enjoy an informal buffet lunch of salads, cold meats, smoked salmon, cheeses, quiches, baguette, and delicious cakes. As you can see from the photographs, the weed-weary volunteers were intent on enjoying this special occasion and focused on their laden plates, determined to balance it all and enjoy every flavour.

( read more . . . )

Weather report for Thursday 27 April 2017:

frost on lawns and cars at dawn. Turning cloudy later, a cold northerly wind. Temperature 9.5C by mid-afternoon.

Today’s tasks:

The Spring tidy up continues with weeding in many areas. Chris was well occupied with dead-heading an extensive planting of hellebores to prevent seeding.

( read more . . . )

Thursday 20th April 2017 Weather report for 9 a.m.

9C, overcast, SW wind 8 mph.

Tasks undertaken today:

Jill, Rosemary, Chris and Eunice weeded the Fern Border. Trudi cleared some Crocosmia from the circular bed in the Winter Garden. Dick weeded and edged part of the Cherry Bowl, Sue removed brambles and ivy and Terry cut back a Sycamore tree in preparation for a new shrub border not far from the Walled Garden. Ania worked in the Autumn Border, transplanting Ajuga, digging and weeding a patch of ground and transplanting Sedum ‘Brilliant’, Arne watered recently planted shrubs and perennials, and Catherine planted Kniphofia ‘Brimstone’. Yesterday Don was working in the garden, tidying the Yellow Border.

( read more . . . )

Thursday 13th April 2017 weather report:

11C this morning and a cool north-westerly wind, mostly cloudy.

Tasks for today:

Fourteen volunteers arrived to help with spring maintenance and tidying of the flower borders. It was time to remove last year’s wizened leaves from the gunnera by the pond, to weed the fern border, to mow some of the grass, to trim the edges of the red borders, and to clear brambles from near the fence.

( read more . . . )

This autumn and winter the weather was generally mild and dry until just before Christmas. In the Autumn we have the routine of cutting and cleaning which has gratifying results. The scrub around many trees has gone, replaced by meticulous bark circles, courtesy of Lynda and Dick. Clearance in the Jungle, its extended pathway and many areas formerly overrun with brambles has been carried out mainly by Terry and Sue.

( read more . . . )

There were two Open Days planned for this month.  The first was organised by the Friends of the Harris Garden on April 15th to raised money for charity, the weather was fine though a little chilly and numbers were down on previous years attendances.  The second was due for Sunday 29th and was organised by the University but unfortunately the weather in the week leading up to the day was very wet and then the weather on the day was absolutely atrocious forcing the event to be cancelled which was disappointing but unavoidable.  Maybe it can be rescheduled for later in the year.

( read more . . . )

March has seen a continuation of the exceptionally dry weather conditions throughout the month and has meant that there is the very real threat of water shortages across the south of England and the promise of hosepipe bans and drought orders.  Though not effective yet they are due to come into force in April for domestic use but we should still be able to use hosepipes for watering in the Harris Garden.

( read more . . . )