A visit to the gardens at Chadkirk

Visitors to Chadkirk on Saturday afternoon were able to enjoy the the garden in mellow autumn sunshine. The beech trees in the woodland are beginning to turn to gold, amber and russets. Within the walled garden asters, rudbekias and sedums are in full flower.

As the visitors enjoyed the garden, chapel and woodland walks, a team of volunteers got to work.

In the walled garden, there was work to be done on the lavender bed. This has been stunning during the summer. The circle of lavender encloses a central obelisk with a rose and clematis. This bed was designed and planted a few years ago and the climbers need a better support. Under Alan’s watchful eye, the rose was pruned, the obelisk removed and the site prepared for a new installation.

If you visit the walled garden today, you will see a new obelisk at the centre of the lavender bed. This small but delightful improvement comes courtesy of a bequest. A gift given as a token of gratitude for many happy days at Chadkirk.

The herbaceous borders outside the walled garden required attention. A hardy geranium is flowering. It has flourished in this position, spreading to engulf many of the other plants in the border. Two volunteers worked steadily for a couple of hours, so that other plants can see the light.

Volunteers clear the way for future growth

Meanwhile at the other end of the long border, Alan and John laboured, lifting stones, mixing concrete and installing new fencing.

Earlier in the week Alan had spotted five different species of butterfly on the verbena flowers. Although I was disappointed to have missed that, I was lucky enough to glimpse a comma in the afternoon sunshine.