Gladioli Bargains at Hestercombe

**Get outside this season, breathe in the fresh air and watch Hestercombe gardens come alive with the rich colours of autumn.**: - Autumn at HestercombeSeptember and October sees Hestercombe transformed by the rich shades of autumn; the cold-loving flowers and shrubs begin to bloom, bringing new colours and points of interest to the gardens. On your next...

Gnomes...a bit like Marmite I guess - split the population between gnome lovers and gnome haters. And it's probably a generational thing. I am definitely in the gnome loving category. If fact when Pete (my partner), Gracie (step daughter) and me go off in our caravan we take our gnome with us, mind you we also take the dog and the hamster. Gracie has made...

by Claire Greenslade, Hestercombe’s Head Gardener_ **How do you manage a large garden with a furloughed team and locked down volunteers?!** Who knew that this would ever be a question I would have to ask myself. This virus is something that none of us had been able to prepare for. Since March 23rd 2020 Hestercombe has had to close its gates. Really big...

The gardens are looking stunning in the September sunlight. The Gladioli are still looking great and I dont know what we have done to the Cannas this year but they are ENORMOUS! The Asters are only just coming out so there is plenty to see. Come and make the most of the good weather.

Sadly the beautiful bluebells that have graced the slopes of the landscape garden and the shady spots in the trees are now giving their final flourish. Ben our landscape supervisor will be closing the walks for this year this afternoon (Monday 2nd June) and so it will be another year until the blue beauties return. But fear not this is a real sign of summer...

So the late spring has in fact had quite an amazing affect on the garden as everything seems to have come at once. It's an awesome time in terms of colour and it's rare to admire irises, paeonies, roses, wisteria and cistus at the same time - I love it! It is like 3 months condensed into one. Gertrude Jekyll was a great colourist, it was one of her many...

I have mixed emotions about September. I love the light. I love the warm weather. But I cant shake off that feeling of impending doom as the nights draw in and the temperature drops - I have absolutely no love for winter! It is just too cold, and I can't even get excited about the prospect of snow. I've tried to enjoy sledging but frankly it's cold and wet...

**Winter Gardening Ideas: How To Look After Your Garden**: As the chilly nights draw-in make sure you follow these top tips on how to look after your garden over the winter with winter gardening ideas from Head Gardener **Claire Greenslade**. Cannas looking totally tropical on the Great Plat this summer **1. Lift tender plants**: Many tender species need...