Going To Blow Your House Down

Apart from the rain, the very strong gusts of wind have brought about a small amount of damage. Conditions outside feel more like autumn, along with leaf fall, a large amount of twigs, sticks and small branches have fallen on to the large Nuffield lawn, all must be cleared up before Kieron can mow the lawn. Branches have snapped off heavily leaved trees and need to be removed to the chipper pile. The areas of damage, where the limb has split from the tree need to be tidied, so Simon, using the chainsaw, cleans the splits in order to help the tree to heal the open wound and to prevent disease.

Joe and Ali come across an unusual looking character as they prune the Ceanothus behind the Linbury Building, seen this time last year, this caterpillar will become a Vapourer Moth.

St. Swithin's Day

It's St Swithin's Day and it has been raining for the last few days, now it should be raining for the next 40 days! In between the rain showers and heavy down pours, the team continue their work around the gardens. Ady and Graham have spent the day clearing the Provost's drive, cutting the hedge and the over grown shrubs back to the edging stone line.

Having finished cutting back the long tendril growth of the wisteria on the front quad terrace, Joe and Ali continue to cut back and dead head the climbing and rambling roses in the college grounds, whilst Josh takes the opportunity to put some feed down on the Provost's lawn knowing that rain will continue, at least, for the next few days or will it be 40?

'St. Swithin's day if thou dost rain,

For forty days it will remain,

St. Swithin's day if thou be fair,

For forty days 'twill rain nae mair'

Garden Tours

Today was a day of garden tours, not just of our garden but around other college gardens.
After months of dry, hot weather, the rain arrived making it a very damp day for touring. First, Ali and Simon led two groups from the Longstock Garden Group around the garden, joined by other members of the team, Joe, Ady and Graham.
Then in the afternoon all the team, in the drizzle, visited Trinity College (above) and St. John's College (below) to look at their gardens. A very enjoyable day was had by all, despite the weather's best intentions to ruin it.

It's A Jungle Out There

After a few hours in the greenhouse sowing two hundred Wallflower seeds into individual cells, Ali moved on to strimming the over grown area behind the Provost's garden, no access allowed to the public.

With the strimmer cord breaking every few minutes and refusing to automatically feed from the spool, the job was eventually completed, all that was left to do, was to rake it all up.

Ali, rarely seen on the blog, was captured for the second time in four days by the camera's remote control.

Hedge 4, 5 and 6

Over the last few days the hedge cutting has continued at pace, Ali cut hedge number four, the small yew hedge in the Provost's garden.

Kieron and Joe embarked on the privet hedge next to the large glasshouse, once finished Joe moved on to the yew hedge running at a right angle to the privet. One hedge left, the huge hedge that borders the entrance to the car park, scaffold tower or a cherry picker required.

First Of Two

Today, Sunday 4th July, was the first of two Old Member's Garden Days for this year. 19 old members, matriculated as far back as 1950, along with their guests, joined Simon and Ali in tours of the garden. The sun shone on us again this year and the day was enjoyed by all, we are looking forward to our next Garden Day on the 25th July.

Lucy (Lulabelle), Our Budding Apprentice

The Gardeners Arms, an appropriate place for the team to say their fond farewells and good luck to our budding apprentice, Lucy. Apprenticeship completed, Lucy is moving on to run her own business 'Millwood Market Gardens', with her husband Jonathan, who she met whilst at horticultural college.
We shall miss our Lulabelle, her passion for all things vegetable, her wonderful baking skills and her invaluable knowledge of the best ales and ciders.
Good luck Lucy in all your future endeavours, I hear the best locally grown veg can be found at the Eynsham market on a Saturday morning.