Richard Orton reports on the rudbeckia and other plants providing autumnal colour in the Lewis Cottage garden and advises on some jobs to be doing in your own garden this month.
This month Richard Orton shares some advice for growing tulips successfully in our heavy Devon soil, his thoughts on whether or not to tidy your garden in winter and his delight at a spectacular display by his Ginkgo biloba tree. He also suggests a few final gardening jobs before the year comes to an end.
Our gardens can provide solace at times of loss or crisis, including for King Charles who sought refuge in his garden at Highgrove during the gruelling events of recent weeks. Here, Richard Orton reflects on a visit to Highgrove and how this influenced the development of his own garden at Lewis Cottage. He also reports on what to enjoy and do in the autumn garden, as well as gardens to visit locally.
As the year draws to a close, most gardeners are taking a well earned rest. But in the Lewis Cottage garden life is busier than ever. From gathering leaves and moving pots to planting hedges and ordering seeds, there are no end of jobs to be done in December, says Richard Orton.
It’s the height of summer and the garden is running away with itself; armfuls of veg to be picked, hedges needing to be trimmed and lawns to be mowed. In his magnificent garden at Lewis Cottage, Richard Orton admits that he sometimes feels overwhelmed by it all. But the sheer bountifulness of it all easily pushes those feelings aside and allows him a little time to appreciate the little triumphs and successes of the year so far.
