The dry September with less than 10 mm of rain recorded has been the driest at West Dean in the past 34 years. It has been accompanied by still days and at times glorious sunshine – altogether creating near perfect garden-visiting weather. It seems churlish of me therefore to wish for a drop of rain … Continue reading
As September slides by the damage limitation exercise that is the garden after a long summer slips into history and we can relax a little, enjoy the cooler, golden early autumn days and begin to look forward to the prospect of autumn and winter projects. It’s also the time to savour the fruits of our … Continue reading
Gorgeous autumn is a time to visit West Dean Gardens with your camera- for when the place is bathed in golden autumnal light it’s just ripe for the creative photographer. The diversity of the gardens means there is something for everyone: vegetables in straight lines, flowers in the borders, glasshouses, fantastic fruit or even the … Continue reading
When I started my horticultural career as a jobbing gardener at Haringey Council in North London, much of the work was mundane and pretty unrewarding. However every day during the late summer and until the first frosts, my heart was lifted by the technicolor blooms of an astonishing collection of dahlia plants. Their serried military … Continue reading
June was a wonderful month for a garden visit to West Dean and July looks set to be the same. Plenty of sun filled days after the relentless winter rain have put a skip into the visitors step as they come along to enjoy all aspects of the gardens and there is certainly plenty here … Continue reading
As the dog days of August approach and other flowering shrubs give up the ghost those stalwarts of the late summer border, the hydrangeas, come into their own. The common hydrangea, H. macrophylla, has spawned a huge range of varieties that divide neatly into two main types, the lacecaps and the Hortensias, or more descriptively … Continue reading
Chelsea week is the one time of the year that gardening dominates the airwaves and takes centre stage in the public’s mind which is slightly curious because as any “real” gardener knows gardens are an all year round obsession that occupies one’s thoughts and efforts for 52 weeks of the year . It is that … Continue reading
April was such a benign month at West Dean, mostly rain-free days and glorious enjoyable sunshine. What a blossomy year so far – I feel as if the garden is garlanded with these magical blooms at present. The pear blossom was magnificent in March and April and now the orchard is a riot of pink … Continue reading
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