September Update

SEPTEMBER

Sissinghurst, field plans, and asking for help.

An exceptional garden that I believe really lives up to the hype, Sissinghurst never disappoints. Under the skilled eye of Troy Scott Smith, this garden always offers something to take away.

I arrived early, and whilst having a blissful time wandering the vegetable garden, by chance went through a gate in the hedge and walked straight in to the middle of the orchard, the branches heavy with fruit. With the luxury of being the only person there for half an hour, there was something humbling about being amongst trees and feeling enveloped by their scale and beauty. It made me feel resolute in the feeling that I should plant a mini orchard at the field, an idea I’ve been toying with ever since signing the tenancy agreement. The variety research begins!

The work of Dan Pearson and his team in creating the Delos garden is inspirational, and I loved getting to see it at this time of year. An education in plant selection and topography, it’s really made me think of how to plant a couple of beds for plants which love the rocky and free draining conditions they’ve created here. Full of twisting verbascums and grasses which sway gently when they catch the breeze, I left feeling energised and full of ideas.

The Nuttery remains one of my favourite places to visit, the cool cover provided by the multi stem hazels offering a varied and sheltered environment for woodland planting, including the healthiest epimedium I’ve ever seen. Yet again, more inspiration!

From left to right: Clematis ‘Praecox’, The Nuttery, Verbcasum

Below: Delos

Field planning continues in earnest, as does the wrestle between too many ideas and ambitions, and reconciling them with how many hours there are in the day and what’s possible for this year. Reining myself in, I’m focusing on planting more shrubs and getting them in whilst the soil is warm so they can get their roots down and I can harvest gingerly from them next year. Currants, raspberry canes and thornless blackberries are on their way, adding to the delectable options for autumn cutting. My clematis obsession continues to grow, and I’ve planted several wild species amongst the hedging to save me from having to jump in the car and scour the local landscape to forage. I’m slowly learning about time management and efficiency the more time passes!

Perennial bulbs will start to arrive too, with exquisite varieties of narcissi, fritillaria and last year’s favourite, dutch iris, soon to be planted. The dutch iris feel a bit of a gamble as they prefer a freer draining soil than I can offer, but in smaller numbers a trial feels worthwhile and will be a good litmus test of how the soil is improving. 

I’ve taken a big step and have started to bring in a bit of help with the maintenance of the field. I realised how much precious time was being taken up with mowing, strimming and general house keeping, the beds and the plants that were doing so well to survive were starting to get a little neglected, I decided that now was the time to ask for help. The decision to bring someone in has felt quite momentous, not only as it has financial implications but it’s also letting someone else in to the garden I’m creating. However, the freedom that having help just one morning a week has facilitated and the time and focus it’s then afforded me to work on growing and creating has been huge, and to be able to drive to the field and see that work has been done whilst I’ve been away is nothing short of sensational. It’s been a welcome reminder that it’s fine to not be able to everything, and actually to outsource to great people can be hugely rewarding.

Up there as one of my favourite briefs yet, a wedding for a brilliant couple at Toklas restaurant on the Strand. Peach and tomato red dahlias, pastel zinnias, and coffee roses threaded through with stipa, calamagrostis and field grown tomatoes.  

Assembling a team of excellent freelancers, we clad the ceiling in beech and wild rose foliage. After days of trials, the wild rose foliage came out on top, with good vase life out of water when conditioned well, and pliable stems to create swirls and patterns on the wired ceiling. A staircase installation welcomed guests and was then repurposed for the bar to be enjoyed throughout the day. 

Big thanks to Kim at Marlston Farm Girl, James and the team at Stem and Green and Andy at Chobham Flower Farm for the extra stems.

Photos courtesy of Maya Tsolo

October sees the end of the Midnight Bell tour, one which has been so much fun and has rekindled my love of dancing, then heading in to rehearsals for a winter tour of the Red Shoes which will run through til May. At the field, truck loads of mulch are on their way and a lot of plants wait patiently to get in to the ground.

Busy and joyous.

Thanks for reading.