Thanks for joining us for the last part of our progress update with a stroll around the grounds. Here are some photos taken on a sunny day.
Above: The view of the manor from the Urn en flambeau Parterre.
Below: View of the manor and carriage house from the lake.
Below: The Urn Parterre. The buxus hedging has taken off despite the rabbit problem, although the rabbits have dug out many of the irises in an attempt to excavate a warren underneath the urn. I feel more rabbit pie will be on the menu this autumn. I love the way the established trees in the distance provide a backdrop of the parterre down the view of the lime walk. It's almost as if it was planned that way :-)
Below: A view back up the lime walk from the parterre.
Some of the bedding plants close up...
Antirrhinum (Snap dragons)
Dianthus (Pinks)
Across the lawn on the other side of the parterre is one entrance to Badger's Wood. This has certainly established itself in the last 2 years (original post here)...
We have Pukeko's nesting in the woods. Here is one that is protecting a nest of fledglings.
For other bird life at Willowbrook Park see our post on Ornithology here.
Above: Our Diamond Jubilee Oak tree has grown too in the last couple of years.
Below: The Sloe Spinney.
More photos of the wood looking back on the pathway from the other end.
The knot garden has down well since last autumn, and soon the plants will form a nice hedge.
Peter has been busy grooming the beds and topiarising the corner plants into perfect pyramids.
Above: The Gertrude Jekyll Roses
Below: A giant gunnera, which is to be moved to the brook by the bridge in autumn. Is will be a hot dry summer and anything we attempt to transplant before then won't survive.
The currants are doing very well this season...
... as are the vines. Come autumn we should have our first decent harvest of table grapes, and when the wine grapes are planted we will be able to start our domestic viticulture.
Above: A splendid hedge rose in the orchard.
Below: Another in the lime walk.
The bees are having a marvelous time.
View from site of rotunda towards urn parterre again.
The Elysium Field, the site of our future wildflower meadow, which has been grown for hay for emergency stock tucker over the summer should we run into a drought (always prepared).
