tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67376132009-06-05T02:29:59.320+01:00Garden diary from Cerney House Gardens head gardener Barbara McPherson in the heart of the English Cotswold. Photos of the gardens, planting tips, news and gossip from the life on the estateB Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04118119153804836062noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737613.post-41873608329893207462009-06-05T01:59:00.006+01:002009-06-05T02:29:52.317+01:00

The weather is glorious and so hot that I have come in for a cool interlude before braving the greenhouse work that I have to do. England really is a green and pleasant land once the sun shines. However, some fussy plants are already showing signs of wilt and like farmers, we gardeners are never satisfied with current conditions! If it could arrange to rain overnight and back to summer loveliness

B Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04118119153804836062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737613.post-67031756790463376842009-04-02T21:24:00.003+01:002009-04-02T21:32:49.683+01:00

Well good bye snowdrops and hello just about everything else. It has been a wonderful year for snowdrops and we have had some lovely enthusiastic visitors. I have had some favourite varieties. Three Ships that came before Christmas and stayed for 5 weeks, Comet that is such a healthy, huge addition, Margaret Biddulph that had to stay in a pot so that she could join us for dinner and Spindlestone

Barbaranoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737613.post-89559937572744470842009-02-05T20:35:00.001Z2009-02-06T03:17:17.976Z

Since we are covered with snow and its freezing cold I think this is a good time to sit in the warm and write this! We spent a lovely and productive time in France. We have solved a plumber problem and have two new bathrooms to show for it and we learnt more or less to build a garden wall in the local style. Suddenly we are able to see a shape to parts of the garden. We are clearing an area for

B Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04118119153804836062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737613.post-32398597743932564192008-12-23T10:26:00.002Z2008-12-23T10:30:11.852Z

Christmas is just a few days away and as hard as we try to persuade the garden to go to sleep, then it busts into life! The snowdrops are popping into flower as quickly as we clear the leaves. The plicatus ‘Three ships’ is first but it will soon be joined by ‘Colossus’. I used to dread the gloom of this time of year but now that I have caught the galanthophile bug I find it so exciting.

B Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04118119153804836062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737613.post-77687539881332801512008-04-23T09:02:00.000+01:002008-04-23T01:04:51.169+01:00

Cerney House Gardens is proud to announce the start of its annual stunning display of over 10,000 tulips throughout April and May. After months of hard work planting during autumn, the garden is now filled with varieties of tulips and other spring-flowering bulbs.Click here for photos from previous years. The results are looking equally spectacular this spring, so please come along and enjoy the

B Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04118119153804836062noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737613.post-23107344108734081312008-03-16T17:30:00.003Z2008-03-17T03:42:29.887Z

Goodbye snowdrops! What a year it has been. In spite of terrible predictions after our peculiar summer the snowdrops have performed better than I can remember and following bulbs - daffodils, bluebells and hopefully tulips look set to do the same. I love the early time of year. Gone is the sinking feeling that cold dark months are with us and eager anticipation is in its place for snowdrop roll

Barbaranoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737613.post-15348570341357028842008-01-31T12:07:00.001Z2008-01-31T12:07:48.416Z

The New Year hardly seems to have started - in my case with 'flu - and now Iam buying a Valentine card and hoping for flowers! Anyway I already feelcheered as the days are getting lighter and my wonderful snowdrops arepopping up everywhere. We have decided to open for the snowdrop season this year as we had so manyglowing reports last year when we opened for the Red Cross (which we aredoing again

Barbaranoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737613.post-75218737621058716462007-09-24T01:16:00.001+01:002007-09-24T01:16:20.721+01:00

How come dark evenings and autumn temperatures creep up on you withoutwarning?!We have been back for three weeks now and already I have forgotten thesummer and am thinking of cutting back and putting everything to bed. Havingso much to do in the garden spoils the appreciation of late floweringplants; I fear I see many as in the way of a clean sweep. However, there arelots of treats not least

Barbaranoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737613.post-24162834406375017252007-04-29T23:24:00.001+01:002007-04-29T23:27:04.536+01:00

We sat on Saby steps a few days ago as we closed up for the last time and drank a final coffee and felt we could be nowhere more perfect. The garden was tidier than when we arrived but still full of self-sown figs, lilac and Judas trees. They in turn were full of birds and butterflies and heady scents. The weather was warm but not nearly as balmy as England and frustratingly several blooms

Barbaranoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737613.post-18033143782352556742007-03-04T22:56:00.000Z2007-04-24T21:48:58.190+01:00

After a beautiful day yesterday we are stuck inside today with really wet rain pouring down and finding every hole in the roof. We spent the sunny times moving well rotted cow manure to the walled garden and I feel proud of a huge dug patch made ready for the onions and other alliums. When we can find another dry break we hope to get bean and potato patches finished. We have finished the fruit

B Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04118119153804836062noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737613.post-1162528656667099382006-11-03T04:32:00.000Z2007-04-07T03:02:32.111+01:00

I have been cold for the first time in months today. Although the morning started well with pretty light frost, a beautiful sky and fresh air, by the time we had stood tying in the roses and cutting back the borders my feet were cold to hurt and my fingers had lost all sense. Nonetheless the tops of the trees were bathed in lovely sunshine and the autumn colours that have been so slow in coming

Barbaranoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737613.post-1151352281203433102006-06-26T21:04:00.000+01:002006-06-26T23:26:53.416+01:00

It is raining today. The first proper, wet rain for weeks marking the beginning of Wimbledon and hopefully the survival of our newly planted vegetables. I love it when the vegetable garden begins to grow as it makes the garden complete. The regimented lines of the vegetable rows contrast perfectly with the flamboyance of the herbaceous borders. Similarly the newly cut hedges in the knot garden

Barbaranoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737613.post-1144369191831352132006-04-07T01:19:00.000+01:002006-04-07T02:07:15.786+01:00

I have been seriously wet in the last few days to the point of reconsidering my career options! So how come a hose pipe ban is just about to start to make our rural life even more complicated and exhausting?We are working endless hours at the moment to get the garden ready for our Easter opening. The cheese market, instead of having its customary lull at the beginning of the year, has reacted

Barbaranoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737613.post-1139365565510788122006-02-09T10:40:00.000Z2006-03-15T15:20:16.696Z

Much of the autumn was spent planting tulip bulbs for our Tulip Festival this year. We have redesigned prominent areas such as the knot garden reflecting our theme of 'In the Pink' that will run through this year's display. We will of course have other colours throughout the garden mainly because we fall in love with something of everything when we read the catalogues.Judging by last year, the

Barbaranoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737613.post-1139364958564149312006-02-08T02:15:00.000Z2006-02-08T04:39:42.216Z

I don't seem to have done very well with my monthly diary. I resolve to do better this year - making it monthly would be a good start!Somebody wrote a hideous remark in our visitor's book last year - during our last week of opening they wrote that we were a sad and neglected garden. We were so incensed that our hard work and as others have said obvious love for the place have failed to impress

Barbaranoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737613.post-1136618250761374512006-01-07T07:15:00.000Z2006-01-07T20:22:35.133Z

Cerney House Gardens entrance under snow - copyright © Kay Ransom 2005Cerney House Gardens under snow - copyright © Angus McPherson 2005

B Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04118119153804836062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737613.post-1127666252826873512005-09-25T17:37:00.000+01:002005-09-25T17:57:35.766+01:00

In spite of good intentions I have failed miserably to keep up with my monthly diary. I would never make a living as an author! So much happens and it all requires some kind of input from us that we finish the day exhausted and just catch the news before we go to sleep. We had a summer holiday with most of the family and the odd school friend in France. It was lovely but not very restful - a lot

Barbaranoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737613.post-1119584203675928472005-06-23T20:28:00.000+01:002005-06-24T04:46:11.113+01:00

Much to our excitement Thursday June 30th on ITV West at 7.30pm sees the showing of our garden in 'The Garden Trail'. Tony Russell's programme, under the patient direction of Mike Lomas and essential calm of his wife, Maggie, was a joy to make and we hope a joy to watch. We will be glued to the set and we hope many others will be too.

B Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04118119153804836062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737613.post-1119585420523533012005-06-19T19:55:00.000+01:002005-06-24T04:57:00.530+01:00

After a manic period of last minute arrangements such as fitting a dress,seeking out and finding menus, photographer, car, church, CDs, children, flowers and good humour Angus and I were married on 21st May. It was a lovely day that went all too quickly and was far more romantic than I had imagined. Amy was a star and looked as beautiful as I have ever seen her, and she behaved perfectly as did

B Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04118119153804836062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737613.post-1116887207236665002005-05-23T23:26:00.000+01:002005-05-24T02:56:56.576+01:00

The Floral Fireworks tulips are coming to an end, as all good things must. In their place, the heavenly-scented old-fashioned roses that the garden is famous for are slowly beginning to blossom. They create a softer, more traditional mood in the garden, ideal as the warm summer afternoons become more frequent.

B Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04118119153804836062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737613.post-1115588198762008982005-05-08T22:36:00.000+01:002006-05-02T19:23:07.346+01:00

Thank you to all those that visited the garden over the weekend. The sun shone most of the time and the tulips looked fabulous. We still have many only just starting out and the knot garden has fulfilled our expectations and more. If anyone missed out on a catalogue or wants to know more please contact Floral Fireworks on 01460 249025, or see their website: www.FloralFireworks.co.uk.Photographs

Barbaranoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737613.post-1115288910513114022005-05-05T11:28:00.000+01:002005-05-09T14:14:12.993+01:00

The tulips are beginning to come into their best time. The knot garden will be stunning over the next couple of weeks, as will the path beds, which are full of the various parrot tulips. The floral fireworks of lily flowered tulips under the old apple tree is about to explode and mummy's front border display - more formal than the other plantings is unbelievably bright from the main drive. I have

Barbaranoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737613.post-1112828643703414342005-03-25T20:49:00.000Z2005-05-09T02:05:55.646+01:00

Easter is nearly here and we have been so busy and tired that the diary has been put on hold. It is amazing the difference a month makes. The garden has woken up. I always dreaded the dark winter months until I discovered snowdrops but now early months are filled with excitement as my existing collection flowers and I find new ones. We visited our neighbours at Colesbourne in the middle February

Barbaranoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737613.post-1111513181143992792005-03-22T17:21:00.000Z2006-02-08T04:43:40.236Z

Cerney House Gardens will be hosting a stunning tulip display of over 10,000 tulips in April and May 2005, in association with the renowned Avon Bulbs' Floral Fireworks scheme.After months of hard work planting during autumn, the garden is now soon to be filled with varieties of tulips and other spring flowering bulbs. The result is expected to be spectacular this spring, so please come along and

B Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04118119153804836062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737613.post-1105976135753352342005-01-17T15:35:00.000Z2005-01-17T15:35:35.753Z

We had a lovely Christmas, surrounded by family, wonderful food andexcellent wine mostly thanks to the generosity of my parents at whose housethis all happened. All the children joined us and during the week werefurther joined by lovely girlfriends. Daddy decided we didn’t have enough todo and managed to fall over the black Newfoundland on Christmas Eve, butbeyond a brief sojourn at A and E

Barbaranoreply@blogger.com0