Despite the passing of the spring equinox, the light still leaves the garden early at this time of year. This time, known as ‘between the wolf and the dog.’ As time passes, we wait for summer-time, with the changing of the clocks. As early dusk settles, the old cross above the porch is thrown into relief by the shadows of the rising moon.
Mother phoned her guru, the botanist Martyn Rix, to ask if it was alright to burn the Dioramas, the lovely summer-flowering Angels Fishing Rods. It takes hours of clearing out the dead leaves and tidying all the many plants on the terrace; burning them down to an inch above ground is far quicker. The reply was “Don’t leave it any longer” so within minutes, the red gas bottle was located, happily full, and by nightfall the job was done by Chris, the air full of the scent of burnt leaves. It took us a further day to clear up and weed the terrace. A great feeling of satisfaction was felt by one and all.
All hands were required to edge and weed the long Yew Walk. Team Cothay, on hands and knees, did it in record time of two days, with much muttering from Mother of “I hate this job!”
Bringing a touch of light to the garden are the many different daffodils, but Ma’s favourite are the bright blue Anemone blanda, only a few inches high, originally from the eastern Mediterranean region, from Albania and Greece, to the Lebabon.
Mother says it was a timely reminder as she looked out this morning, that there is still much to be done before we open in April. The rich red soil of Somerset, still waiting for the new growth to appear and the greening of the land
Greenham, Nr. Wellington,
Somerset, TA21 OJR
01823 672283
