Jo's News and Views No 8 August 2025

Hello Everyone

Well, after the hottest summer on record, it seems we plunged into Autumn overnight. I promise not to complain about the rain because I know that Myddelton and all our gardens desperately need it. As my knee is starting to feel better I have started driving again so have been able to take myself to the garden. Here's what I saw. 

On the edge of the car park is the grand old Quercus robur, a common or English Oak tree, photo 1. It is smothered in acorns which I suspect the squirrels will have been busy collecting and eating, photo 2. Outside the Visitors Centre Courtyard is the Tilia x europaea, a Lime tree, surrounded by cyclamen and colchicums, photo 3. The colchicums are such a welcome splash of colour in the Autumn, photo 4. In front of the house the Rosa 'Ellen Willmott' continues to flower, photo 5. It is such a perfect delicate pink colour. 

Walking on through the garden I stopped to enjoy the view to the pond, photo 6. One of my favourite views. On the edge of Tom Tiddlers Ground I took this photo which I have decided to call 'You can't see the wood for the trees', photo 7! In front of the Peach House the pumpkins are doing well. I hope they are ready for Halloween, photo 8. In the Kitchen Garden the conference pear trees in the Fruit Tree Arch are heavily ladened with pears, photo 9. In the bed opposite were these lovely Cynara cardunculus, or Artichokes, photo 10. I just love the flowers and I might try to grow some myself just for the pleasure of seeing the flowers, photo 11. Also, here is the magnificent Styphnolobium japonicum, or Japanese Pagoda tree. It was covered in tiny white flowers, photo 12. Just over the wall is the Tulip Terrace, I am pleased to say that the planting there still looked gorgeous, photo 13. Next to the Kitchen Garden in the new orchard the Mespilus germanica 'Nottingham', or Medlar, was also covered in fruit this year, photos 14 and 15. You can eat the fruit, however, I believe they are an 'acquired taste'! 

Near the pond the leaves of the Hamamelis x intermedia 'Diane', or Witch Hazel, looked beautiful, photo 16, all different shades of red. Unfortunately, the pond wasn't looking as beautiful as this shrub. The Typha, or bullrushes, and the Iris pseudacorus, or Yellow Flag Iris, have nearly taken over the pond completely, photos 17 and 18. I expect the wildlife living there love it but Julia will be taking professional advice on how to remove them. Perhaps they all have to go! I was pleased to see that at least one clump of the Gunnera that used to surround the pond has survived and is thriving, photo 19. 

There is good news too. I was given permission to walk down to the Rock Garden to see how the restoration was coming along. I was very impressed by the work that is being carried out there, photos 20, 21, 22, and 23. The gentlemen working there are using huge boulders of Kentish Ragstone and placing them carefully around the relined ponds just as Mr Bowles would have done when he built the Rock Garden himself, photo 24. Kentish Ragstone is a very hard limestone and has been used to build many notable buildings in London in particular Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London. Julia has worked hard on researching how the Rock Garden was built so that her restoration will look as authentic as it can. I look forward to bringing you further updates over the coming months. 

Walking back to the house I thought the Pond Terrace was holding its own with the other terraces, photo 25. The bed outside the Old Conservatory was looking beautiful so I made a mental note to use zinnias and cosmos next year too, photo 26. Then finally I walked around the back of the house. The Campsis radicans, or Trumpet Vine is still going strong, photo 27. The flowers have now been joined by pods, photo 28. It is a self-clinging climber, able to grip on to bare walls and other vertical surfaces. It produces aerial roots along its stems that hold it firmly in place. Every winter I look at the bare stems and wonder if it will flower again.... and it always does. 

Sorry, no fauna to show you this month. I will try harder next month!

I hope you have enjoyed my wander around the garden with me. 

Best Wishes