Time to review my Lake District garden 2015

It's the time of year when you look at the garden, make resolutions about what to do differently next year- then forget to make a note about it. The result is that you make the same mistakes next year. Or is that just me?

Here goes on some thoughts about White Moss House garden 2015. It's a Grasmere garden, a Lake District garden , so the thoughts below may not apply to gardens elsewhere.

First thoughts.

Two things are totally out of my control

1. The weather. It's been cold, dull and wet. You know that- we all know that.

2. Rabbits. We've not had rabbits for years, but in the past two weeks we've seen two. They've eaten the annual cornflowers which I sowed with love, and which were finally beginning to flower well. They've also eaten the Nigellas which had been beautiful. The nasturtiums are another target, and they've even bitten through the stem of a Japanese anenome leaving the stalks with flowers lying on the ground.

Of course, you might say that I can do something about the rabbits. Get someone to lurk around with a shotgun would be top of my list right now as I'm so fed up with them, Is that legal? Failing that, over the winter we'll have to dig in a rabbit fence around the main beds. We used to have these years ago, but as we've been rabbit free they've all be taken down.

Here's a photo of the border taken early August.

White Moss House garden

The penstemons planted from plugs in 2014 are looking good, and the mesembryanthemum that I bought from the WI market in 2014 is doing really well. I divided it into 3 clumps and each is flowering well ( it's the lilac coloured flower) Also, an erodium I bought last year from the WI market has been brilliant. I divided this into 3 as well, and it's been a really good colour source all through the summer. It tends to be a bit leggy, and I've realised that you need to cut the leaves off from below as they die. It's a member of the storksbills, a relative of the much loved cranesbills.

When it started to flower in June I wasn't sure of it's name. In the end, I described it to the lady at the WI market, from whom I'd bought I bought it last year. "Erodium"- flowers all summer, just keep deadheading.

Here's a picture of it taken early in June.

Erodium, White Moss House

Just a few more thoughts today, looking at the flowers above.

Plugs- don't bother with them ever again! Yes, I do still have a good showing of the Pentsemons, but I'd rather buy 6 larger good quality plants than fuss around with 24 plugs that need repotting. This is just my opinion. Nothing against Thompson and Morgan who sent excellent plugs.

Plants from Ambleside WI Country market are an excellent buy. They've been grown locally , so will love the conditions in my garden. Buy plants for a  Lake District garden from a Lake District gardener- it makes sense.

Final thought today, memo to self. Next year, don't both to sow seeds in seed trays and then plant out. Those sown directly into the border did just as well.

That's enough for one day. Back soon with more memos- mostly for me, but if they help you, you're welcome.

Holehird Gardens in the English Lake District - one of my favourite gardens in the world.

Holehird Gardens, Troutbeck, Cumbria, Lake District, June 2013 ( please credit me and link to this page if you wish to use this photo)

Holehird Gardens are in the grounds of Holehird, the Cheshire Home, just outside of Windermere. The gardens are run by the Lakes Horticultural Society, all volunteers. When I visited last week, they were clearing the tulips, most of which had just gone over their best. Along with everything else in the garden this year, they were two to three weeks late.

Entry is free. There are usually plants for sale at very reasonable prices. I bought 2 fuchsia and 3 scented geraniums. This place is an absolute gem. Here's the link to Holehird Gardens website.

For years it seemed as if no one knew about Holehird. Often I visited and found very few people there. However, word is spreading, and last week there were ate least 30 other visitors there! In theory, if it grows at Holehird, it will grow in my garden. Conditions are very similar.

If you visit the Lakes and love gardens, put this at the top of your list.

Border at Holehird, early June 2013. Please credit and link if you use this photo.

I wonder if HRH Prince Charles has to sweep deer droppings from his terrace?

I enjoyed Countryfile this week with HRH Price Charles risking his fingers as Julia Bradbury hammered in fence posts. I know he was wearing very, very thick gloves, but even so....it's nice to know the heir to the throne knows how important a good fence post is.

Our garden is quite well fenced, but it's a huge Lake District woodland hillside that backs onto farmers' fields full of sheep, and there's no way we can keep all the fences and walls sheep proof , especially at this time of year when they are desperate for anything fresh and green. Our daffodils obviously look very tasty.

Then there is our number 1 enemy.

Deer in White Moss hillside Lake District garden.

You looking at me?

Big deer, baby deer, 7 at a time, on their own, you name it, we've got it. I have just spent an hour sweeping up deer droppings from our side terrace, and I've been pulling my hair out- literally. The theory goes that if you spread human hair around the deer will stay away. Pure nonsense- they aren't scared at all. Still, we have to keep trying, as they've attacked the laurels, the gaultherea, the daffs and who knows what else whilst we've been away on holiday. Our return doesn't seem to have worried them.

We do still have some daffodils left though, and it's another amazingly beautiful sunny day here. The guests at Brockstone, our holiday cottage with amazing views are loving it.

We open our Grasmere B & B at White Moss House this weekend, and we are offering great reductions on our usual rates for last minute bookings ( must be made direct to sue@whitemoss.com, or by phone 015394 35295)

The views at the moment are superb- non of those leaf type things on the trees blocking out the lake and hills.

First post for 2 months

If you live in the UK, you'll appreciate why my garden blog has been empty for 2 months. The weather has been so wet that I would just have been writing endless moans about slugs, rotting flowers, no chance to get out in the garden, and lots more negative stuff. Now it's September and the sun has come out. Time for a mammoth weeding session in the herb garden. It's out with the hoe, and if I don't get around to picking up the weeds right away I'm hoping the sun will kill them off. There's no rain forecast, but the mornings are cold with a heavy dew, so the weeds might not shrivel as much as I want.Actually , most of the herbs are pretty healthy in spite of the rain. Ayway, here's to happy weeding

Here's a flower you can always rely on whatever the weather- taken this time last year, but looking just as good in 2012, the Nasturtium. So, hoe at the ready and I'm off out in the sun. I love weeding- read all about How to enjoy weeding- my top tips, right here.

The lavender is struggling

At this time of year the lavender should be looking and smelling fantastic, but with the wet weather we've been having, only some of the varieties have flowered. Others are trying their best, but the rain is spoiling the flowers. I'm not sure if I'll get a dry enough spell to pick the lavender flowers for drying this year. I love lavender, and I've written a whole article which you can see here all about How to grow and use Lavender Take a look for some beautiful pictures of lavender too.Here's one of the beautiful pictures of lavender as it should be.!

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I love lavender , but unless the rain stops and the sun comes out soon, I'll be without any dreed lavender for 2012.