It's a Jungle Out There

Last week two very special visitors set up home over in our Plant Sales Centre. The magnificent (almost life-size!) mother and baby giraffe, created by Zimbolic have certainly been causing a bit of a stir amongst visitors since their arrival. Hand crafted in Zimbabwe, the beautiful giraffe sculptures are made from recycled metal oil drums and provide the artists with stable employment and a safe workshop environment.

Other, more conveniently sized sculptures for sale include ducks, hedgehogs, herons and wart hogs! An ideal Christmas present for someone who has everything.

Autumn's Here

It's true. Autumn has officially arrived. The garden team have spent the day securing the glass panels to the front of the tropical planthouse. The panels are essential to protect the tender plants from the threat of winter frosts. The panels will stay in place until all chance of frost has gone - sometime during late Spring 2010!

Don't Miss the Dahlias

As Autumn closes in and with the first frost forecast on Thursday don't miss the stunning display of Dahlias. The Red Border is living up to its name and is looking resplendent in the late summer sunshine.

But be quick. As soon as the frosts arrive, the Dahlias will be gone for another year.

Pumpkin Power

It's proving to be a bumper harvest in the Kitchen Garden's first year. Sarah and Jazz have just harvested over 45 pumpkins - just in time for our family Pumpkin Trail at the end of October.

Never tried pumpkin? Then visit our restaurant during October as the surplus pumpkins (of which there's sure to be a few) will be included in the autumnal menu. Delicious!

Autumn & Winter Events

We're pleased to announce the return of our Autumn & Winter events programme!

Autumn has arrived (a little early this year I feel) so it seems like the perfect time to let you all know about the exciting events we have coming up over the next few months.

Ranging from refreshing winter rambles, to wine tasting evenings, to a selection of workshops - we have the perfect event to suit everybody this Autumn!

Details of all our events are as follows:

Autumn Ramble & Hearty Lunch
Saturday 7 November 9.15am – 2pm
£30 per person.

Winter Ramble & Festive Feast
Saturday 5 December 9.15am – 2pm
£30 per person

Introduction to Garden Photography
Friday 13 November 9.15am – 4pm
£50 per person

The Kitchen Garden – One Year On
Friday 4 December 10.30am – 2pm
£20 per person

Who was Lawrence Johnston?
Friday 27 November 10.30am – 2pm
£20 per person

Pudding Passions
Friday 20 November 10.30am – 2pm
£20 per person

Wine Tasting Evening
Thursday 12 November 6.30pm – 9pm
£25 per person

GreenGrows the Holly
Friday 18 December 10.30am – 2pm
£20 per person

Winter Wreath Workshop
Friday 11 December 10.30am – 2pm
£20 per person

Last Chance Santa
Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 December
£3 per person

Advance booking is essential on all our events!

For more information on our events or to book a place call the office on 01386-438333 or visit the National Trust website www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hidcote

Intoxicated bees

We are getting lots of concerned visitors worried about the bees that are feeding off the nectar from the Eryngium giganteum, commonly called Miss Willmott's Ghost!

The bees are very busy feeding on the nectar - making them appear drunk [as drunk as a bee!] and lazy, eventually falling asleep to sleep off their over indulgence. I quizzed Eric our resident bee expert and he reassured me that the bees suffer no long term consequences and actually benefit from the sugar content of the nectar.

The bees that seem to be the busiest around the Eryngiums are the bumble bees with a few honey bees also benefiting.

Just for your information Miss Willmott's Ghost is so called because the Edwardian garden designer and friend of The Major's, Miss Ellen Willmott, use to collect the seed and when visiting friends or clients would scatter the seed. With the Eryngium being a bi-annual, it would germinate and flower the next year, so therefore becoming known as 'Miss Willmott's Ghost'

Regards

Glyn

Plant Survey

Yesterday Franklin Tancock the National Trust Plant Collections Curator inducted Sally Oats our contractor to the property. Sally can be seen with a GPS device in hand plotting the position of all woody and herbaceous planting. This survey will enable future digital interpretation of our plant collection. Sally will be working at Hidcote two or three days a week for several weeks. This is very exciting for us, and we are looking forward to managing the plant collection in a more professional.
Glyn

Statement from Franklin.
For many years it has been the objective of The National Trust to have a comprehensive record of the significant plants within its gardens and parks. This is no longer a dream but now a reality with the introduction of this plant database. It will improve the way we manage our collections and give a greater understanding of their needs. With your help we will begin to build the largest history of plants anywhere in the world for the enjoyment of future generations. The hope is that you will feel part of this milestone and enjoy the benefits of being able to share your information with your colleagues and fellow horticulturist everywhere. Franklin Tancock