Redgate Smithy B&B
~ The Garden through the Seasons ~

Spring...

After the cold, dark days of Winter (although some are very sunny!), the Spring brings colour back again; first with snowdrops, and then with daffodils, bluebells and other bulbs.

The warmer days of Summer bring more fullness to the garden, with lush greens and sprinkled colours blooming and changing in the flower beds, including foxgloves, poppies, roses and astilbes. The top patio is a lovely place to watch for swallows, and later in the evening, the fleeting glimpses of bats. And in the greenhouse, the fruits of labouring are hopefully maturing!

Come the Autumn, the misty September mornings and sunny bright days, the damper but often fine days of October, and then November signals the time for the Autumn maintenance to begin. This can be a wonderful time for being outside and working, and much can be done. There's nothing quite like watching the evenings slowly drawing in, and warming yourself by the occasional nice comforting bonfire!

The season starts settling in on the Old Privy... a little conservation project!

From time to time a woodland garden such as ours needs a little renewal assistance - not so much gardening, but a little more along the lines of woodland management and conservation. For instance, we have had to take down a couple of overgrown and out of control trees, in order to encourage the growth and future flourishing of others, such as some of the camellia trees have been struggling to get any light. Such work also encourages the growth of other smaller shrubs, and what will be the trees of the future.

And finally, the shorter days brought on by the arrival of Winter can bring not only the odd bright and frosty morning, but some beautiful surprises as well, and if it snows...