Up at 6:05 after a reasonable sleep. Quite windy and a bit of rain overnight. Today was the day to finish off the yew hedge. I developed my own technique and it was very effective. After trimming the grass in preparation, I used the edger all along a section about 25 feet long to give it a “crisp” edge as Jim says. Next I used the how to undercut any sod and the entire surface to remove weeds and moss. Then I used a rubber rake to sharpen the edge and pick up any debris which I loaded in the wheelbarrow. This continued until I had completed both side of what turned out to a 100 foot hedge and three side hedges. These were some of the first work that Jim Buckland, Head Gardener, had done when he arrived in 1991. I also tore out what seemed like miles of English Ivy that had begun to invade the hedge. The whole job took from 8:00 until 2:30. It was detailed work but as I explained to one of the many complimentary visitors to the gardens, “We have high standards, because that is what visitors expect.”
Next I edged a tulip tree that had been allowed to overgrow with grass. This made it look really good and we’ll fill the space with mulch. The day was quite warm. By 9:30 I had my coveralls off and by 10:30 I had my sweat shirt off and worked the rest of the day in a t-shirt in the sun. High temperature was likely 18 with a pretty constant wind. Put away all the tools after cleaning them and knocked off at 4:00 the regular time. Caught the 4:17 bus (I really don’t need a car here). Sarah Wain, Jim’s wife picked me up at 5:45 to take me and two intern students from Holland to a dinner and tour of the Edward James Estate, which is now West Dean College. The house itself is full of paintings, tapestries, furniture, other antiques and a whole passel of stuffed heads, hunting trophies from a branch of the family. Part of the house was built in the mid 1500’s with two major additions since. Edward James’ Father bought the property in 1990 and Edward inherited it at about the age of 10 after his father’s sudden death. Upon turning 25 it was turned over to him. He spent most of his adult life out of England to avoid taxes. He apparently lived for 10 months of the year in Mexico where he built and eccentric estate. He was a great supporter of the arts and a patron of Dali and Magritte.
We toured the workshops of the college where classes in woodworking, pottery, tapestry and building wooden musical instruments are held. Jim treated us to a pint and then followed a lovely dinner in the cafeteria, but very upscale. After supper I walked back to the Selsey Arms and caught the bus home. I called a lady in West Dean about a room. She is charging me 20 pounds a night and all meals are included. This is a good deal. I’ll miss the West Faldie B&B but the owner is not having the room for rent anyway as she has a concert to attend. Off to bed at 9:45. This hard work is making me keep a regimented schedule and though I have experienced soreness in my legs and arms, am quickly becoming accustomed to it. Sarah keeps checking on me, I think to make sure they don’t lose an old guy on their watch.
Pictures today show the hedge I worked on and the tulip tree as well as the flower beds from yesterday.
Next I edged a tulip tree that had been allowed to overgrow with grass. This made it look really good and we’ll fill the space with mulch. The day was quite warm. By 9:30 I had my coveralls off and by 10:30 I had my sweat shirt off and worked the rest of the day in a t-shirt in the sun. High temperature was likely 18 with a pretty constant wind. Put away all the tools after cleaning them and knocked off at 4:00 the regular time. Caught the 4:17 bus (I really don’t need a car here). Sarah Wain, Jim’s wife picked me up at 5:45 to take me and two intern students from Holland to a dinner and tour of the Edward James Estate, which is now West Dean College. The house itself is full of paintings, tapestries, furniture, other antiques and a whole passel of stuffed heads, hunting trophies from a branch of the family. Part of the house was built in the mid 1500’s with two major additions since. Edward James’ Father bought the property in 1990 and Edward inherited it at about the age of 10 after his father’s sudden death. Upon turning 25 it was turned over to him. He spent most of his adult life out of England to avoid taxes. He apparently lived for 10 months of the year in Mexico where he built and eccentric estate. He was a great supporter of the arts and a patron of Dali and Magritte.
We toured the workshops of the college where classes in woodworking, pottery, tapestry and building wooden musical instruments are held. Jim treated us to a pint and then followed a lovely dinner in the cafeteria, but very upscale. After supper I walked back to the Selsey Arms and caught the bus home. I called a lady in West Dean about a room. She is charging me 20 pounds a night and all meals are included. This is a good deal. I’ll miss the West Faldie B&B but the owner is not having the room for rent anyway as she has a concert to attend. Off to bed at 9:45. This hard work is making me keep a regimented schedule and though I have experienced soreness in my legs and arms, am quickly becoming accustomed to it. Sarah keeps checking on me, I think to make sure they don’t lose an old guy on their watch.
Pictures today show the hedge I worked on and the tulip tree as well as the flower beds from yesterday.
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