We are back with the 8th monthly post about Croft Castle. It was a dull, overcast day when we made our August visit to Croft Castle, one of the National trust’s properties in the beautiful county of Herefordshire, where we looked at the gardens surrounding the castle.
On each visit we look for changes and the first thing we noticed this time was how busy the garden was simply because we had visited on a Bank Holiday so we should have expected it really.
The long mixed border was as colourful as always and the stars of August were the Japanese Anemones. They were ably assisted by a pink flowered Rubus, Asters, Rudbeckias and a groundcovering of autumn Cyclamen.
When we entered the walled garden we noticed that there was less colour then in July so we knew we would be looking for individual plants rather than the big effect.
The grapes in the little vineyard were beginning to swell but they are late to develop so the gardeners need a long Indian Summer if they are to get a good crop.
One border which was good, 50 yards long and about 10 feet deep, had been planted out with plants raised entirely from seeds or cutting to illustrate how little such a colourful border can cost the gardener.
Throughout the rest of the walled garden’s borders we found plenty of interesting plants to stop and enjoy.
The Rose Garden which in the earlier summer months was a mass of colour was just getting a second flush of blooms and hips were forming on many bushes.
In the Secret Garden blues dominated
On the way back to the car after another enjoyable day at Croft we noticed this lovely russet patch of fungi. A good way to end our day! Or next visit will be into the Autumn months so we should see some big changes throughout the gardens.
greenbenchramblings 