The Gardens of Wellspring
SUMMER/AUTUMN SEASON
Courtyard Garden
We have had a reasonably good crop of fruit, veg and flowers this year, and we are still harvesting. Some of the produce has been sold, while others have been used in the kitchen.
The static (everlasting) flowers are being picked as they come into bloom and dried naturally – they will make cheerful displays in the reception area of the Wellspring through the winter months. Sweetpea flowers have also been in abundance, filling the Wellspring reception with their pungent perfume. The more they are picked, the more they flower.
Marigolds have given a bright and cheerful display for many months now. Supporters of the Wellspring are already preparing to sow seeds for another sunny display next year.
The early cauliflowers proved a welcome change in the kitchen, and there has been an abundance of courgettes and green beans. We have dug up quite a few new potatoes from ‘rogue’ potatoes left over from last year. Also a ‘rogue’ tomato that we allowed to grow wild producing nearly 4lbs of tomatoes, of which we sold a few red ones and with the rest, which were green, we made chutney to be sold (the plant developed blight so the tomatoes had to be picked before they became inedible).
We are still picking raspberries, courgettes, and rhubarb. The black grapes are also looking promising.
Another experiment this year is the use of green manure. We have sown mustard seed, which has started to grow, and this will over-winter and be dug in in the Spring before it goes to seed. The roots of the mustard plant are matted and nutritious, so by digging them in helps break up the soil, improving its structure, and adds nutrient at the same time, ready for planting veg etc. later in the Spring.
Balcony Garden
The marigolds in the pots on the balcony are doing well, but although the herbs did well at the beginning of the season, they are looking a little sad now – maybe they didn’t get enough feed.
Front Entrance Garden
This garden has been neglected slightly this year because we have been concentrating on new ideas for the courtyard garden, but even so it has produced a colourful display, and because of the attention given to it in past years the garden almost looks after itself, apart from the occasional trim and weeding.
Car Park Gardens
These also, we are sorry to say, have been neglected this year because of the time spent on the courtyard garden. We have managed a bit of weeding, but it now needs a really good prune and thinning out, which will be done during the winter months and early Spring. Even so, it still adds colour and a natural environment around the Wellspring building.
The plan is to bring the courtyard to a point where we are just planting a little, weeding, harvesting, and pruning; and the gardens around the outside of the building needing just weeding and pruning (they are at that point now, we just need to get the courtyard up and running efficiently).
If anyone would like to join our Gardening Club or can spare a few hours on a Tuesday, we meet (weather permitting) in the Chat Café at 1 p.m. Please ask for Margaret at the Wellspring reception, or enquire in the café.
Please wear suitable shoes and gardening gloves if you have them.
If you would like to contact us