Margaret's Garden Journal for September 2011

Red holly berries mingle with summer flowers

I abandoned my own garden at the beginning of the month and went on a 5 day coach tour of the Gardens of Kent. I was a little handicapped by my left leg which is waiting to have a pin removed and a whole hip replaced. However, I still managed to enjoy it despite the atrocious weather.
My favourite visit was to Batemans, home for over 30 years to my favourite author.

I can just imagine how Kipling must have felt when he first saw this isolated 17th-century house, with its mullioned windows and oak beams, set in the woodlands of the Sussex Weald. His wife apparently was not so impressed at the prospect of living so far from civilisation. The property is fortunate to be under the protection of two societies, - the National Trust that owns and maintains it and the Kipling Society that provides enough help and information to keep one occupied for a week let alone the five hours available to our party.

It rained much of the day we were there but I managed to get out between showers to wander round the gardens that provided the settings for Puck of Pook's Hill and Rewards and Fairies and inspired The Glory of the Garden. (I've put a copy of that poem on my blog http://acoarseleicestershiregardener.blogspot.com/2011/10/batemans.html You can download Puck of Pook's Hill and Rewards and Fairies for free from Kindle Store)

Back home there had not been as much damage as I had feared from the gales but despite the heavy rain the fierce winds had kept the garden dry. I have neen very disappointed in the dahlias I bought to replace the ones killed in last winter's frosts. Last year's dahlias that did survive have done well

To do this month

1. Buy bulbs

2. Put roof on large shed

3. Check apples

4. Repair side lawn

Later Comments

1.Bulbs ordered

2. Roof on.

3. Late apples not yet ripe

4.Not done