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SNOWDROPS EMERGE IN THE WOODLAND AROUND GILMERTON HOUSE

FREEZING FEBRUARY

There is no getting away from the fact that these last two months have been really really cold and for the first time since we've all started work in the garden we've had a couple of sessions cancelled due to the weather.

That said we have done an enormous amount of work since December - our fences for our espaliered apples are now finished and the trees planted. We took the first step in pruning these young trees down to a strong bud to make the first tier of our espaliered planting - not a task for the faint hearted but everyone had a go at this and we will wait to see the results in a few weeks time.

F O L L O W on F A C E B O O K

F O L L O W on T W I T T E R

F O L L O W on I N S T A G R A M

MUDDY CONDITONS IN THE FRUIT GARDEN!

Despite the pretty horrid conditions we now have the beginnings of our espaliered walk ways that border the fruit garden. Behind Helen and Susan you can see the big corner post of our line of Lord Roseberry trees and just to the left of Jerry our James Grieve on very dwarfing rootstock that we will be training as ballerinas around the curve of our circular entrance to the garden.

The opposite end of the garden has a row of Seaton House and our two lines of stepovers - Jupiter and Bloody Ploughman are either side of the west border along in front of the strawberries.

Shed Update

Its been really exciting seeing our new shed - purchased with the help of East Lothian Council - go up in just days with some brilliant and very professional work from our volunteers. Blue, Charlie and Harald have made short work of the construction with Angela and Di helping with the painting and final positioning of the roofing boards yesterday.

We now just have the felt to put on the roof and hope to be using this new facility by the end of the month. Some of our hand tools will be stored in here but chiefly it will serve as a comfy bright space for volunteer break times and indoor tutorials.

Delighted to welcome new volunteer Liz to the garden this month - our sessions are still Mondays 10 till 1pm and Thursdays 1pm till 4pm - all welcome!

Please get in touch if you need any more information about volunteering in the garden or becoming one of our volunteer mentors. This spring is going to see us incredibly busy with planting out our flowering perennials and weeding the fruit garden so all help gratefully recieved.

June

contact me on 01620 880207 or email june@gilmertonhouse.com
Volunteer Development and Project Management