Season of mellow fruitfulness

The cool and damp August has served the landscape well, with the grass still green (and growing!) and the flower beds in the Temple of Bacchus and Small Walled Garden holding their own in spite of the recent high winds.

But the main attraction now is the range of fruits and berries to be seen, from the crab apples outside the Visitor Centre, to the apples and plums on the Walled Garden Walls. The Small Walled Garden also displays a range of fruit, vegetables and gourds, grown as ornamentals in the 18th century but among our favourites treats today: cranberries, runner beans, aubergines and gourds.

Out in the landscape, look out for the grapes ripening on the Vineyard.  Mark Ebdon, Estate Manager, reports that at this stage the crop is small but looks to be of good quality. Watch this space for next month's update, and come and help us pick the harvest in mid-October.

As the month goes on, we should start to see the first flush of autumn colour in the trees, especially the North American species featured in the Chinese Bridge Peninsula and the western end of the Elysian Plains.  These will be the hints of what we hope will be a profusion of colour and berries in October, a true season of 'mists and mellow fruitfulness'.