From Thursday, 1 May The Stables restaurant is open every day. For all enquiries please see www.thestableshospitality.com
Here at Hestercombe we have our very own hair salon, but we're missing one crucial thing... a hair stylist to run…
it seems that I haven't quite mastered adding a photo to my blog... so following from the last one, here is a picture of Jessica Redhead (left) and Hannah Phillips (right)
I think that it is about time we introduced two of our valuable team members.... the students. Jessica Redhead (on the left) and Hannah Philips (on the right) Both started here in September 2012 and will be with us until the end of August 2013. They alternate week by week between the formal gardens team and the landscape gardens team. This enables them both to get a real feel for estate and garden work and puts them on the right route for their further career aspirations. Jess is halfway through a degree in Countryside management at Harper Adams University and this is her placement year. Hannah has just completed a Foundation degree in Horticulture at Bicton college. They are both here to gain some hands-on experience and practical skills, something that very few colleges offer these days. In return for their hard work they get free accommodation on site and a small amount of pay. We are only a small team of 6 gardeners so adding two new students every year massively changes the dynamics of the team. They are both a pleasure to work with, and with two female students this is the first time that the team has been 'girl-heavy' which is refreshing! Part of the joy of having students is tapping into their renewed energy and enthusiasm for the subject. They remind us oldies about why we wanted to start this profession in the first place. All the gardens team are keen to impart all of their knowledge onto them and Jess and Hannah are like sponges! We set them a plant identification every week and they have to learn all the Latin names of between 5-10 plants, so they very quickly get to know the garden and understand the seasons. And they are keen to please and they have quickly learnt how to please the gardens team with their baking skills! Well done girls- you are doing a cracking job! Just keep asking us all questions and learn as much as you can....... and keep baking!!!!
So it did snow in the end. And we've got some gorgeous pictures from wandering around the landscape gardens. As I'm sure you are aware, the gardens & cafe will remain open as long as at least one of us can get in! If you are worried about opening times this weekend, call the shop directly on 01823 413769, or the cafe to check yourself in for some hearty lunches to restore all that energy lost from rolling around in the snow (!) on 01823 414197. So here's a few arty shots to get you in the mood for snow! Looking back over the Pear Pond with the Octagon in sight The Temple surrounded by snow laden branches & a path marked out through the Victorian Shrubbery past the Cedar Tree.
The snow has come down all morning and the gardens look lovely. Trees are all dressed up in white and the formal…
Will it...won't it... the met office has issued snow warnings but it seems to change hourly. Fear not! We are open…
Have you visited Hestercombe's play area? Are you looking for something to do with the children at Hestercombe? We…
”Fascinating . . . filled with deadly accurate characterizations by an author who knows both the Portman’s and their social circle from the inside.” The Sydney Herald "بناء درجة كبيرة من التشويق ... المندوب يسلم له في المادة شاطر أشهر. إجازته الممتدة من تاريخ شديد اللهجة انتهى ". The Saudi Sun “Packs a wallop . . . The timing, following on the recent holiday celebrations atHestercombe, makes it all the more compelling.” USA TODAY “LEGATE HAS A FIELD DAY . . . The Grand Ball of 1897 grabs the reader quickly and becomes impossible to put down.” The Vancouver Herald Some Recent comments about Kim Legate's latest insights on the History of Hestercombe. The Grand Ball of 1897. Coulda been the Whisky Mighta been the Gin Coulda have been the 3 or 4 six packs I don't know but look at the mess I'm in My heads like a football I think I'm gunna die! Tellin me oh me oh my Wasn't that a party! (The Irish Rovers 1981 hit single, Wasn’t That a Party) The exact extent to which the Portmans and their 200 invited guests indulged in spirits and other intoxicating pleasures at the Hestercombe fete of January 1897 is not known, although the general merriment generated by the affair quickly become the talk of the district. ‘One of the most brilliant gatherings that have ever taken place in Somerset’ is how the Somerset County Gazette described it. The following week the Gazette made a reference to the highly decorated ‘apartments’, a programme of Viennese music, satin ball gowns, tiaras studded with diamonds and sapphires and a guest list that included the cream of Taunton society. Constance Mary Portman, now aged 43, was the bell of the ball. Holding a bouquet of roses and Lily of the Valley, she greeted her guests resplendent in a silk gown, accented by a bodice trimmed with silver Indian embroidery and chiffon. During an interview 18 August 2009, Margaret Ford, (daughter of Andy Ford, Head Gardener at Hestercombe 1951-56), recalled that Mrs. Portman’s entrance to any room was well announced: ‘You could hear her coming in with all her bracelets rattling. She had gold bracelets from here (points to her wrist) to here (points to her elbow).’ The men, contrastingly, were more preoccupied with comfort: ‘Mr. (E. W. B.) Portman and several other gentlemen among the guests wore hunting costume.’ The capacious dining room had been adapted to serve as the ballroom and the roomy entrance hall was filled with ‘choice’ tropical plants (crotons, palms & bamboos) and fitted out as a lounge. Mrs. Potter, the housekeeper, was credited with ‘the completeness of the arrangements’ but it was Mr. A. J. Keen, the head gardener who was praised for the excellence of the floral decorations. Dancing commenced at 10 o’clock and did not conclude until four the following morning, fuelled, evidently by refreshment and periodic visits to the well-stocked supper rooms, which were of course a priority for E.W.B Portman.
January is when we start much of the pruning in the Formal Gardens. This week we have started pruning the vines and the Magnolia that grow against the walls. The Magnolia is grown to provide a green leafy covering for the tall walls such as those by the South Walk and surrounding the Rotunda. The way we prune these Magnolia is to encourage this green leafy growth and not necessarily flowers. Each stem is cut back to three or four leaf nodes on this years growth, so we don't cut into the old wood. This keeps the Magnolia looking green and bushy whilst keeping it tight to the wall. The above photos show Rosie and I using long handled pruners and ladders to prune the Magnolia that grows against the wall of Hestercombe House. Grape vines also grow against the walls and up the pillars of the pergola. At this time of year we cut all the lateral shoots back to two buds. The lateral shoots are the side branches that grow out from the main stem. We use secateurs to cut just above the bud, with a cut that slopes away from the bud. We also tie in any new stems where there might be a gap. The vines on the walls are trained into a fan shape, whereas the ones on the pergola spiral up around the pillars. Again, the vines are only grown for their leaf cover, not their fruit, although some will produce small bunches of grapes. Above: The vine on the South Walk before and after pruning and training. Above: Jess is one of our students who is getting to grips with vine pruning on the East Rill. Also in the garden this week we have been trying to solve the problem of the flooding by the Orchard. It would appear that the culvert (a drain that allows water to flow under ground) has become blocked thus causing the water to flow over the ground and the path instead. A couple of test holes were dug by hand but we could not pinpoint the exact location of the blockage. A digger and digger driver were brought in to investigate further and I shall keep you posted on the progress. Above left: Luke and Ben try to find the blockage using drain rods. Above right: Ben tries to see the blockage from the other side using a light whilst Claire keeps the wires out of the water.
There are several recent posts on the blog section of our website, why not have a look? Jo has put up some pics of the…
Happy new year! The new year has brought with it some beautiful flowers to brighten up the gloomy days. The following can all be found near the path as you walk through the Shrubbery: Above: Helleborus x hybridus or lenten rose is always a welcome sight. They can be found growing on the right hand side of the Shrubbery path as you head towards the Octagon Summerhouse, and also in the Great Plat in the Formal Garden. We chop the old leaves down in the autumn so that you can see the flowers as soon as they emerge. Above: Lonicera fragrantissima is the winter honeysuckle. It is a bushy deciduous shrub that has very sweetly smelling flowers. It can be found on the left of the Shrubbery path just before you reach the Octagon Summerhouse. Above: Chaenomeles speciosa 'Nivalis' is a white flowering Japanese quince and can be found just opposite the winter honeysuckle. Above: Jasminum nudiflorum is the winter jasmine. In the Shrubbery it is grown on mass by the zigzag path that goes towards the Mill Pond. It can easily be controlled by pruning it back after it has flowered using secateurs or shears.
Philip, our Chief Executive here at Hestercombe, joined the list of names honoured with an MBE last weekend in recognition of his services to Historic Garden Restoration. It is a well deserved appreciation of the 20 years of work he has devoted to recovering Hestercombe Gardens. It's a really exciting moment for Philip and for Hestercombe as a whole and we are all really pleased as it means greater national recognition for Hestercombe and a very promising start to 2013. Philip has shared his gratitude with the team, and hopes to continue the progression of Hestercombe with some exciting developments planned for 2013. As a small celebration we all enjoyed some delicious fresh pastries this morning and Philip recounted the story of opening the letter from the crown one month ago, only to be sworn to secrecy!
