Our Garden Focus – A look at December

It’s not just the end of a calendar year here at Helmingham this month, it’s the end of an era. Cathy, who’s been part of the gardening team since 2007, will be retiring just before Christmas. Cathy has worked tirelessly alongside the existing team, previous Head Gardener Roy, Xa, numerous volunteers, amongst many others from other departments. She has been integral in maintaining the garden as a whole to the highest standards, but has always excelled with the productive plots, the vegetables, the ‘tunnels’ (sweet peas, gourds and runner beans), the propagation and raising of plants, and essentially anything else she has put her hand to. Her legacy as a custodian of the gardens here is obvious and long lasting, and will be a reference point going forward in regards to standards. It is not an understatement to say that many of these areas are as inspiring as they are because of her input, dedication and skill. She has been incredibly adaptable to change and has always been a supportive presence to the team and a great representative of Helmingham and its values. She will be greatly missed but we wish her the very best for her retirement, travels and more time spent with family.

In the gardens, we have been continuing with the seemingly ever-present job of wall training the roses and various shrubs around the Walled Garden and the Estate Office. Chris has been doing an incredible job with this, alongside volunteers and other team members when the schedule permits, and his tenacity and persistence with this is admirable.

The sowing and pricking out of our hardy annuals has been completed, so all being well expect to see ladybird poppies, beths poppy, Ammi, Agrostemma, Daucus, Larkspur, Bupleurum and Cerinthe flowering next June in the borders. We sow into seed trays at the end of October and beginning of November, place on the heated bench and begin pricking out when the seedlings have fully expanded cotyledons. Some end up in 9cm pots as individuals, such as Agrostemma, whereas others end up in modular trays and may well be potted on again before March when they will eventually be planted into the garden in their final locations. In the meantime they get placed into our cold frames to be exposed to the cold but not the harshest of winter’s weather, in turn making squat, stocky healthy plants. These get watered in heavily when we prick them out but beyond this they receive very little water, if any, as the plants’ rate of growth at this time of year is slow and we don’t want them to rot in excesses of water.

Bulb planting is underway and we have begun in earnest within the Walled Garden. We are adding to our border displays with a few new varieties to us, such as Avignon, whilst reverting back to more pastel displays in specific parts of the garden, such as the Parterre. Sophie has composed an eclectic, colourful cut flower mix for the hall which we look forward to flowering every year – it always exceeds our expectations and I’m sure Spring 2026 will be another vintage year. More fritillaries have been added to the meadow and we are increasing the bulb inclusions down the length of the Apple walk; Scilla, dwarf Narcissus, Muscari, Crocus and Chionodoxa. The weather hasn’t been too favourable in regards to temperature so we have waited longer than usual to begin planting to reduce the risk of tulip fire. It’s also been quite wet, which again is not ideal for planting when it comes to getting on the soil, even with boards to protect the ground.

This month will be a continuation of the above: bulb planting, both in pots and the ground, border work and editing, wall training of shrubs and roses and a bit more shrub and tree planting.