Winter in the Gardens

With the winter season well and truly upon us, the elements never seem to deter the staff at the hotel. Whilst autumn saw the harvesting of the fruit and pumpkins, not forgetting the late season carrots, we also tidied up the well used and much loved herb garden for the onslaught of winter. 

November onwards Libby & Des and any spare members of hotel staff were busy planting Narcissus & Crocus in flower beds and tubs around the hotel. The tender potted plants including an abundance of Geraniums & Fuchsias were wheeled back into our poly tunnel, protected for winter.

‘Lovers walk’ where many a bride & groom have ‘walked the plank’ is renowned for its huge white aerum lilies & blue agapanthus which were also safely tucked away.

The winter blew in very hard and everything was iced over and still apart from Libby feeding the garden birds with scraps from the kitchen & Henry mucking out the donkeys (we have to keep him busy!).

On Saturday 18^th December the snow fell thick & we had a real white wedding. The bride looked wonderful & the guests were radiant next to the log burning fires – fortunately the groom was a local farmer. He pushed through the snow on his big red Massey Ferguson tractor, which looked great for the wedding photos in front of our Oak Tithe Barn.

As soon as the snow melted away it was all action again. Leaves were raked, paths cleared, compost & donkey manure applied to the chive beds & herb gardens. Now the first white tips of snowdrops are pushing through already with the daffodils & crocus following close on.

So, things never come to a halt at the Hundred House(Apart from Henry when he leans on the bar and sips his ‘Ironbridge Foundry Gold’ bitter). Next time you are visiting, allow a little time for a romantic tour of the flower & herb gardens. The bars are open all day & we are open every day for lunch and dinner.