Views around the grounds and Walled Garden - 19/09/2012.

The year marches on and Autumn approaches. The days are getting shorter but the work required at this historic National Trust property continues. Seasonal tasks continue and the property continues to provide a wide variety of events for the visitors. The temperature was in single figures as I reached Wallington and the sun was shining with a bright blue sky. The 'Indian Summer' has not materialised yet!

It was another busy day working on the path beside West Lawn and along Lime Avenue towards the children's Adventure Playground. I have been working on the paths for three days over the last three weeks, weeding and edging the lawn. It is slow work but it is good to look back along the stretch I have finished to see how well it looks. The gardeners were cutting the grass on East and West Lawn and the grounds are looking in great condition.

Autumn colours are starting to appear in small patches around the House. The weather remained sunny and dry for all of my time here today and I managed to finish a good stretch of the path. Visitor numbers are starting to drop off as the year comes to a close.

I took the following photographs before I started work this morning:

Clock Tower and Courtyard.

A piece of the Giant's Causway on East Lawn.

Griffin Heads in the early morning sun.

Griffin heads on East Lawn.

Garden Pond.

A touch of white in the Walled Garden.

Colour in the Walled Garden.

Looking over Garden Pond towards Portico Walk.

Before and after my work.

Views around the grounds and Walled Garden - 12/09/2012

It did not look as though it would be a very good day with early rain and dark looking clouds. The closer I got to Wallington the sky got slightly clearer and there was some blue sky. The rain had stopped as I reached the car park and I made my way through the property to the Walled Garden.

This week at Wallington there was a group on a working holiday and I was to continue edging and weeding the path on the south side of the House and West Lawn. A school party were out about all day with their teachers and helpers. 

At one point during the morning, I had to put on my waterproof clothing to continue working on the paths. It stayed dry during the afternoon and there was some bright sunny spells. Apart from the school party the property was not very busy. I managed to edge and weed about 100 metres of the path and I am expecting to continue with this next week.

The following photographs were taken before I started work this morning:

House entrance.

House from East Lawn.

Colour beside East Lawn.

New paths under construction in East Wood.

Serpentine border.

Scaramouche - Walled Garden statue.

Mary Pool in the Walled Garden.

Centurion - statue in the Walled Garden.

Upper Terrace in the Walled Garden.

Gate to River Walk.

Rain in the Walled Garden.

Lower Terrace in the Walled Garden.

Views around the grounds and Walled Garden - 07/09/2012

My first visit to Wallington in September was to be on a Friday this week. On my journey over, the sky looked very black and threatened rain. It was quite breezy all day which helped to keep any rain away. With the schools returning back from the Summer holidays this week, the property was very quiet. 

Continuing on from last week, I was given the task of edging the Jubilee Border on the south side of the House. This was to take all of my time here today. All of the lawns have been cut again this week and the edging work really sets off the grass against the paths and borders. 

The work takes a great deal of time and as you look at the great expanse of grass and paths, you wonder will it ever be finished! Even when it is all complete, it will be time to start all over again, if the warm wet weather continues. 

I took the following photographs before I started work this morning:

Courtyard and Clock Tower.

House and South Drive.

Jubilee Border.

Jubilee Border.

Looking along South Drive towards West Lawn.

The Four Griffin Heads on East Lawn.

Walled Garden Colour.

After the Roses.

Looking over the Mary Pool to the Lower Terrace.

Mary Pool stonework.

Mary Pool.

Lower Terrace of the Walled Garden.

Lower Terrace of the Walled Garden.

Plum Border in the Walled Garden.

Garden Pond.