After a wonderful summer of peonies that have flowered better than ever, the garden is moving into Autumn. Hard work has been underway this year weeding the flower beds and cutting the hedges ; it has been possible to get into some of the ignored corners which now look much better. A thicket of winter honeysuckle has been cleared giving the alba roses that were being elbowed out a chance to flourish again. Jobs like that always prove to be more work than expected but its very satisfying when its done. Now I need to get on quickly with jobs like mulching the beds with well-rotted manure because already the ground is so wet after recent rain that repeated journeys with the wheel barrow turn it to a quagmire.

I have had some success in my search for Kelway’s herbaceous peonies, although it is very sad how many seem to be lost. I have just returned from a round Britain tour with my spade in the car collecting some that have been kept safe in gardens. People are very, very kind. A huge thank you to Michelle Cain, head gardener at NT Sissinghurst, Amy at NT Anglesey Abbey, Sophie and Sarah at Chatsworth and all the private gardeners who have given me plants. Some of the peonies need to flower so I can verify their identity; lockdown put paid to my intention to go and see them in June. But my fingers are crossed that they will prove to be correct. There must also be a very special thank you to Prague Botanic Gardens. This is a very conservation minded institution staffed by very kind people. Definitely a place to visit if you ever get the chance. I am a step closer to my aim of creating a National Collection of herbaceous peonies bred by Kelways but the hunt goes on!