Head Gardener's Newsletters
The following Newsletters have been written by Tony Ewins, Head
Gardener at Dunorlan Park.
Pages in this Section
Head Gardener's Newsletter June
2010
June has been another marvellous month for
visiting Dunorlan Park. The weather’s been really excellent
and visitor numbers high. The sun and light winds have made
boating on the lake very popular and the café has been
busy.
Head Gardener's Newsletter May
2010
This has been a fine month to visit
Dunorlan. The weather has been brilliant and the park is
looking superb with so many late spring/early summer shrubs
bursting into flower. Most weekends have been extremely busy
- perhaps this is the start of a long hot summer.
Head Gardener's Newsletter April
2010
This month’s weather has been excellent for
visitors, with very few April showers and several weeks of warm or
even hot days, many people have visited the park. Although
there have been some rather chilly winds blowing in from the north
west, this hasn’t deterred visitors.
Head Gardener's Newsletter March
2010
This month the weather has slowly improved and temperatures have
risen. Visitor numbers have risen too, especially at weekends
when the park has been very busy. The boats on the lake have
been well used, as has the café.
Head Gardener's Newsletter February
2010
February has been a busy month in the park, in
terms of both increasing visitor numbers and volumes of
work.
Although many mornings have started with quite
sharp frosts, this hasn’t deterred the many regular dog walkers and
keep fit enthusiasts. A number of runners come every day to
enjoy a peaceful run around the lake.
Head Gardener's Newsletter January 2010
For the first half of the month Dunorlan Park
was, like most of the country, suffering from freezing temperatures
– sometimes down to minus 10, and of course the second deluge of
snow left us with a very thick blanket for well over a week.
Normally the grounds can be quite quiet throughout January, but
this year the heavy snow made the grounds an ideal place for people
to generally have great fun. There were some fine examples of
snowmen and snow ducks around the park. As the weather
experts said, it was perfect snow for building with.
Head Gardener's Newsletter December
2009
Last month’s very wet weather was a real contrast to this
month’s extreme cold and sub-zero night-time temperatures. There
has been the added bonus of some very heavy snowfalls. Although the
latter is fantastic for sledging, making snowmen and having a great
time, the freezing conditions have obviously brought unusually
harsh freezing and icy conditions. Visitors must keep off the lake
at all times.
Head Gardener's Newsletter November
2009
Well, at last the rains have come after what seemed a long dry
spell, although it would have been better if it had not come down
in such deluges and in such short a space of time. This has caused
difficulties, with a number of flooded areas in the park and poor
ground conditions. Much of Dunorlan Park has underlying clay or
sandstone and both of these subsoils make it difficult for water to
drain away and percolate down to the lower aqua levels.
Head Gardener's Newsletter October
2009
Normally by now the weather has started to deteriorate quite
badly and Dunorlan Park starts to quieten down, but not this year.
October has seen some really lovely fine and sunny days. With the
weather so good, especially over the school holiday week, the
grounds have been extremely busy and well used, as have the boats
and the café.
Head Gardener's Newsletter September
2009
September has again been a great month for visitors to Dunorlan
Park, with endless days of warm and sunny weather. Both August and
September have been brilliant for the school holiday period and the
park has been extremely busy, especially at weekends. Most areas
have been well used, especially the open main lawn areas below the
cafe. This is a favourite area for people to picnic, play games and
relax.
Head Gardener's Newsletter August 2009
Much of August has been mostly dry, very sunny and very hot at
times, rather like a number of other months this year.
Dunorlan has been extremely busy most of the time as there have
been very few days of rain to spoil everyone’s day out in the
park.
Head Gardener's Newsletter July 2009
Well, this month’s weather was not quite as good as last month’s,
but thankfully the sun has shone on lots of days and Dunorlan has
again been very busy. Many visitors with children on school
holidays have been taking full advantage of the fine weather.
The lake has been busy with many people boating and the occasional
fisherman enjoying sitting by the lake. Many families have
enjoyed playing cricket, football and badminton together.
Head Gardener's Newsletter June 2009
Well, this month has certainly lived up to its name as ‘flaming
June’, as there have been several weeks of very hot and sunny days.
Due to the beautiful weather the park has been very busy this
month, with many visitors enjoying the opportunity to go boating on
the lake, playing football and cricket or just picnicking and
relaxing on the grass and enjoying the landscape. Those of
you that regularly visit the park will have seen some really fine
displays of colour this month from the many different shrubs and
herbaceous plants.
Head Gardener's Newsletter May 2009
May has been a really good month to visit Dunorlan to see many of
its lovely plants in flower. The park has looked really beautiful
and has been a real blaze of colour, beauty and scent.
Head Gardener's Newsletter April
2009
April has been an excellent month in Dunorlan. There have been one
or two April showers but overall it has been fine and sunny, though
a little cool at times.
Head Gardener's Newsletter March
2009
This has been a great month to visit the park and many people have
enjoyed its splendour. Although at times the rain fell and the wind
blew, and some early mornings were far from warm, the park has
looked superb as spring started to unfold and our plants have
started to flower.
Head Gardener's
Newsletter February 2009
Last month I wrote about a long period of freezing temperatures and
a few light snow flurries. Well, this month Dunorlan Park
changed from a frozen wasteland to a snow covered picture postcard
and looked fantastic.
Head
Gardener's Newsletter January 2009
January has been a difficult month with periods of heavy rain
causing flooding, and then sub-zero temperatures resulting in icy
paths. It has certainly been quite a challenge to keep the park
open, safe and running smoothly.
Head
Gardener's Newsletter December 2008
In the winter months in the park there are some really lovely early
morning sunrises, as this picture shows - the beauty of a rising
sun with the mist drifting across the lake.
Head
Gardener's Newsletter November 2008
I wrote last month about the wonderful autumn colours here in
the park. Well, although many of the leaves are now falling, there
is still plenty of stunning colour to see. As the sun rises over
the park, the autumn colours really come alive and change the whole
atmosphere of the park – often creating a photographer’s
paradise.
Head
Gardener's Newsletter October 2008
Dunorlan Park has been again well visited this month. October
has been a reasonably dry month with plenty of sunny warm days and
people have taken full advantage of the park. There have been a few
odd downpours, but this hasn’t put people off visiting.
Head Gardener's Newsletter September
2008
Like many months this year, September started wet - very wet in
fact, but as the month continued the days became drier. The second
half of September was mainly dry and warm with lovely blue skies
and thin white clouds, with plenty of warm sun.
Head Gardener's Newsletter August 2008
August has been another month of sun and rain – at times copious
amounts of rain. It does seem that our English summers are getting
wetter, perhaps we’ll get an Indian summer, or at least several
sunny days in a row.
Head Gardener's
Newsletter July 2008
This was a lovely sight to greet us on a recent Monday morning -
clear blue sky, a gentle east wind and a balloon slowly drifting
over the fountain, across the lake and then into the field next to
the park.
Head Gardener's
Newsletter June 2008
June has been a difficult month for us and for the many visitors
who spent time in Dunorlan. The good old English weather has been
somewhat up and down, one moment it’s blazing hot and then the next
it’s pouring down with rain and every one is running for cover in
the café! Despite the changing weather, the park has been well
visited. The dog owners enjoy the quiet, peaceful early mornings
whilst later visitors hire boats, walk in the parkland and gardens,
relax or play informal games.
Head Gardener's
Newsletter May 2008
May in Dunorlan has been beautiful, with some really fine floral
displays, especially by Rhododendron ponticum, with its varying
shades of pale blue through to dark purple flowers.
Head Gardener's
Newsletter April 2008
April this year has brought copious amounts of rain and a little
snow which lasted just long enough to give its own touch of beauty
to the park.
Head Gardener's
Newsletter March 2008
Although March has been pretty wet here (about 80mm of rain fell
throughout the month), the park has been very busy. Early risers
have especially enjoyed some beautiful cold, frosty mornings. The
sunny warm days have seen visitors enjoying the open grass areas
for picnicking, ball games or just relaxing.
Head
Gardener's Newsletter February 2008
As spring nears and there are signs of winter breaking, leaf buds
start to burst and life is about to emerge. But we’re still having
some very cold frosty days and heavy rain. As the saying goes,
“We’re not out of the woods yet” and this can be true throughout
late February, March and April. Although the elements try to make
it hard for us to keep on top of things, Dunorlan still looks
wonderful whatever the weather.
Head
Gardener's Newsletter January 2008
When the Rains came.
Head
Gardener's Newsletter December 2007
Last month I spoke about the wonderful sunsets here. Well, here you
can see one of the stunning sunrises.
Head
Gardener's Newsletter November 2007
November has been a fabulous month for photography; the sun setting
low in the winter sky brought an array of wonderful colours through
the native trees at Dunorlan. Those of us fortunate enough to work
here, witness the sun rise and set.
Head
Gardener's Newsletter October 2007
The park has looked lovely this month with some excellent displays
of autumn colour, especially from our English oaks and Beech, both
giving a stunning display of rustic browns.
Head
Gardener's Newsletter September 2007
A dry August, with only short periods of rain (although heavy)
through September, has given us time to get working on the shrub
borders; edging, weeding and forking where needed.
Head Gardener's
Newsletter August 2007
August has been quite a dry month which has been welcome after all
the rain we seem to have had this summer. There have been plenty of
sunny, warm days and there’s been a great increase in people using
the park. The start of the school holidays has seen many people
having picnics and playing field games as well as using boats on
the lake, spending time at the café and enjoying walks around the
ornamental garden and meadow fields.
Head Gardener's
Newsletter July 2007
July has been a busy time in Dunorlan Park. The first phase of the
wildflower swathe through the meadow area is under way and the dead
wood has been cleared from the large lake island and top-dressed
with fresh soil.
Head Gardener's
Newsletter June 2007
This month again we have had copious amounts of rain. Although it
has been extremely wet, the park has still had many visitors
enjoying the grounds whatever the weather. The park still looks
stunning even when it is dull and raining and we have had some
amazing skies. The lake has been kept near to its maximum level and
the cascade has looked good with the additional rain. The boating
hasn’t been as busy as usual, but many people have braved the wind
and rain and, on the rare sunny days, the lake has seen large
numbers of keen boaters. Many of the paths have taken a bashing as
a result of the heavy rain and repairs will be made.
Head Gardener's
Newsletter May 2007
This month in the park has seen the best flowering display since
the restoration. Many of the young plants are starting to flower
really well and the regenerated growth on many of the older plants
resulted in a real blaze of colours. Although we had many days of
rain, the park was been very busy when the sun did pop out.
Head Gardener's
Newsletter April 2007
April has been a very dry and sunny
month, although there have also been some cool east winds. Many
visitors have enjoyed the very warm, even hot days, and the boats
have been in constant use. The good weather has also been great for
picnics, ball games, exploring the grounds and seeing the variety
of flowering plants and wildlife.
Head Gardener's
Newsletter March 2007
March 2007 provided us with ever changing weather. We had roughly
50 mm of rain, a few frosty mornings and also some lovely sunny
clear mornings to enjoy.
Head
Gardener's Newsletter February 2007
February in Dunorlan Park was similar to January - rain, rain, more
rain and some welcome snow, deep enough for those who enjoyed the
chance to toboggan, build snowmen and generally have fun in the
park. Snow is a great transformer of landscapes, giving beauty to
individual plants, enhancing shapes and, early in the morning,
generating peace and calm.
Head Gardener's
Newsletter January 2007
This month was like December - very wet, very windy at times and we
were even given a little snow for good measure. Some areas of the
park have suffered from the continuous rain. Much of the grassland
has stayed extremely wet, especially down by the fountain and also
near the small pond, and know this has caused some problems. We
have also had two path areas affected and have been working on
these areas to try and alleviate the standing water. Considering
how much rain we have had fall this winter, the park has stood up
to it very well.
Head
Gardener's Newsletter December 2006
December has been a very wet month. This will hopefully be of great
benefit to the underground water level (water table) and for next
year’s seasonal growth of our trees and shrubs. Where possible, we
have been mulching the shrub and herbaceous borders to reduce weed
growth next year and also retain moisture.
Head Gardener's
Newsletter June 2006
This month has been very dry ( ‘flaming June’ was the old saying ),
only 16mm of rain fell and we are starting to see some of our
shrubs suffer. Because of the water restrictions at present, we use
water mainly from the lake and we are careful about which plants we
water.
Head Gardener's
Newsletter May 2006
The weather this month has been rather unpredictable, with long
periods of cold winds and at the end of the month mild conditions
with heavy rain and strong winds. The rain was very welcome and has
given the plants a good start to summer. Although we still need
more rain, the weeds have, like the grass, suddenly come alive.
Head
Gardener's Newsletter February 2006
It’s been difficult this month to get all the varied horticultural
work completed due to the very cold nights, very frosty mornings,
and periods of persistent rain.
Head
Gardener's Newsletter January 2006
Winter ebbs and flows during these months at Dunorlan. One day we
wake up to snow or ice, the next it's blowing a gale and pouring
with rain. Welcome to another year in the life of this wonderful
park.
Head Gardener's
Newsletter August 2005
This year has seen a huge increase in people coming to visit the
park. This is marvellous and shows that people are enjoying the
facilities provided, as well as the new plants flowering alongside
many old favourites.
Head
Gardener's Newsletter February 2005
Bird life in Dunorlan Park through January has slowly increased;
with much of the heavy machinery leaving in late autumn, the park
has become a much more peaceful and relaxing place. Through this
the birds have become more confident in their surroundings.
Head
Gardener's Newsletter January 2005
This year has started with a splash. With the help of the early
winter rains and the new pumping system we now have the waterfall
showing its worth as the water cascades down over the Pulhamite
rockery to the pool below.