Laurie & Cindy and the kids leave Croome to seek new adventures, and we wish them all well. Croome will not be the same without you guys.

Thank you so much for these beautiful plants.

and these..

This recently widened border will provide an ideal home for some of them

and

These guys appear to have settled in already.

More bricks emerge from the 'pot of gold' for their drying period (see rainbow article).

They should be dry enough to use by the spring time

It is gratifying to see so much good progress all around the garden

The south wall absorbs some last rays from the sun.

Molly chases a rat around the Fig House

and we find a handy bench to sit on and enjoy the surroundings.

Displacement of the clay provides some rare scenes, worth noting. Meanwhile, we prepare for the seasonal bonfire rituals.

Almost one year after starting work on the formal rose gardens frustration was finally overtaking progress. It was time to review our strategy.

With a little help from some new friends, we were suddenly ahead of schedule again, with spare time to dredge the dipping pond and prepare the south wall border for maturity.

It was a privilege to greet the Friends of Croome as they gathered outside the recently restored 'secret' garden gate. The weather was particularly kind, favouring us with a warm and sunny day. After taking in the view of the Malvern Hills, from our unique vantage point, we conducted a detailed inspection of the 100m long 'Hot Wall' with its five underground furnaces. An informal stroll along the borders provided ample opportunities for questions 'and occasional answers' about the history of the gardens.

The recently restored Melon and Fig Houses attracted considerable interest amongst the group. Heritage melons in raised beds and intricate winding mechanisms, designed to open and close groups of sash windows, gave more than just a glimpse of 19th Century life at Croome. The heat inside the glass houses was quite intense and we were soon ready for shade and refreshments.

After a welcomed pause and some very kind words from Mr. Eric Jones, we concluded the tour with a walk through the recently trimmed yew tree woodland beyond the south facing wall. Like before, it was a great pleasure for us to share our appreciation for Croome with some like minded friends. We do hope you enjoyed the visit and we look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Just as the land is sliding inside the walls, the same applies outside; and the effect is the same.

A most respected supporter of this environment is the tree species.

Restoration plans for the 'Secret' garden gate are well under way. The new door currently awaits the frame work to be installed. A view of the old gate is featured on our home page.

The main facade of the Gardeners Cottage, which can appropriately be seen only from within the walls, becomes the latest subject for restoration.

National Trust volunteers are providing valuable help with the restoration and maintenance of the walled gardens. Our mutual relationship with the trust is continuing to show its strength. The first NT vegetable patch is looking healthy in spite of the poor summer weather

They taste even better than they look.

As ever, the pictures tell the story.

Promises, promises. That's how you start your formal Rose Garden. The rest is mainly down to keeping that promise.

Time to take a look at how things are progressing inside.

It has been muted, by some of our advisers, that what we have become accustomed to calling the 'Fig House' may not be historically accurate. Well at this point, who gives a 'fig'.

At what point did the Owls Nest folly become known as the Park Seat? The owl still lives there.

Many of the magnificent 'Eye Catcher' follies, scattered throughout the wider landscape of Croome, can be clearly seen from specific points within the Walled Gardens. At certain times of the day, the sunlight captures and illuminates these beautiful structures, bringing them almost within touching distance.

Restoration efforts advance at an impressive pace. The pictures speak for themselves.

Just when you thought it was safe to mention the phrase 'sash windows'...