St. Mary’s House


Before all this Covid craziness began, my sisters and I used to get together, two or three times a year. Thursday, a fortnight ago was just such a day. The difference being that this was the first time since mid 2019.

Hollyhocks

As we live around ninety miles apart our normal routine is to select some historic pile, at roughly the halfway point between our homes.

St. Mary’s House

Most times we will select a location known to us. Not this time. Thursdays choice, St. Mary’s House at Bramber in Sussex, was unknown to any of us. A true mystery house.

Hollyhocks

 St. Mary’s is an historic pilgrim inn (c1450) featuring approximately five acres of beautiful gardens including animal topiary, the ‘Secret’ Garden with original Victorian fruit wall and pineapple pits, a rose garden, King’s Garden, circular English Poetry Garden, Landscape Water Garden and Rural Museum.

Achillea Filipendulina – Cloth of Gold
Example from the Rose Garden with English Lavender
Helenium Autumnale – Sneezeweed
Part of the Terracotta Garden

Not sure what this curved ladder could have been used for.

Curved Ladder

The weed on this pond gives the illusion of solidity. I turned down the opportunity to test it out.

Water Garden

This path was not suitable for my wife’s wheelchair.

Leafy Waterway

Bloomin Lovely


We’ve had this rose for many years but it has never produced such a dense cluster of flowers.

I wish I could claim that this fabulous display is down to my horticultural genius, but I can’t.

I don’t even know which variety it is.

What I do know is that it makes both Gerry and me very happy.

Aliens !!!


My daughter is currently on holiday in Fuerteventura, the Canary Islands. I for my sins have been tasked with watering her plants. Imagine my horror when I note that her Lupins are looking very sorry for themselves. Suspecting that I had failed the, one and only, task I had been given I gave the plants a closer look.

Lupin Aphids

Both plants are infested with what I believe are Lupin Aphids (according to Google).

I have treated them with a proprietary bug spray but I suspect they have gotten to great a hold and the damage is done.

Only time will tell if the plants will recover.

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