IN THE GARDEN Easton’s Sweet Peas

Last month saw the presentation of a National Gardens Scheme silver trowel to Sir Fred and Lady Cholmeley who celebrate the past two decades opening their beautifully restored garden for the charity...

Sweet Peas

AT EASTON

As we all become a little older and (hopefully) a lot wiser, we all become acutely aware of just how important our heritage is. And we all become rather more conscious that nothing worthwhile is quick, or easy. Still, the best things in life come to those with patience, and so it is that after two decades of thought, care and hard work, Ursula and Fred Cholmeley are definitely able to smell the roses… or maybe it’s more apt to say the sweet peas. Speaking of which, one of the first jobs of the day – and perhaps one of the nicest –is to go down to the pickery and gather little bundles of sweet peas to put into Easton Walled Gardens’ six beautiful holiday lodges, including The Gatehouse Lodge, May Lodge and Hayloft. They’ve smart Farrow & Ball-esque interiors, a sense of peace and calm, and of course, stunning views of the garden… indeed, visitors can sneak out of the lodges after the gardens close to the public, lay down a picnic rug, crack open a bottle of something fizzy and enjoy an Easton sunset. Of course, that’s only possible because of Ursula and Fred’s efforts. The couple found an old parchment which dates Easton to about 1592, which is when the family arrived from Cheshire and purchased the Manor of Easton. The last house on the site, however, was created by Sir Montague Cholmeley from about 1805 and was developed throughout the 19th century until being requisitioned as a place of convalescence during the Great War, then as a barracks for the Royal Artillery and of the 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, during WWII. There are reports of properties like Easton, requisitioned for the war, suffering damage: Van Dijks being used as dartboards (Van Yikes!) and timber staircases being ripped apart for firewood. Easton fell victim to similar damage and it fell into disrepair whereupon it was finally demolished in 1951/2 after succumbing to mistreatment when Sir Hugh (Fred’s grandfather) was away fighting. The house fell victim, too, to theft and vandalism in this time. >>

>> Its gardens also became overgrown and unloved until the only remedial work completed on them was the mowing of the banks by a local farmer once or twice a year. Sir Monty made his home in an adjacent village, and only when Fred and Ursula –the 13th generation of the family – returned to the area in their early 20s did the lost garden’s fortunes look brighter. For 20 years the couple have worked hard to restore the 11-acres of grounds of the former stately home. To transform the place from a derelict patch of countryside into a beautiful garden and a first-class visitor attraction – especially in such a short space of time – is indeed very impressive. “I’ve a history degree so I really appreciate discovering the history of the family and the estate. I also took a course in horticulture before we started the restoration,” says Ursula. “I did think it was going to be a huge undertaking but even I look back on the scale of the restoration and I wonder if I realised just how enormous the project was.” “But it was always going to be both a labour of love and also a long-term undertaking. My favourite pleasure is when guests who visited the site in the really early days, return. Like the ones who saw the garden when it was in its ‘blue rope’ era, with signs about loose masonry and untouched areas everywhere. Those same people have returned at a later date and have seen the gradual transformation we’ve achieved.” Today, visitors can enjoy two particular periods of interest. In the winter months, Easton Walled Gardens is known for its blankets of snowdrops. It’s the first port of call in February for legions of anxious visitors desperate for winter to give way to spring. Later in the year though, Easton is also known for its sweet peas, 47 varieties of which have been curated, carrying on the legacy of Sir Hugh by ensuring his favourite flowers continue to enjoy a colourful presence at Easton. Known by their Latin name Lathyrus odororatus (literally fragrant pea or pulse), the flowers were first discovered in Sicily by Father Francisco Cupani and enjoyed a real resurgence in the late C19th under Scottish horticulturist Henry Eckford. “From 1901 Silas Cole, head gardener at the Althorp Estate in Northamptonshire, astounded the newly-formed Sweet Pea Society with a pink sweet pea variety that he named Countess Spencer,” says Ursula. “His flowers were created from a rogue Prima Donna variety, but they were larger and frillier. Countess Spencer is now extinct, though its descendants carry the suffix ‘Spencer-type,’ indicating their lineage.” >>

In June, Easton is best known for its sweet peas, 47 varieties of which ensure Sir Hugh’s favourite flowers continue to enjoy a presence at Easton...

Above: Easton Walled Gardens was restored 21 years ago, and has opened for the NGS for the past two decades. It’s renowned for its snowdrops in spring, but also for its dazzling sweet peas in June! n Dead-heading plants: It’s always worth dead-heading annual and perennial plants to prolong the flowering season. Dead-heading is recommended for Aster, Campanula, Delphiniums, Phlox, Salvia and for sweet peas too... so the team at Easton Walled Garden is likely to be kept very busy! n Sowing biennials Biennials, i.e.: those which seed and grow one year, flowering the next, should be planted in the ground this month. Wallflowers (Erysimum) are a good example. n Caring for Clematis: This month Clematis will have finished flowering. Prune it well to ensure it’s manageable. n Hanging baskets: Now is a great time to plant out hanging baskets and keep them well-watered for a luscious, long-lasting display of colour on your terrace. Fuchsia, Geraniums, Salvia, Petunia and Viola are all ideal. Your local independent garden centre will also have some beautiful ready made-up baskets to make life easier. n June in the vegetable garden: It’s time for a planting bonanza in the veg plot this month. Peas, beans, salad crops, carrots and tomatoes can all be planted. Potatoes will have flowered and once their flowers have all wilted, they’ll be ready for harvest. Pick strawberries and a little later in the season, raspberries too. Watch out for hungry rabbits and pigeons! n Prune spring-flowering shrubs: Shrubs which flower in spring can now be pruned to prolong their lifes. The RHS has created 13 different pruning groups to make it easier to determine what to prune, and when. n Other jobs: It’s the ideal time to get out the pressure washer and give your paths a good blast. The sunshine should ensure they dry quickly. Using an algaecide will prevent regrowth, and a patio cleaning accessory will keep overspray to a minimum.

IN THE GARDEN IN JUNE...

Jobs to complete and a guide to planting in the summer months

The History of Easton Hall

>> “As part of the ongoing “You can stroll alongside development of our sweet the little raised beds that pea lineage, we’re excited to be run between the greenhouses experimenting with the lost variety, and old potting sheds.” Countess Spencer,” says Ursula. “Next to variegated lilac and Buddleia “And in 2021, one of our Prima Donna and a little water feature which trickles from blooms threw off a rogue pink flower which the wall into an old stone trough. It’s really looked incredibly like Countess Spencer. peaceful; a nice place to stop for a moment The seeds were harvested, and we are now of tranquillity and the chance to just sit and trialling these to see if, by any chance, we daydream for a while.” can rediscover this historic sweet pea.” The gardens lead down to long borders and The Pickery and Alpine Troughs are where to the River Witham, with kingfishers and the sweet peas are grown, and in late summer egrets eyeing-up native crayfish and trout. they give way to dahlias, cosmos, zinnias, Mixed borders over summer are brimming rudbeckias and salvias all of which creates a with scent and colour, leading down to the vibrant display of colour. There’s a cottage Rose Meadows with Old English varieties garden area too, as Ursula acknowledges such as Rosa Adelaide D’Orlean.” the way that the gardens we visit can also “There’s a fledgeling orchard too, with influence our own gardens back home. hazelnuts, quinces, plums, pears and “It’s the best spot to see how plants work greengages all fattening on the branches. together in a smaller, more relaxed space,” Meanwhile, two-acres of meadows are she says. heaving with native grasses and wildflowers

Sir Henry Cholmeley bought the manor in 1592, and Sir Montague Cholmeley rebuilt Easton in the 19th century. Easton Hall was remodelled by Montague Cholmeley in 1805. like cowslips, wild marjoram, rare clovers and orchids. This summer Easton Walled Garden is perhaps one of the most colourful gardens you’re likely to see, and one of the most interesting thanks to its back-story. It’s hoped that this year two new varieties of sweet pea will make an appearance in the form of Toffee Apple and Pink Pimpernel too. As well as being advocates of sweet peas, Easton has also ensured that its 47 species can thrive in local soils. And so, if you’re a local gardener seeking varieties that will thrive in your own garden, or you’re simply after a visit to a phenomenal-looking garden, bookended by a cup of really good coffee in the garden’s two coffee shops and a mooch around its Courtyard Shop, it’s difficult to find a better recommendation for a visit this month than Easton Walled Gardens, especially during Sweet Pea Season from 22nd June. n

1. Sweet Pea Butterfly

LATHYRUS ODORATUS is better known as ‘Butterfly’ and is a very bushy plant that is surprisingly tall for a Grandiflora or heritage variety. Endlessly reliable, the Butterfly sweet pea produces beautiful green buds that unfold into lilac hooded flowers with a memorable scent. Ideal for planting in flower beds or against a sunny wall. n

Captain of the Blues Lathyrus odoratus ‘Butterfly’

3. Captain of the Blues

BRING YOUR GARDEN TO LIFE with Captain of the Blues, one of Easton’s most popular sweet peas, this is an annual heritage variety with fragrant, delicate flowers in an intense blue-purple hue. Its bushy growth and the number of flowers it generates make this an inspired sweet pea to add to your outdoor sanctuary. n

2. Heritage Mix

YOU’LL BE TAKEN BACK to the Edwardian era with this heritage mix, ideal for growing up along supports, tied in until they’re large enough to support themselves. A heavilyscented mix with striking colour combinations ideal for cottage garden and sunny courtyards. This mix is curated from sweet peas grown at Easton Walled Gardens. n

Heritage Mix

4. Gwendoline

SPARK JOY with the heady scent and lively pink petals of Gwendoline. This is a much-loved climbing annual variety of sweet pea, with its headily scented flowers, strong stems and joy-sparking pink petals. Popular with exhibitors and garden-growers alike. Easton Walled garden has cultivated this sweet pea for many years and it never disappoints. n

Lathyrus odoratus ‘Gwendoline’

5. Route 66

GET YOUR KICKS with this variety of Sweet Pea, Route 66. Especially resilient and vigorous, this bi-colour variety produces four or five flowers on the stem, with pretty ruffled edges. Its light scent and bountiful effect make it a stunning sweet pea both on the plant and in a vase. Grows to around 1.8 metres and has a vibrant pink and magenta colour. n

Lathyrus odoratus ‘Honeymoon’

6. Honeymoon

LIKE MARRIAGE itself, honeymoon gets better with age. It’s a sweetly scented white sweet pea that blossoms to a very pretty lavender blue as it ages. Perfect in a jam jar posy on its own or pair with a dark blue pea for a touch of drama. Ideal for cut flower gardens, cottage gardens and to be planted against walls and in flower beds. n

Lathyrus odoratus ‘Route 66’