Living on the edge of a wood presents us with certain challenges from the neighbours! Honey fungus is one such resident. It is a natural inhabitant of woodland flora & fauna, feasting on the decaying roots and trunks of fallen trees. It resides in decaying stumps & launches its attacks on the roots of surrounding perennials through an underground network. We are learning to tolerate each other in this garden, although we always experience great sadness when one of our plants succumb. At the moment we have both a' medlar tree' and a 'magnolia' in sickbay. They are fighting valiantly & we are treating them with regular doses of Evie's fresh wood-ash tonic. This winter our stunning ruby 'rosa moyesii' became the latest victim. She is a vigarous,arching rose with flat, scented, red flowers & gold stamens. She was planted in remembrance of our first black labrador, 'Asha', who loved to play in the garden and, when exhausted, sleep on a bed of geraniums. We call it 'Asha's Rose'! At the beginning of the spring we were doubtful that the rose had survived, but as you can see the miracle of nature should never be under-estimated. Hopefully, with some careful pruning at the end of her flowering and lots of TLC we will be able to save her. This year she is an unusual sight, rose laden arches lay across barren branches, the latest victims of the honey fungus.
However, the honey fungus does live in symbiosis with a very welcome guest; the wild orchid. This week the steep, rocky bank behind the house has erupted into a haze of lilac orchids, ox-eye daisies and the creeping tom thumb. We leave the bank in peace all year in anticipation of this wonderful display. In the quiet months we often have to defend it's wild state with promises of the natural beauty which will unfold in June. This year, once again, we are not disappointed. Every cloud does have a silver lining!
