The hedge cutting season is well underway here at Hidcote, with us going on strong for about six weeks now. There is actually around four and a half miles of hedging to get through, so we have a jolly hard time of it at this time of year I can tell you! This massive undertaking deserves a post in itself, and I’ll come to that shortly. For now here are some aerial shots taken from the cherry-picker, a noisy mechanised beast we have to wheel out when we’re cutting all of the tall and awkward hedges about the place. Not too long ago they used to use ladders, but of course those treacherous dogs in health & safety soon put pay to this practicality! So here we are from the cherry-picker, in position to cut the Hornbeam Stilts, overlooking the Red Borders.
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| The yew hedge between the Theatre Lawn and Red Borders, looking toward the manor and the ancient Cedrus libani |
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| Red Border gazebo view |
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| Gazebo Long Walk view |
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| The cherry-picker in action at Heaven’s Gate |
13 comments:
What a fabulous yew hedge - worth all the hard work!
Wish you could all come and cut my hedge with your 'cherry picker'.
You'll all be incredibly fit after all that hedge cutting and you get these fabulous views as well!
Thanks for the great photos, Bertie! We constructed a New England version of the Hidcote pavilion here in our garden, so I was as interested in the unusual camera shots (from angles I had never seen before) of that little jewel of a building as the hedges. Maybe cherry-pickers should become standard equipment in every garden photographer's camera bag!
Joe
Wonderful photos! I love the third one for perspective on the visitors.
The hedges look very vertical. Are they slightly wider at the bottom?
Here's looking at Yew! Looking good Bertie, brilliant photos.
Hello Bertie.....
I’m so pleased that I stumbled upon ‘What ho Hidcote’. I have to say that I had great expectations when I spotted the word Hidcote..... and after a quick perusal I’m not disappointed. I shall linger more longingly later, just wanted to get a quick comment off to you first.
I hold Hidcote as one of my favourite gardens and was a frequent visitor there when we lived in Winchcombe, Glos. We moved to Wales almost 18 years ago and love it here, but there are certain things I miss from ‘back home’... Hidcote being one of them and shopping in Cheltenham another.
Your picture of the Theatre Lawn was a fond reminder of the open air performances and picnics I’ve enjoyed there. I just love the garden rooms, the lavender... and Oh! those magnificent hedges and that’s just naming a few of its many beautiful features.
Now that I have found you I shall have much pleasure in renewing my visits.... what a fantastic job you have.
Best wishes from an old Glostonian - Marion now in South Snowdonia
Is the cherry picker fun, Bertie, or do you hanker for a ladder and a pair of hedge-clippers? You must be glad when it's all over!
I remember watching the gardeners at the gardens outside of Florence (the name won't come to me) cutting the very tall hedges with a plumb line, ladder, and hedge clippers (manual). I don't envy you the 4 1/2 miles but I covet the views.
I ejoyed your perspective in this post. One seldom sees a garden from that height. I hate ladders. You're lucky to have such modern equipment.
Bertie, what a wonderful view from up here!
I'll be really interested to read a post on how they (you) trim those enormous hedges.
Trying to get caught up on my blogger friends!
What a unique perspective from up there! Bertie, just to let you know my latest post is about Parham, as promised!
What-ho all! The cherry-picker moves around the garden as the hedge cutting season progresses so hopefully there will be more of these aerial views!
Bertie
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