Haze's strangers: No.63: Vicky aka the lady gardener
When we first saw Vicky, she was trimming the long chaenomeles/quince hedge in the terrace garden at Cotehele (National Trust). All the clippings were making a pile in the little orange trailer and tractor in the background. I guess it's coincidence that she wears matching orange protective ear defenders. She explained that the green quince hedge grows long red shoots which are trimmed twice a year, now and in the autumn.
Vicky has been a full time gardener at this National Trust property for 16 years and is one of two female gardeners in a team of 4 who manage the 18 acres. I asked if she gardens at home and she had a little chuckle and said that, no, she's something of a couch potato in her free time and likes to watch TV, especially programmes such as Antiques Roadshow.
There is a series of gardens at Cotehele, including a cutting garden which has beautiful fragant sweet peas in this season (I wouldn't mind one of those).
It was Ray who struck up the conversation with Vicky when we came up out of the valley garden below the terrace. He used to sometimes be a tad impatient of my 365 'antics' (my quotes) when we were out and about but has now become my scout and accomplice!
A small and belated September update for 2024, where I am still, after many years' membership, on 365 Project, also now posting elsewhere but wanting...
Lovely lady beautifully capture Hazel, you seam to have captured the character of this gardener full of life, surprised she is a television addict in her free time:)
