January 2013

Hamamellis mollis

Stewartia monodelpha

 A beautiful New Years Day

Hamamellis mollis, Wych Hazel, is in flower and the bark of Stewartia monodelpha glows in the sun.

The ponds are full of beautiful reflections.

The Daffodils are already beginning to sprout and there is a primrose in flower.

Although the garden is closed for the winter
there is much work to be done.  The leaves are all off the trees and so Russell and Mark are hard at work with the leaf blowers.  Other jobs include pruning and tidying up after all the recent rain.  Several of the ghylls (streams) over flowed their banks.

The Magnolias are covered in flower bud and should give us a magnificent display this year.

Fagus sylvatica Asplenifolia reflected in Centre Pond

Mid November

Grasses by the ponds

 A beautiful November day in the Garden.

The last of the autumn colour glowing in the sunlight.  The Taxodiums are almost red this year and some of the Nyssas are very late to colour.


A yellow Nyssa with a young Taxodium



Nyssas in the foreground and larch behind

Autumn Colour

Nyssa Sylvatica and pampas grass

Acer Palmatum

A taste of Autmn colour at High Beeches.

Centre Pond

The Fothergillas and Disanthus are looking very good this year.

Reflections and shadows

 Reflections in the ponds and shadows cast by the Autumn sun.

Every day the Autumn colour gets better at High Beeches.  It looks like being an exceptional year

Taxodium distichum and a Juniper frame

 a Nyssa

Early October

Cyclamen hederifolium

Symplocos paniculata

Just a sample of what there is to see at High Beeches this October.

Over the next few weeks the garden will have some of the best autumn colour in the south east provided by, to name a few, Liquidambers, Acers, Nyssas, Fothergillas and Parrotias.

There will be a photography workshop on 18th October run by Park Cameras and a Gift Fair in aid of Parkinsons' UK, Horsham Branch on Sunday 21st October

Betula lenta

Grasses at High Beeches

Miscanthus sinensis Malepertus

Miscanthus sinensis Zebrinus

Stipa gigantea (Golden Oat)

Just some of the grasses looking their best at High Beeches.  All are planted as specimen plants for accent and height and are fairly rabbit proof when established.

Heavy Horses

Monty and Dylan

On Sunday 12th August two horses from the
Working Horse Trust will be at High Beeches.

Monty aged 17 and Dylan aged 15 are half-brothers and each weighs as much as a small car.  Both are Ardennes and are roan, Monty is a red roan and Dylan a strawberry roan.  They are the most experienced pair that the Trust has and they have done everything from field work to cross-country driving.



Monty and Dylan Harrowing



The Ardennes is one of the most ancient draught breeds in the world and it is believed to be the

 founding stock for many working horse breeds. 

They first arrived in the UK with the Roman legions

 and later with the Norman invaders.