Well what a year that was, the builders finally moved out two days before our first event in October, just a bit of a panic!! However the 17th century crewel work embroidery workshop run by Phillipa Turnbull was very well attended and thoroughly enjoyed by all. One of our guests travelled all the way from Memphis, Tennessee.
We have still got a very busy schedule to keep on top of the seasonal and ongoing design jobs in the gardens.
Our biggest news is that my daughter is now working with me at The Priory which is a terrific help, and as a result we have this wonderful new website, designed and put together by Judith and her boyfriend Dave, a huge thank you to them as they have worked very hard to make the site look good and work for us.
In the Garden we have waited with bated breath to see how the plants have fared in the snow and ice. Most seem to be O.K. I am so glad we took such care to put plenty of drainage in to the ground, it is the wet that has caused more trouble than the cold of course, as the Mediterranean herbs do not like to sit with their roots cold and wet. We have had some losses amongst the lavenders especially the French lavender, and some of the thymes. I have not uncovered the Monk’s Pepper or the Pomegranate yet from their winter fleeces. The newly planted myrtles, Myrtus communis seem to have survived I just managed to get them covered in time before the first frosts, and as far as I can see they have only caught the frost on a few leaves so, fingers crossed they should be O.K. Still only January though so anything could happen. The lowest temperature we recorded in the cloisters was, wait for it........-11 brrrrrrrrr.
The Tea rooms are all set to open for Mothering Sunday so we are getting quite excited. We are still looking for more therapists, especially an aromatherapist. We do now have three therapists working with us. See the therapy room page for more details.