July – The Landscape at Compton Verney
Welcome to this ‘July’ article, the seventh in a series of posts which aim to review, through photographs, twelve months of activity in and around the diverse landscape of Compton Verney. It’s a historic landscape that has seen much change, from the shaping of the areas as new plants establish to the visual delight gained from one of a number of artistic interactions.
There are huge changes in the atmosphere from the busiest of open days to quiet days when just bird song can be heard. Either way, visually the landscape changes minute by minute and it’s wonderful to be there to experience it – and on occasion capture an image or two!
Links to other months will be added at the bottom of the page, but for now, I hope you enjoy ‘July – The landscape at Compton Verney’ :
Some times you just have to sit down for a while to take stock, put the world right, chew over the task in hand, and decide as a team when the next break is due…. And also take a break from the back aching weed pulling in the coppice! © Compton Verney / Gary Webb 2014
The growth on the west lawn is clearly visible in the foreground, with the mown path leading through towards Moore’s Vertebrae. It’s nice to see (when viewing this picture in January) how green and lush the foliage looks, and visitors enjoying the grounds. © Compton Verney / Gary Webb 2014
One of our introductions to the West Lawn, Meadow Cranesbill, a hardy geranium. © Compton Verney / Gary Webb 2014
The Edgehill Half Marathon returned last July on another warm and sunny day. This small collection of images only give a tiny taste of the colour and excitement that fills the grounds for just a few hours. Hopefully the team and event will return in 2015. © Compton Verney / Gary Webb 2014
The honey bees at Compton Verney continue to establish well, with 2014 giving a bumper crop of honey. In one image, Rod our beekeeper is about to give a short introduction to the hives to one of our sponsors who also keeps bees in London. Another image is one I took of a bee on a West Lawn flower. © Compton Verney / Gary Webb 2014
This image is taken in the East Park, looking back towards the Adam bridge. Within this field is a small clump of nettles at a place previously disturbed during some archaeology work. © Compton Verney / Gary Webb 2014
And here’s what we found on the nettle patch last July – a menacing looking spike covered caterpillar. Who would think that these would turn into the spectacularly colourful Peacock Butterfly! © Compton Verney / Gary Webb 2014
Clockwise from top left: Peacock Butterfly, Gatekeeper Butterfly, Hoverflies and a Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly – fascinating and very obliging specimens! © Compton Verney / Gary Webb 2014
Over half way through the posts for the grounds blog review July 2014, and it’s fascinating to search through the images taken – a reminder of how busy we were! In some ways it was a typical gardening year with its seasonal ups and downs, but with each open day and a varied program of events; it was never going to be dull!
The weather certainly had its moments, but suffice to say that considering it was midsummer, we certainly weren’t forced into the shade due to extremes of heat! The lawns remained fresh, the meadow flowers danced in the breeze and changing light gave us a new perspective on the sculpture each and every day – furthermore, with splashes of natural colour like those shown above, what more could we ask for?!
Regards, Gary Webb, Head of Landscape & Garden at Compton Verney.
January – The Landscape at Compton Verney
February – The Landscape at Compton Verney
March – The Landscape at Compton Verney
April – The Landscape at Compton Verney
May – The Landscape at Compton Verney
June – The Landscape at Compton Verney