Every month we feature two blogs written by volunteers, one describes an object in the Palace and one a plant from the Garden. It is a great way for us all to learn more about the Palace, if you would like to contribute there is no set format so please do send us your ideas!
It is said that Queen Elizabeth, who reportedly had quite a sweet tooth, received a gift of grapes from Fulham Palace 500 years ago. Fulham Palace is now in a position to repeat that historic gesture to another hard-working Elizabeth.
The first fruit of one of the new grapes “Leon Millet” planted 2 years ago has now borne fruit of a delicious sweet kind and Lizzy, a gardening apprentice, was given the opportunity to partake of it. Grape juice was squeezed from the fruit sufficient to make a punch served at Lizzy’s leaving party. The sad goodbye took place on Friday 10 August as she left Fulham Palace to begin a new phase of her gardening career at Cambridge Botanical Garden.
The first fruit of the vine was greeted with pleasure by Head Gardener Lucy Hart but is just the start of the grape-picking season. The black grapes “Black Hamburg and “Fagola” are not yet ready and could provide more sweet sensations very soon. Other fruit trees recently planted around the east, west and south facing walls of the walled garden are thriving. Peaches have been seen as have apples, plums, cherries, pears and quince. A truly fruitful future awaits Fulham Place.
Thursday Garden Volunteer Moyra Gardener
Please send your ideas for Object / Specimen of the Month blogs to rachel.bray@fulhampalace.org. If you would like some help, let us know.