The beautiful landscaped gardens at our St Catherine’s Nursing Home are much loved and very well used by our residents, yet they still manage to reveal the odd surprise or two.
Now that the months of mists and mellow fruitfulness have arrived, residents overlooking one of St Catherine’s garden areas have been delighted to find out that their tumbling, leafy view includes none other than a mature grapevine.
Hidden amongst a heady mix of clematis and honeysuckle, the vine is even offering up fruit, although the small berries are best left for the birds, it seems.
Win Taylor, whose room opens onto the garden area, was thrilled to see the little bunches of grapes up close, but was happy to pass on the taste test.
“I’ve heard they are quite sour,” said Win, “but I’m still delighted to see them growing right outside my door. How many people can say they have a mini vineyard in their garden?”