In recent years we have achieved our goal to restore our Regency walled garden, which had gradually fallen into ruin in the years following the First World War. The walls were crumbling or already fallen, the potting shed, tool store, gardeners' bothy and greenhouses were at the point of collapse. Until the walls could be restored there was no point in planting anything as the deer, rabbits and other creatures would soon make a feast of any vegetables and flowers.

Once having made the garden secure from such hungry invaders, I started to work locating the original paths. Using my spade I struck cobbles, cinders and bricks where the paths might be expected. An old estate map gave some clues to the traditional layout of a central and perimeter paths and a dipping pond was located beneath a mound of leaf mould and rubble. We were "thrown a curve ball" by a strange little path leading diagonally from a gate to the middle of the garden, this was when we realised this was the site of the old dipping pond.

The next effort was deciding what to plant. In the past the garden would have been producing enough food for the household and large staff, primarily growing vegetables and fruit but now a mix of vegetables, fruit and flowers seemed preferable. Old fashioned roses, borders edged with English lavender, great mounds of nepeta, cushions of deep blue hardy geraniums and lovely Peonies, were incorporated into the scheme, to keep faith with the traditional English Country Garden. I conceived two herbaceous borders, one either side of the central promenade, as mirror images of each other.

As a supporter of "Plant Heritage" (formerly known as the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens) I was interested to hear that a large collection of Historic Hemerocallis was looking for a new home. They had been collected by Gerald and Mary Sinclair of Oxford, who had developed a highly regarded nursery outside Oxford in the 1970s. After they retired, they had no space for the large collection. Waterperry Gardens, appreciating the importance of this collection of English-bred cultivars, had kindly agreed to keep the collection until a new home could be found for them. There were offers from a few potential gardens, including an Oxford College, however none of them wanted the entire collection and it was the Sinclair's wish that they should be kept together.

I have always loved Hemerocallis, more commonly known as Daylilies. My parents had a five acre garden where they grew quite a few Hemerocallis - but of course, back in the 1950s and 60s, there were far fewer varieties available. As a child I remember great swathes of them growing at the back of the herbaceous borders, along with Hostas, irises, roses, lilies, Peonies, lavender, nepeta, lupins and all the traditional perennials I still love today.

The National Collection of Historic Hemerocallis (Brummitt, Coe and Randall cvs. 1959- 1979) were quickly established in beds by the south facing wall of the garden. Elsewhere, a further fifty more-modern varieties I have collected since the 1970s, have been placed in the herbaceous borders, demonstrating how well Hemerocallis can combine with other plants.

They all thrive in the walled garden and, by annual division, their numbers increase year upon year. Soaring summer temperatures present some challenges, not least drought and pests such as Gall Midge, which would not normally have bothered these mid to late season bloomers. Now however, they are blooming earlier and we need to be vigilant for any signs of pests and diseases. Luckily, since we dead-head every day we can keep a close eye on any deformities.

As National Collection holders we are not restricted by hosepipe bans during drought but we do prefer to harvest and save rainwater and to act responsibly with a view to supporting the natural environment. It has been interesting to see how well the plants respond to far less water and the intense heat, not to mention the milder, wetter winters.

Hemerocallis are real show-stoppers when all in bloom and they are amazingly tolerant of the vagaries of the English climate. Over the past few years, plants from the Collection have been short-listed at RHS. Hampton Court Palace Show as Rare and "Threatened in Cultivation" by Plant Heritage.

Situated in the lovely Clun Valley, within the Welsh Marches, on the border of Herefordshire, Shropshire and Powys, we enjoy welcoming visitors from all over the world, who come to see not only the Hemerocallis but the long herbaceous borders, cutting beds of award-winning Dahlias, the Historic walled garden and enjoy a good, old-fashioned English tea and cakes. The gardens are open for various charities and through the Historic Houses Association every summer but we are delighted to welcome groups by appointment.

Caro Skyrme MA., FRSA. Is a Committee Member of the British Hosta and Hemerocallis Society. She writes regularly for The Irish Garden Plant Society and other Horticultural Journals.

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