Blog
1 October 2025
September in the Emmanuel Gardens – A New Term Begins
As the long days of summer gently give way to the mellow light of early autumn, we’re delighted to welcome students - both new and returning - back to Emmanuel College. The gardens, having quietly flourished over the break, are now ready to be rediscovered and enjoyed once again.
September is a moment of quiet transition in the garden. The borders are still rich with late-summer colour: rudbeckias, sedums, and Michaelmas daisies bring warmth and vibrancy, echoing the soft gold of turning leaves. The ancient trees along the Paddock are just beginning to show the first hints of autumnal colour, a gentle reminder of the seasonal shift. As October descends on us, the nights start getting cooler and the leaves start gently fluttering down. A sign of things to come.
Over the summer, the Garden Team has been busy with maintenance and quiet improvements. You may notice refreshed planting in some of the perennial beds, as well as continued efforts to enhance biodiversity across the College grounds. Our wildflower areas have been particularly successful this year, providing late nectar for bees and other pollinators. We have been busy harvesting the seeds from hay bales donated to us from King's College meadows, as well as harvesting them ourselves from our own meadows. We shall sow these wildflower seeds back into our meadows soon. Certain seeds need a period of cold weather to help with germination. Sowing at this time of year should ensure that.
For new students, we warmly encourage you to explore the gardens as a place of rest, reflection, and inspiration. Whether it's reading by the Pond, taking a walk through Chapman’s Garden, or simply finding a quiet bench, these green spaces are here for you.
The garden department would like to welcome new students and returning community garden growers, back to our community garden this year. Although the students were no longer here, the produce was shared around the staff and visitors, with donations being placed outside the Porter’s Lodge. We did sow some pumpkins and squashes, and they should be ripening just as the students return.
As we move into a new academic year, the gardens will continue to evolve with the season - but their role remains the same: to offer beauty, peace, and a deep breath of nature amid the busy rhythm of college life.
best wishes,
Brendon Sims (Head Gardener)