26th February 2025

Welcome to our garden

The freezing weather has at last given way to some warmth and sunshine at the end of February. It’s lovely to see Snowdrops and Aconites in flower

together here as the Aconites are usually a lot earlier. The snowdrops have been the best ever-possibly because of the cold weather? The Clematis too has been late to bud and I have been frustrated with secateurs in hand but having to wait.

The Kale has finished and they are being pulled up and given to the Sheep in the Fish Ponds.

We have used this time, when in our cold Greenhouse the night temperatures even prevented seed sowing, to get stuck into general maintenance. We have replaced path edges and strengthened the stream wall supports, renewed and tightened wiring along the walls for the roses and are in the process of replacing Sweet Pea and Vegetable frames. The Greenhouse has had silicone used to stop some of the leaks and the Visitors Lavatories a fresh coat of paint. New signs are being painted and old ones replaced and the Potting Shed given a good clear out.

There is a lot of purple in the garden at this time of year with the Iris Unguicularis and Iris Reticulata as well as the Crocus Tommasinianus Whitwell Purple. The Witch Hazel is also in Flower and Daphne Bholua- both scented.

There are a few Daffodils in flower but most are slowly emerging from the soil and we need to keep to paths to prevent squashing them- gardens open on 18^th March so fingers crossed they should be looking good for then.Once the gardens open there will be a weekly diary to guide you on what is looking good in the garden that week.

Lots of Rabbits, Moles and Squirrels in the gardens and definitely a Fox around. Too many Deer but so far no damage in the gardens and birds are now singing loudly at Dusk and lots of Twits feeding on the bird table- Spring is on its way!!

Stay healthy and good gardening

Lynda Tucker