The spring sunshine certainly made a difference to the garden this week, not least because the gardeners were able to strip off their thermals and bask in the warm sunshine! The gorgeously scented Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ is still surprising visitors in the scented garden – a must have winter shrub if ever there was one!
Monday and Tuesday we started our annual mulching of the main borders with composted bark; so much has pushed through in the last ten days, the alliums are certainly revving up for a spectacular show in May.
Wednesday we helped the kitchen garden team crack on with their mammoth task of getting their productive beds ready for some food production, moving rhubarb and putting in the new paths. Today – stripping off turf to re-use it on our giant sofa adjacent to this area – looks like my team are working too hard – obviously needed a sit down!
Andrew Chapman has been tap dancing too to firm the newly moved turf in, otherwise it will dry out and shrivel up ( some excuse!)
This will be the centrepiece of our mini meadow area, an area of old pasture land which we developed last season. The aim is to show people you can produce something really beautiful and manageable in perhaps a problem area in your garden – just let it grow, and then you can add whatever you fancy! We’ve added corn cockles, lupins, crocus and other flowers just to add a more colour and interest– really easy!
Well this glorious weather is set to continue into the weekend, so no excuse for not coming to visit us – this weekend it’s all about worms! Ali, Team Leader for Gardens East will be conducting fascinating tours, hands on, digging up our wiggly friends – so hope you see you here – the gardens team will no doubt be busy on their own gardens enjoying the weather!
Sarah Bell
Gardens West – Team Leader