I was not feeling the Easter spirit toward all things small and furry this week as I noticed several of the Allium leaves had been chewed and munched to the ground by our rabbit friends, who regularly sneak out for their early morning repast before we arrive. Elsewhere in the garden no such things were being left to chance as we spent two days helping our productive neighbours in their new kitchen garden area by putting up fencing posts and chicken wire to protect their newly planted crops in the raised beds from the rabbit population.
Unrolling chicken wire that singularly refuses to stay unrolled brought its own challenges and digging out post holes where inexplicably large stones seemed to pop up tried our patience; however we conquered these in true pioneering spirit and the fencing looked most impressive. Pausing only for small pats on the back and words of congratulations and we were off on the next stretch feeling like professional fencers!
Meanwhile the garden is looking sensationally spring like and Primroses Primula vulgaris are to be spotted all over the woodland in amongst other shy and retiring other small spring stars such as Scilla, Narcissi and Chionodoxa . The Winter garden also looks very special and opening up some of the views through this area as we did by some diligent winter pruning has meant the views are definitely worth a pause when wandering through.
Monday saw the Gardens West team in the scented garden planting some Sweet Rocket Hesperis matronalis a purple form, these were planted in mass groups, 88 in total, and should give off not only a lovely fragrance which insects adore; but be a lovely colour splash in early summer. We sowed the seed for these last year since they are biennial and were very pleased at what strong healthy plants they had grown into.
Over on the main borders, cautiously braving the unsettled weather that we’ve had this week was a little Dicentra: Dicentra ‘Bacchanal’ in flower, what a beautiful rich ruby red colour it is offset by it’s bright green leaves and I couldn’t resist crouching down for a photo shot of it, however with all the post and fencing activities earlier in the week meant getting down was one thing; but getting up again entirely another! Roll on Easter everybody and enjoy your gardens and ours and don’t forget to have a chocolate Easter egg stop!
Katherine Musgrove
Gardener with Gardens West