Jo's News and Views No 2 February 2025

Hello Everyone 

As I write this, the sun is streaming through my window. I can only hope that you all are enjoying the same spell of dry, sunny weather. It makes a change to mention the sunshine and not update you on the latest storm. 

As you can imagine my visits to the garden have been sheer delight. Seeing all the Spring flowers everywhere has definitely made me smile. On the drive is this magnificent Cornus mas, photo 1. It is covered with bright yellow flowers and these will be followed by glossy red cherry-like fruits so I must remember to look out for them later in the year. Further along under the Prunus serrula the Hellebores have doubled in number since my last visit and looked stunning in the winter sunlight, photos 2 and 3. There are Hellebores all around the garden but this is, perhaps, the best display. A hint of what is to come. 

On the Front Lawn the Camellia is covered in flowers with a lot more buds ready to open, photo 4. Walking on towards Bowling Green Lawn I stopped to admire the Hamamelis mollis, also known as Witch hazel, photo 5. Sorry, but, I am not sure which one it is but the flowers are beautiful, photo 5. Another flower that is in abundance around the garden this year are the Snowdrops. You all know that they are Galanthus but as there are so many different ones I am going to stick with Snowdrops! They now cover Tom Tiddlers ground completely, photo 7. In the bed running along side the Hollow Lawn was this delightful combination of Snowdrops and Aconites, photo 8. Nearby in the Asylum, the branches of the Corylus avellana 'Contorta' showed up well in the sunshine. This shrub/small tree makes a lovely addition to any garden as its contorted branches give it a unique architectural beauty all of its own, photo 9. 

Walking along the New River Lawn I enjoyed looking at all the plants beginning to emerge after the winter. Red and gold is not a prerogative of Autumn as in the Spring the branches of the Cornus, or Dogwood, brighten every corner with their brightly coloured stems, Photo 10. Then the view across the Pond never disappoints me, photo 11. At the end of the lawn was this lovely display of Hellebores. The sunshine was helping light up the intricate markings on their flowers, photo 12. 

With so many snowdrops around the garden I knew that I had to walk down to the Rock Garden. This year is definitely one of the best years in the Rock Garden for snowdrops as they cover every inch of the mounds there, photo 13. Again the sunlight provided beautiful back-lit views and this one made me think of fairies dancing in their party dresses, photo 14. In fact every where you looked there was another clump of snowdrops waiting to be admired, photo 15. Also, here in the Rock Garden are Leucojum vernum, the Spring snowflake, photo 17. Then walking back to the main garden the bank along the path is covered with narcissus and crocus all the way and the Alpine meadow is full of Snowdrops, Leucojums and Crocuses too. 

Talking of Crocuses I would like to include photos of our National Collection, photos 18 and 19. The collection is carefully looked after by Liz Macnicol. The whole process of maintaining a National Collection could almost be described as arduous. Liz has to keep meticulous records of when they flower and how many flowers they produce. Then in July the pots are dug up and the corms counted and recorded and stored safely. The pots are then washed and when the time is right a certain number are replanted in each pot and returned to cold frames waiting for the whole process to start again. Truly, a labour of love. It has been another successful year for the collection, so well done Liz.

Now for a little bit of fauna. When I arrived at the house last week a Robin flew across and landed at my feet as if to say 'here I am', photo 20. Nearby in the Cedar tree the Jackdaws were making a tremendous racket, photo 21. Three of them were involved in another fight over nesting rights with two more looking on from the branch to the left. So funny to watch them arguing. 

Well, I hope you have enjoyed my wander around the garden. 

Best wishes 

Jo