Here in Somerset, we have had a generally mild or very mild, bright, and probably record-dry March. The gardens are very advanced despite the gloom and chill of January and February. Following what feels like a year and a half of exceptionally wet weather, it has been a delight to have a month of dry weather. It has enabled us to catch up in the gardens, and we have not needed to worry about the sluice gates! We had some frosts early in the month—perhaps more than we had during the winter! It will be interesting to see if we now have a longer period of dry weather. April is one of the driest times of the year, despite its reputation for showers, which tend to be at their heaviest at the end of the month.
It is such an exciting month in the gardens—they are full of promise. We have been thrilled to see the thousands of Tulipa sylvestris flowering on the rampart bank that we planted last year. This tulip spreads underground by its roots or stolons. It is a natural hybrid originating in Western Europe, but it will have formed from tulips that can be traced back to North Africa and Asia. It can become leafy in shadier or more overgrown areas, but as soon as the soil is disturbed, it produces a profusion of flowers. Our tulips are enhanced by the beautiful carpet of primroses underneath.
If you visit during April, you will be able to enjoy vast swathes of Camassia in the arboretum, along with bluebells and pheasant’s eye daffodils. In the Quiet Garden, there are thousands of tulips to enjoy (Little Beauty and Red Shine), and in the Colour Garden, many different varieties reflect its stained-glass design. We will be busy cutting grass, re-edging the beds and borders, applying fertiliser to our roses, mulching borders, and applying fertiliser to our most-used lawns. Where possible, we use a mulcher mower, which keeps many of the lawns greener and healthier and reduces the need for fertiliser.
We look forward to welcoming you to the gardens this April.
James Cross, Head Gardener
Image credit: Jason Bryant