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It really feels like spring is in the air at the moment. At long last there is some warmth in the sun and the extra daylight at each end of the day is very welcome.
The Gardens are coming to life now, the first Camellias are in bloom, displaying of a range of colours ranging from delicate whites, through pastel pink shades to sumptuous deep reds.
This one is Camellia x williamsii ‘Phillippa Forward’.
The williamsii hybrids were introduced by J C Williams in the early 1930s and are remarkably hardy even in the most extreme British weather.
Early Rhododendrons are now beginning to flower. The one shown on the right, Rhododendron arboreum ‘Tony Schilling’, was named after a retired curator of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Wakehurst Place. These Tree Rhododendrons are native to Bhutan, China, Nepal, India, Thailand and Sri Lanka.
One of my favourite spring flowering plants, the Spring Snowflake (Leucojum vernum) can be found at the top of the Wilderness, in close proximity to Stainborough Castle. The scientific name means ‘spring white violet’ and the plant provides an early pollen and nectar source for bees
Elsewhere in the Gardens, the Estates Team have been busy clearing the area around the Conservatory in preparation for it’s removal for restoration. It all looks very different now! For the first time in many, many years the Corinthian Temple is now visible from the Conservatory and the Azalea Garden and the west elevation of Wentworth Castle can be seen in all it’s glory.
The volunteers are currently busy raking and restoring the paths in the Union Jack Garden and if this sunny weather continues the first grass cut of the year is imminent.
