It might be difficult to believe, it seems like the depths of winter, but already there are signs of Spring around! Along Lady Lucy’s Walk, the very first snowdrops and primroses are showing their delicate colour, with more shoots coming up all the time. The rhododendrons are covered in buds, promising their glorious colour for early summer. The young pheasants scamper away as you approach and the blackbirds are busy digging through the leaf litter for tasty treats. If there’s snow on the ground, watch out for the bird and animal tracks and see what you can identify.
In the conservatory, the arum lily is still carrying large white flowerheads, and the bird of paradise plant has multiple flower stems coming up. These will be spectacular when they open with their showy orange and purple architectural blooms. Yellow hydrangeas are in flower below the camellia, with their sweet perfume subtly enhancing the atmosphere. The European climbing rose has multiple blooms hanging from its arching stems, and some of the climbers on the No
rth Wall are still showing colour.
As each week goes by, old flowers fade and new ones shine brightly - there is always something to see whenever you visit. Put your wellies on (it can be muddy in places), wander round the gardens and conservatory, then finish off with a warming drink and maybe a piece of cake in the cafe. Perfect on a cold winter’s day!