Walled Garden Volunteers' Blog February 2024
/2024 and Welcome Back!
The start of any gardening season is notable, but here at the Walled Garden there was the additional importance of marking the New Year with our celebration of the Giant Snowdrop Company. Our Snowdrop Weekend welcomed back to the Walled Garden and Museum visitors and friends who have in many cases truly missed access to this special place because of the extended closure this year.
Avon bulbs stall in the walled garden
Unfortunately, the weather gods were not on our side, gifting us extended periods of not very helpful days; the ground was either far too wet or too frozen to be able to attend to our tasks easily or with any form of comfort.
However, despite the dipping pond succumbing to cold temperatures, we persisted and by January 27th the garden looked a treat, even though we say it ourselves - we felt happy to let Snowdrop Season begin. Even the weather obliged!
As the first Galanthophiles arrived to collect orders from Avon Bulbs, here for their last sale before the Plant Nursery closes its doors, or to see what treasures were on the tables, it was gratifying to speak to folks who noted how clumps of snowdrops had bulked up in the borders and around the trees in the orchard in the last year or so.
Rubus - the Ghost Bramble
The nivalis, ‘common snowdrops’ so carefully planted individually by Geoff many years ago are now a real presence in the Stellata Border under the magnificent Rubus cockburnianus - the Ghost Bramble (pictured).
We had added short descriptions and prices taken from the original Catalogues to our display of bulbs sold by the Company - many visitors were overheard carefully working out price changes from the 1960s to now!
Corinne Hockley had been commissioned to make a series of snowdrop fairies for a trail as well as doing a workshop for small people. The fairies were a delight, each having an individual personality based upon the name and patterning of its own snowdrop flower.
Ruth - artist in residence on the snowdrop weekend
In the Pavilion, Artist in Residence our own Ruth spent many hours painting snowdrops using colours she has made from plants in the garden. Always fascinating to watch, Ruth shared ‘what she does and how’ with many visitors. Naturally tea and cake proved popular!
As well as interest in the snowdrops, we had visitors who took time to visit the vegetable area of the Pergola and raised beds which thanks to much hard work particularly by Sarah and Helen was immaculate! The composting area was well visited and discussed while prospective purchasers checked out what is in the ‘Holding Bay’ area for sale in due course. The bees, as temperatures rose, were out and about and the hedgehogs remained, we trust, tucked up in their houses during colder spells.
At the front of the museum the snowdrops in borders, planters and in the Yew Tree Garden were peeping through and it is a delight to see the range of colour of witch hazel, Salix ‘Mount Aso’ , hellebores, primroses, narcissus and cyclamen beginning to burst into life. It is then you realise just how welcome Spring is.
Galanthus elwesii 'Godfrey Owen' in the orchard of the walled garden
