Jo's News and Views No 4 April 2025

Hello Everyone 

What a fabulous month of fine weather we've had. I know the last week was too hot but everything has grown in abundance around the garden. 

There was a display of daffodils to greet the visitors in the courtyard, photo 1. If you have time on your visits to look up you will notice that the clock is working again. I met up with Bryan Hewitt, who has a lot of experience of winding the clock up, and he was able to re-start it. It's great to see it chiming and showing the correct time again, photo 2. 

The Spring flowers and blossom in the Arboretum have been a treat for everyone to see, photo 3. At the top of the drive this Azalea has looked so beautiful all through April, photo 4. In the bed on the right of the front of the house the blossom was making a show too, photo 5. Then later in the month the blossom on the tree gave way to its lovely bronze leaves, photo 6. The Front Lawn never disappoints me and was looking good even on a blustery day, photo 7. 

Walking through to the Rose Garden I found more blossom to enjoy. Next to the George III monument the Pyrus salicifolia 'Pendula', the Weeping Silver Pear was covered in flowers, photo 8. They may be small but are exquisite in their own undemanding way. Further along the path was the Berberis darwinii, photo 10. The Darwin's Barberry was first described by him in 1835 and one of many plants named after him. The orange flowers are stunning, photo 11. In the Pergola garden was this 'newcomer', the Akebia quinata, known as Chocolate vine, photo 12. This was also in flower and yes, they smell of chocolate, photo 13. 

Walking out on to the New River Lawn I stopped to admire the Citrus trifoliata, the Japanese bitter orange tree, photo 14. I did try the fruit one year and yes, it is very bitter indeed. Also here is the Tulip Terrace which looks amazing this year, photo 15. Julia and her team had to protect the planting early on as the squirrels discovered the tulip bulbs. There are many different coloured tulips planted here, along with Erysimum, Myosotis sylvatica, commonly known as Forget-me-nots, and Pansies giving an overall beautiful display, photo 16. At the end of the New River Lawn on the edge of the Asylum is the magnificent Acer pseudoplatanus 'Brilliantissimum', showing off with its cloud of salmon pink, almost gold, leaves, photo 17. 

Down in the Kitchen Garden the beds have been prepared for planting, photo 18. Also here is the ever fabulous Cercis siliquastrum, known as the Judas tree, photo 19. The Fruit Tree arch was covered completely by boughs of blossom, photo 20 and the Prunus laurocerasus 'Camelliifolia', the Curly-leaved Laurel was also in full bloom, photo 21. The flower buds appear in early Spring and open in erect racemes of 30-40 flowers, photo 22. You can actually count them in the photo. 

Walking back to the house I stopped to visit the Old Conservatory. There is a beautiful display of Strelitzias, Bird of Paradise and Aeoniums there, photo 23. One of the Strelitzias had two flowers coming out of one stem, photo 24. Then near the car park there was another tulip display outside the Visitors Centre, photo 25 . 

Finally, a little bit of fauna. I saw and heard more than I was able to take a photo of. I saw several Brimstone butterflies and heard Blackbirds, Jackdaws and Woodpeckers. The only butterfly that sat still for me was an Orange-tip, photo 26. In the Rose Garden I saw a Bee-fly, the extraordinary Bombylius major. it's not a good photo but it will give you an idea of what you're looking for, photo 27. 

I hope you have enjoyed this wander around the garden with me. 

Best wishes 

Jo