March 2026

by anne chambers

We open in a couple of days so last minute preparations are under way with plants labelled and in place and the tearoom and shop ready to welcome our visitors.

It has been a good March with sunshine and showers and the daffodils have flowered better than ever even after last summer’s hot temperatures, indeed not so many blind ones this year despite the drought.

The pink staphylea is also looking wonderful; it comes out before the white variety which is more common and is a sight to behold.  The magnolias have also been spectacular with no frost but quite a few already over.

 Hellebores are still flowering although the mice and muntjac have nipped off quite a few of the flowers. This beautiful double flower from  Ashwood nursery is so beautiful but tends to modestly hang its head rather low.

Easter is next weekend so hoping the weather stays fair and people are able to get out and enjoy the countryside and all the beauty of this time of year.

February 2026

by anne chambers

Rain and more rain, one of the wettest and mildest winters on record.  However, the days are getting longer and early  flowers blooming as a result.  The daffodils are now out, snowdrops over and shrubs bursting into life.

We had a wonderful holiday in Sri Lanka, hot and humid with quite a bit of rain.  Everything is so green and verdant, fascinating wildlife, plants and birds.  We found this amazing senecio type plant growing in the sand on the coast, lovely flowers and leathery tough leaves, extraordinary it survives and flourishes. 

Also stunning orchids planted in coconuts in the hotel garden.

Whilst in Sri Lanka we saw masses of tea and cinnamon plantations.  The

tea bushes were in flower and very similar to the only camellia we can grow

here, camellia cuspidata, which is also flowering now, tiny white flowers

with glossy dark green leaves.

Arriving home to the hellebores and cornus mass but we have got a serious deer problem with muntjac eating the tops of the emerging tulips and the new shoots on the roses.  There are far too many and even the Government is realizing something has got to be done to control numbers.

 Opening in a months time so lots of last minute jobs to do but looking forward to welcoming our visitors again.