Spring has finally reached the garden. Marwood is now dotted with pink, reds and whites. The early flowering Magnolia, Camellia and Rhododendron are blooming across the garden. The richly perfumed pale pink Magnolia sprengeri. The dark pink cabbage sized flowers of Magnolia campbellii subsp. Mollicomata are looking amazing, contrasting well with the nearby magnolia purple-pink flowered Magnolia ‘Charles Raffill’. Salix gracilistyla ‘Mount Aso’ is looking resplendent, with its bright red winter shoots above its pink and silver fluffy male catkins (available for sale). Look out for early spring flowering herbaceous perennials such as strikingly blue daisy like Anemone blanda and dark blue flowering Pulmonaria ‘Blue Ensign’.
After four successive storms Atiyah, Brendan, Ciara and Dennis, three large trees have failed in the garden. One large Eucalyptus has fallen into the upper lake, with two other trees coming down in the bog garden and folly area. Many branches and detritus litter the garden. The tree surgeons made clever use of a small boat and a winch to remove the eucalyptus from the top lake and the garden team have been busy clearing fallen branches and logs away. With so many fallen trees, much space has been created for new planting opportunities.
The landscapers have finished planned work on stoning up behind the scenes areas of Tithebarn nursery and the Shelterbelt Nursery. A large black bamboo at the bottom of the steps next to middle lake waterfall has been removed, creating new viewing points and improving views of the garden.
The walled garden has received an overhaul, with a fresh layer of gravel having been spread, wall shrubs pruned, ivy pulled away from walls giving the area a much-loved face lift. The walled garden nursery has also been restocked with plants for sale.
Volunteer News. The volunteer recruitment day which occurred on 2nd March was a huge success, current and prospective volunteers were invited to tour the garden and find out what it is like to be a Marwood garden volunteer. Luckily for us the sun was shining, and we have recruited 5 new garden volunteers as a result. Three of whom will be starting next week. If you are reading this and are interested in volunteering at Marwood Hill Gardens, please check out the volunteer page on our website or contact myself on headgardener@marwoodhillgarden.co.uk.
Finally, our valued garden volunteer Adam Quinn, who has been volunteering with us for the past six weeks will be saying goodbye to Marwood as he has successfully applied for and been offered a role as Gardener at Arlington Court. We wish him well for the future.
I can see, looking out of the window, there is a break in the rain, so I am off to shift a few more logs.
