Garden full of handkerchiefs

No, we haven't been reducing our visitors to tears. Following the beautiful Spring weather we've been having the magnificent Chinese Handkerchief Tree is blooming much earlier than normal. The white bracts that the tree is famous for have been appearing thick and fast this week. If you haven't had chance to see the tree in all its glory, visit us soon as the display will only last a few precious weeks.

The garden has been full of early arrivals this year with the purple flowers from the wisterias in the courtyards also beginning to appear within the past week.

Blooming bulbs

As if by magic, the thousands of Narcissus in the Pillar Garden have sprung into life. The flowers are looking fantastic as it quickly becomes one of the most talked about areas amongst visitors.

Not to be left behind, the 14,000 tulip bulbs that were planted last autmn are also beginning to burst into colour. It is my favorite time in the garden as everything seems to happen all at once.

Lovely Limes

The garden team had to use all of their muscles last week when four very large European Lime trees arrived ready for planting. The trees, measuring in at a whooping 25ft high and with a root ball weighing over one tonne, were purchased from a nursery near Tewkesbury to replace some that failed in previous years. The new trees won't look out of place in their new home along the Lime Avenue (also known as the visitor picnic area), as they are believed to be at least 15 years old complementing those already growing.

The photograph shows James, one of our Gardeners, making the final adjustments!

Garden gets green water

Our long awaited rainwater harvesting system was successfully commissioned last week. With the completion of the project, it will now allow the garden team to irrigate the thousands of plants using water that has been collected from our spring supply as well as that that has fallen as rain. We can now store a whooping 35,000 gallons of water, which will keep the garden watered for over a month if we don't have any rain at all this summer!

The garden unwrapped

What a week it's been for the garden team. Now that spring is most definitely here, the winter wrappings are coming off.

The tree ferns in the Fern Dell had their first view of the spring sunshine today as the Hessian was finally removed from their tops. Earlier this week, the bubble wrap that had carefully protected the coping stones around the Bathing Pool was painstakingly folded away (ready for next winter!). Bubble wrap has become a close ally to the garden team who spend hours smothering fragile stone objects from the harsh winter frosts.

To top off this weeks' spring preparations, the iconic cordylines have been re-positioned in the Red Border. All ready to complement the magnificent display of spring tulips.

Spring has sprung

It's official. Spring has finally arrived. The first Chiffchaff of the year was heard singing away in the Orchard on Wednesday and the pink magnolia in the Stream Garden is now in full bloom. Although there aren't quite as many flowers as in previous years, the pink clouds always come as a welcome relief after the long winter.

Visitors earlier in the week were able to watch as the East Court Garden was transformed in front of them as 800 violas were carefully planted. It will take another few weeks for the 'antique shade' variety to be in full flower, but some are already taking advantage of the glorious spring weather we're currently having.

First day nerves

Well the first day of our main open season went without any major hiccups - which came as a huge relief.

Things in the garden are a little later than usual this year. The magnificent pink flowering magnolias which are normally in full bloom by now haven't yet flowered. We're all waiting in anticipation and hopeful that the spell of beautiful spring weather will encourage them on.

Some of our fruit trees in the Orchard received a hair cut yesterday when the RHS organised for their regular prune. The training day was a great success with the apple trees now feeling much better and well prepared for their late summer harvest.

The thousands of tulip bulbs planted last year have just started to peep above the soil so we've all got our fingers crossed for a magnificent display later in April.