SNOWDROPS & GARDENING

EAST LAMBROOK MANOR GARDEN'S FABULOUS FESTIVAL OF SNOWDROPS

Throughout February Somerset’s famous cottage garden at East Lambrook Manor will be celebrating the snowdrop season once again with its fourth Festival of Snowdrops. This is an opportunity to enjoy a stroll through a beautiful winter snowdrop garden and view its extensive collection of unusual snowdrop varieties, many of which will be used to create displays that can be appreciated at close quarters.

Galanthus, better known as snowdrops, have long been a feature of the garden, ever since the celebrated plantswoman Margery Fish created the iconic cottage garden in the 1940s, 50s and 60s and started collecting rare snowdrops. She planted them in an area she named The Ditch, which she and husband Walter landscaped from the drainage channel between two orchards. ‘It’s such a welcome sight to see the sides of The Ditch carpeted with snowdrops in February,’ says current owner Mike Werkmeister, ‘and it’s where all the unusual snowdrops named for the garden or previous owners were found, most notably Galanthus ‘Margery Fish’ and G. ‘Walter Fish’.

The garden has a collection of around 150 different named varieties and many of these are used to make a special display in a raised bed enabling visitors to appreciate the subtle and often not so subtle difference between them all. ‘Unless you are a collector, better known as a ‘galanthophile’, you are probably not aware of how varied they can be, so visitors are often amazed by the different shapes and colours of the flowers.’ says Mike. ‘We aim to put on one of the best displays of named snowdrops in the South West.’

Snowdrop tours for small groups will offer an interesting introduction to the genus and highlight some of the favourite snowdrops in the garden and around 90 varieties will be on sale in the nursery along with hellebores and other spring plants. Sculptor Chris Kampf will also be exhibiting his popular steel snowdrops. Visitors should check the website for the latest information.

The garden is open Tuesday to Sunday throughout the festival from 10am to 5pm. Garden entry £6.50, over 65s £6.00, under 16s free, tours £3.00, RHS members have free entry on Wednesdays. No charge if just visiting the nursery. The annual NGS Snowdrop Open Day is on Thursday 10 February, with all entry money going to charity. East Lambrook Manor Gardens, Silver Street, East Lambrook, South Petherton, Somerset TA13 5HH enquiries@eastlambrook.com; www.eastlambrook.com. Visit the beautiful cottage garden of gardening legend Margery Fish to enjoy the: * Snowdrop Ditch * Snowdrop displays * Snowdrop sculptures * Snowdrops for sale * Snowdrop tours *

JUST 4 MINUTES FROM THE A303 AT SOUTH PETHERTON

Festival of Snowdrops 1st to 27th February

Over 125 varieties of snowdrop with many rare snowdrops for sale.

Garden and nursery open Tues-Sun | 10am-5pm Entry £6.50 | Over 65s £6.00 | Groups £5.75 | U16s free East Lambrook | South Petherton | Somerset | TA13 5HH 01460 240328 | enquiries@eastlambrook.com

Walk in or book online at eastlambrook.com

SAVE WATER IN FEBRUARY

By Mike Burks, managing director of The Gardens Group

As part of our environmental and sustainability projects, we are installing tanks to collect rainwater for use in watering the plants in the garden centre. This has many benefits, as well as saving money on water bills, the water quality is better for plants and in a small way, it slows the movement of water around the site during periods of heavy rain, thus reducing flood risk. As part of our work with Dorset Wildlife Trust, we get to visit wildlife gardeners as part of the gardening competition that we sponsor. A section of the scoresheet is dedicated to environmentally sound activities and points can be scored for saving water. Wildlife gardeners are, by definition almost, very keen on such things and their water harvesting can be elaborate. I recall discussing this with one of the gardeners who had entered the competition and he was using every available downpipe on his house, shed and garage with a series of water butts connected together. He also then showed me about 50 milk containers that he had filled with water from his water butts in the winter months! These were hidden behind the garage out of site but as a result, he hadn’t used mains water for the past two years.

Whereas I don’t expect everyone to be quite so dedicated, it does show what is possible. In your own garden, collecting water from the roof can be straightforward and will have the same benefits. Water butts can be connected into the downpipe and if positioned correctly the water is diverted into the butt when its empty and then flows down the drainpipe when the butt is full.

For extra capacity, butts can be joined and, with the right tap fitting, hose pipes can be connected for watering around the garden, although the pressure is unlikely to be as high as it would be from the mains. Starting in the winter is a good idea so that you have water when we start to need it later in the spring and early summer.

Other watering aids include planting everything with a spoonful of Rootgrow. This is a product that is recommended by the RHS and contains mycorrhizal fungi in a powdered form. Such fungi occur naturally and are an important part of a healthy soil environment. The fungi attach themselves to the roots of the plant and extend outward into the soil searching for water and nutrients like an extended root system. The moisture and food is taken back to the plant which gives some sugar to the fungi in return. As a result, the plant will be much better at surviving in periods of drought. Mulches too will help enormously in conserving moisture. A depth of material such as Bloomin’ Amazing or Rocket Gro laid at a depth of 8 or 10cm will keep moisture in the soil and will also protect it from damage during heavy rain. The material breaks down slowly and is incorporated into the soil improving its quality and helping your plants too.

Winter Wellbeing Walks at Minterne Gardens

For those of us who have been indoors over the winter months, the arrival of snowdrops heralds spring, and at Minterne Gardens we are very happy to see these cheerful flowers appearing.

Nestling amidst the soft sparkle of light snow, which melts to expose a greeny dampness, ‘Minterne’s Miniatures’ are bursting forth. Take the time to walk along paths cut by frosty threads of startling whiteness with new vistas at each turn.

After the long winter, Minterne Garden is preparing for new growth. Gone are the autumn leaves the colour of toast. Gone is the autumn sun as yellow as a young chick and in their place is the promise of another season around the corner.

Surrounded by nature, a walk in green space can act as a restorative tonic. So, we invite you to wrap up warm and come to explore a rustling wild woodland garden which might still occasionally be stirred up by those north winds!

CASTLE GARDENS

New Road, Sherborne DT9 5NR

Tel: 01935 814633

BRIMSMORE GARDENS

Tintinhull Road, Yeovil BA21 3NU

Tel: 01935 411000

POUNDBURY GARDENS

Peverell Avenue, Poundbury DT1 3RT

Tel: 01305 257250

www.thegardensgroup.co.uk Minterne Gardens open for the snowdrops from 1 February 2022 Minterne Magna, Dorset DT2 7AU enquiries@minterne.co.uk Entrance: 2-for-the-price-of-1 (£6) while snowdrops last Season tickets available: Family £30, Single £20 The romance of Minterne is perfect for weddings and holding a limited number of civil ceremonies and receptions each year, Minterne House provides the perfect backdrop of your wedding. Contact Sarah at weddings@minterne.co.uk to find out more.

UP THE GARDEN PATH

By Julie Haylock, Sandhurst Garden Design

February is here and the spring bulbs are beginning to emerge from their winter slumber. Now is the perfect time to look forward and start to plan your gardening calendar for the coming year.

Maybe you are planning a total garden design project or perhaps adding some interest and that wow factor to your garden borders, then I would be happy to help you, just visit my website www.sandhurstgardendesign.co.uk to book a consultation.

Many of you will be thinking about planting perennials, shrubs, and trees in your gardens this year, so it makes good sense to give them the best start and chance of success, so with a little preparation and by following these simple steps, your garden will look a picture. Choose healthy plants. Look at the base of the pot, if you can see fibrous roots poking out from the drainage holes that look fresh and white in colour, then that is a good sign that the plant is eager to go.

However, if you can see thick woody looking roots, it might be a sign that the plant has been in its pot for some time and may take longer to establish once planted. When plants have been left in their pots for too long, they become pot bound. This means that their roots have been restricted within the container and forced to grow round and round the pot. If this is the case, they should be avoided. When selecting bulbs, whether spring or summer flowering varieties, examine the bulbs carefully. They should look plump and free from any sign of mould and if they feel squidgy or look like they are shriveling find an alternative supply.

Soil preparation is key to success. If your soil is good and full of organic matter, then simply dig a hole and plant. Sadly, most of us are not that lucky so ensuring good drainage is especially important and by using a peat-free mulch around the plant after planting will help to keep the moisture in the soil so less watering is required. We all like to save money, so unless your priority is to create a garden that looks established from day one, choose smaller plants that will cost less to buy, they will soon get established. Any plants purchased from a garden centre or nursery are used to being pampered with regular watering and deadheading to keep them looking at their best, so when you take them home, this becomes your responsibility. One of the most common mistakes when laying new turf, planting a row of hedging, perennials, or a specimen tree, is not watering enough in the first year when the plant is busy establishing itself which sadly will cause the plant to fail. So if you are planting particularly in spring and summer, remember water, water, water! Ensure that you plant your new purchase at the right soil depth. The rule of thumb is to plant bulbs 2-3 times the height of the bulb but check the packaging for clear instructions if you are not sure.

When you are ready to plant your perennials, shrubs, and trees, remove the plant from its pot and gently tease the roots with your fingers to encourage them to spread outwards and into the planting hole. Take care not to plant too deep. Make sure your planting hole is the same depth as the container, and with plants that have been grafted, ensure the point where the root emerges from the stem is at soil level. A tree is always a fantastic addition to any garden, but if the location is at all exposed to the prevailing wind, then it will need to be staked to prevent the root ball from rocking and disturbing the roots. Insert a low stake at 45 degrees into the ground, ensuring the wind blows the stem away from the stake so as not to cause any rubbing, and use a tree tie to hold in place allowing the tree to flex whilst ensuring the root ball remains stable. After about 12-18 months the stake and tie can be removed.

Sandhurst Garden Design

Julie Haylock

Garden Designer

20 Sandhurst Road, Yeovil, Somerset BA20 2LG

Tel: 07899 710168 Email: juliesandhurst1@gmail.com www.sandhurstgardendesign.co.uk

Contact Julie for garden and border design, planting plans, plant selection advice and garden styling

BBC Gardeners’ World Live Gold Medal Award Taunton Flower Show Gold Medal Award and The Western Daily Press Cup for Best Show Garden

IDEAS FOR A WHOLE YEAR OF OUTDOOR LIVING

By Liv Sabat

These recent years have been very tough for all of us but let's hope for a better year in 2022. I hope you all made some new year resolutions. I’m moving into my new house in February and my main resolution is to make the house into a home, inside and outside by creating a cosy atmosphere and an outdoor living space.

Investing in your garden creates value for your home and for yourself. You can enjoy your outdoor space all year long thanks to our glass rooms. I still think that the most amazing part about glass rooms is that they will protect you against sun, wind, and rain so that you can enjoy being outdoors in every season. Here are some ideas regarding how to use your glass room.

Outdoor Office: surrounded by greenery and peace and quiet, you’ll be coming up with so many ideas. A glass room is a great place to set up a cosy outdoor home office if you don’t have enough space in your house to have a whole room to yourself. I would definitely recommend this as only having a little space in the corner of the room might not be enough.

Exercise: is the idea of a stuffy gym full of people stopping you from exercising? You can create an outdoor workout space in your glass room. There are so many positives to this: you don’t have to worry about people watching you, you can do anything you like and you can do it whenever you like as it’s only in your garden; before work, after work, no matter the time or weather. Children's Playroom: not enough room in the house for all your children’s toys? You can use our glass room as a playroom, with plenty of space for the kids to play and to store all their toys.

Cooking: no matter what meal you choose, it’ll all taste better in the space and tranquillity of your own garden. You can have a BBQ with family and friends, and even if the weather disappoints, you’ll be just fine in your glass room. There are plenty of other ways you could use your glass room; the opportunities really are endless. I hope I have inspired you to work on your garden space in 2022.

Till next month!