Each season has its distinct charms and challenges. The hope and promise of spring is special as the daffodils, magnolia and Rhododendron flower. Most beautiful at this time are the bluebells in the surrounding woods with the fresh green of the newly unfurled beech leaves.
At high summer the flower garden is at its peak of colour and enjoying the wild flower meadows, teaming with wildlife on a long warm evening is one of the greatest joys of this time of year. It is when we are at our most busy, when plants are at full growth but when we feel the most reward for that hard work.
Autumn is a more peaceful time as the garden becomes less demanding and the light starts to soften. The colours of the flower garden really shine out at this time with Asters and Dahlia being some of my favourite as the autumn leaves start their annual performance.
Many people are surprised when I tell them the winter is possibly the time I enjoy most in the garden. It is the only time we can go faster than nature, enabling us to develop the garden and improve details for the coming season. It is when the views across the rolling wooded landscape are most dramatic, and the excitement of the first snowdrops flowering is one of the highlights of the year.
