Seasonal Diary

The Seasonal Diary is updated by the Head Gardener on a regular basis.  Check the website again during the Rhododendron flowering season (mid April to early June) for updates from The Marquis of Lansdowne.

Monday 14th May 2012

The Rhododedron Walks are expected to stay open until Sunday 17th June (depending on the flowering season) however will be closed on Sunday 10th June for the Bowood Charity Dog Show and Summer Fair.

Friday 11th May 2012
This has been one of the most unusual springs I have known during a lifetime of gardening.  Our rhododendron garden is heavily reliant on adequate rainfall.  We have had a 7” average deficit over the past two years, and the start of this year was heading the same way.  Coupled with an extraordinarily mild winter with few frosts, was all too confusing for the plants!  Our weather is influenced by the positioning of the high atmospheric jet stream. 

On the 3^rd April, it shifted south, and with it has come a welcome deluge of rain.  6” in the past month.  So the plants, which were languishing, are responding to produce one of the best flowering seasons for many years.  During this past month, temperatures which have been well below average, have delayed the season by two weeks.  So now the main flowering show stopper is just beginning.  The bluebells are at their peak.  The Loderi, of which we have ten or more varieties, are exceptional. 

The translucent blue Augustinii are stunning.  So, once again, nature has recovered to produce a stunning display.  Don’t miss this magical moment.  The rides are sodden, so come with appropriate footwear!  Follow the “walk of the week” signs which will lead you round the hot spots within the 60 acre woodland garden.  Remember these magical moments only come round once a year!  So I do hope you will be able to visit and enjoy this little corner of paradise.

Charlie Lansdowne

Friday 20th April 2012
Bowood Rhododendron Walks are now open and expected to be a great flowering season.

Thursday 12th April 2012
Rain at last! Or at least a start.
All the trees and shrubs are coming into leaf in a fresh vibrant shade of green.

The lawns are receiving a slow release fertiliser which will hopefully keep them looking healthy all season, so long as we have plenty of rain.
I cannot remember the trained fruit trees in the garden being covered with this amount of blossom. Fingers crossed that they are not affected by the frosts and we could potentially have a good fruit season.

The tulips on the terraces are looking fantastic and with plenty more still to flower, the display should continue throughout April.
Today we have sown the seed in the new wild flower garden within the walled garden and with a heavy shower of rain just after it’s off to a good start.
The impressive magnolia ‘conspicua’ is in full bloom on the east lawn border and the earliest wisterias are starting to flower on the top terrace.

Wednesday 28th March 2012
I am writing this in what feels like mid-summer with temperatures in the low 20’s, remarkable to think it is still March!

Everything in the garden is growing well, the magnolia ‘Leonard Messel’ and Osmanthus‘burkwoodii’ are smothered in flowers and the Prunus ‘kojo no mai’ look fabulous.  The tulip ‘purissima’ is first to show itself between the lush green roses on the terraces with the rest close behind.

The Park is looking fantastic with drifts of daffodils, surrounded with freshly mown emerald green grass, under trees that are bursting into life.
Dave, our Kitchen Gardener, is busy planting the first early potatoes, carrots, onions, parsnips and is filling the green houses with seeds hoping to get an early start with the rest of the vegetables. Our harvesting has started with forced rhubarb, most of which will go to The Bowood Hotel.

Wednesday 14th March 2012
The garden is about to explode!  Buds are breaking, new shoots are appearing and plants like the Aconitum’s are emerging after months of hiding beneath the surface. The Spring garden is beginning to look fabulous with amazing blossom over a carpet of daffodils.

The tulips must be able to sense when the gardens open to the public on the 28^th March - their timing should be perfect!
All staff are busy in the gardens and grounds in preparation for opening.  Leaves and twigs are being collected from the Pinetum and stored in heaps; this will make fantastic leaf mould compost in the future.

Work is continuing well with the new wild flower garden within the Private Walled Garden*.  The soil has been rotavated and prepared and I anticipate sowing the seed in the coming weeks.
We have just completed our first lawn mow of the season and trimmed all the edges.  For the first time in months the garden is looking respectable again.

*Tours of the Private Walled Gardens are now available for individuals on specified dates. Please check the website or call us on 01249 810961 for more details.

Wednesday 29th February 2012
Having only just written about the cold temperatures, here I am writing this blog in near record breaking 17 degrees. The garden is just starting to spring to life, early daffodils are in bloom and the east walk is carpeted with aconites and snowdrops. My favourite place in the garden right now has to be close to the Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ - the intense fragrance is overwhelming.

Mulching is the order of the week with all the rose beds and mixed borders having a good application of well rotted horse manure.
Having just installed a sprinkler system for the new hot border in the Private Walled Gardens* I can’t help but wonder where the water is coming from to supply it. I am told the estate springs have never stopped flowing, but then nobody can remember a drought lasting so long!

*Tours of the Private Walled Gardens are now available for individuals on specified dates. Please check the website or call us on 01249 810961 for more details.

Tuesday 14th February 2012
After temperatures of minus 10 degrees and 2 inches of snow, the garden is looking a little sorry for itself.  I am sure we will have a few plant fatalities but it always amazes me how most plants recover.
Stephen is working hard pruning the roses on the Terraces in preparation for applying a mulch of horse manure.  Meanwhile Dave and Rob are busy fixing wires to the walls of the walled garden to help us to train the climbing plants up the walls.
This week we will start our preparation for the next project which is to create a wildflower meadow within the Walled Garden.  This is something I am particularly excited about and I will keep you up to date with our progress.

*Tours of the Private Walled Gardens are now available for individuals on specified dates. Please check the website or call us on 01249 810961 for more details.

Friday 3rd February 2012
Well, winter has finally arrived with temperatures of -5 degrees.  This will slow the plants down enabling us to get on with our winter pruning. Bulbs are popping up all around the garden reminding us spring is on its way.
Currently we are installing irrigation systems for the new hot border created this year in the Private Walled Gardens*.  Hard to believe that in a few months, the ground will turn to dust and require watering! Glass houses are all cleaned and seed orders have been placed heralding the start of a new year in the garden.
The grape vines have been scraped and loose bark removed to expose all pests hiding beneath, a thorough clean with winter wash, a feed, fresh mulch and first watering sets us off for another year.  

*Tours of the Private Walled Gardens are now available for individuals on specified dates. Please check the website or call us on 01249 810961 for more details.