The Gardens in Winter

With cold days and few sunshine hours, it is not surprising that the winter can seem dull, dreary and long lasting. The gardens however have much to offer at this time of year to put a smile back on your face. 

 

Forsythias are a deservedly popular choice for many gardeners with their showy golden blooms. Parrotia, a shrub well known for its magnificent autumn colour, produces a delightful display with clusters of crimson stamens in late winter. For scent there is fierce competition between the sweetly scented viburnumns such as 'Dawn' and the remarkably spicy aroma of the wintersweet. Winter aconites are naturalised throughout the gardens at Deene.

 

The massed, nodding, pure white heads of snowdrops that cloth several acres of the gardens at Deene are the surest sign that a new year in the life of the garden is here. Over several years the snowdrops have been lifted and divided after flowering has finished, resulting in a truly spectacular show.

 

A varied collection of the more unusual named snowdrops is being developed at Deene. One of the Head Gardener's favourites, the 'Blewbury Tart', opens almost flat to reveal layer upon layer of green and white petticoats of petals. Others include the 'Pusey Green Tip', which has bold green markings on the outer petals. Unusually large snowdrop flowers are provided by 'Caucasicus' and 'S. Arnott'.  

 

The gardens at Deene Park will be open on Sundays 12 & 19 February 2012 (11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Adults £4, Children Free) for snowdrop viewing and at other times by prior arrangement for groups. For further information please visit our Events Page.