SPECIAL TOURS & GIFTS
HIGHGROVE GARDEN: THE GARDEN NOW
MID MAY
However much you plan your garden, the season and weather dictates how it performs. This has been a most variable year in terms of growth and flowering.
The late May tulips were spectacular in April and early May; the only few remaining are those tucked into shadier, north borders or cooler aspects.
Tulip ‘Blue Amiable’ has been a wonderful performer and has stood the longest in flower, even in the hotter borders; it is a lovely lilac mauve and blends well with many other bulbs and spring emerging herbaceous perennials.
The Camassias at Highgrove have flowered early and are setting seed instead of making the normal winning combination with Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ which are now flowering on their own. With the cooler daytime temperatures recently these are flowering and lasting well, although Allium bulbs that have been in the ground more than three years have flowers which are notably diminishing in size.
With the excess heat in April, many of the ponds saw a tremendous flush of water weed growth, particularly blanket and duck weed. This has slowed down somewhat and the water is clearing particularly where more surface cover is occurring.
The native Iris pseudacorus (Flag Iris) has made a spectacular display around the Sewage Garden pond, and the willow which was coppiced in the winter is regenerating well.
Luckily Highgrove had 1 ¼ inches of rain in early May; this is not enough for the Garden, but it has helped many plants and trees which were beginning to show signs of stress. With warnings in place for possible hose pipe bans in parts of the country, rain and water collection should be a must for all gardeners.
Water butts are in catchments points around the Estate and used regularly. (The Highgrove rose “leaning” on this water butt, knows where to find moisture!)
Planting out of vegetable transplants is keeping Dennis busy in the Walled Garden, as is netting many of the plots. This is important protection from pigeons particularly on all the Brassica crops as they can decimate a healthy stand of plants in a matter of hours.
The wild flower meadow becomes more vibrant and alive day on day. The shiny yellow of the buttercups and soft yellow of the Rattle (Rhinanthus minor) are the predominant eye catching plants overall, but amongst these are a wide diversity of species including an ever increasing number of the Southern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa) which prefer slightly damp areas of the meadow. Insect life (and therefore also bird life) adds the dimension of sound to the meadow; it is alive and humming on most sunny days.
PREVIOUS MONTHS
Mid April
March Garden Images
Late March
Early March
February
INFORMATION
