Do you remember the 18th century border below the terrace in the top garden (near the house)? We call it the Malecki border… Anyhoo, We’re extending the border around fountain lawn and below the library. Work has already started to remove some now quite mature plants. Can’t wait to dig out the Pampas Grass (not). I’ll keep you posted and get some photos for you.
We’ve spent the entire week clearing up after aforementioned high winds. The boys went round the landscape with the chipper and the rangers helped us tidy the beech below the Obelisk and the oak across the Pinetum path. The rest of us spent the week in Bell’s Piece, the pasture next to the estate office in the village. As well as tidying the larch and sweet chestnut that got damaged in the wind we started the project of clearing laurel from the nuttery. The bank was so steep we had to remove the majority of the laurel stumps by mattock, spades, brute force and ignorance. And then we got to burn them! Very satisfying…
Flowering in the garden includes snowdrops, the first daffodil above the Grotto, four Rhododendron cultivars, cob nuts, the odd primula, autumn flowering cherry, persian ironwood (top garden) and certain trees.
This Monday, work started on the Pantheon roof, which means access is restricted past the Gothic Cottage round to the dam, until passage is safe. Hopefully this will only be the case until tomorrow!
Bring on the spring! Em and garden team x
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We want to come and visit this week (on Friday 17th Feb) Are the snowdrops out and where can we find them on the estate?
By: Sara Kelby on February 14, 2012
at 08:22
Hi Sara – I’m so sorry that I didn’t reply in time to answer your question. I was on annual leave from the office all of last week so didn’t pick up any email alerts or comments. Stourhead is not particularly known among Trust properties for its snowdrops. We do have some lovely clusters around and about though, particularly on the pathway down to the garden just beyond visitor reception. However, as we get into March we’ll be starting to see some of our more considerable collections come to life, from wild daffodils and bluebells, through to rhododendrons and azaleas a bit later on. If you want any more information about where on the property and estate these are – just let me know and I’ll ask our garden team for the details. If you did come on Friday last week, I hope you enjoyed your visit. Thanks for your comment and sorry again. Lauren
By: Lauren on February 21, 2012
at 15:55
Hi Lauren,
Thanks for this info. In the end we went to Welford Park near Newbury which was amazing for snowdrops. We will look forward to visiting Stourhead later in the year.
Best wishes, Sara
By: Sara Kelby on February 21, 2012
at 22:01