Renishaw Hall gardens are open from 11am-3pm on Sunday February 27th. The hellebores, crocus and snowdrops will be at their peak and if you are feeling inspired there will be five specialist nurseries selling spring flowering plants and bulbs. Admission £3.50 www.renishaw-hall.co.uk
It has to be the hellebore with its wonderful range of colours from purest white to near black. Give them the right conditions – cool light shade with a moist root run – and they will self seed all around the garden. However, if you want to guarantee the flower colour, you will have to propagate by division – they are very promiscuous.
Salad seedlings have been pricked out into boxes in the greenhouse
The cutting tulips look full of promise in their wine boxes
This Picotee hellebore bought many years ago from Elizabeth Strangman is one of the loveliest in the garden
The sweetpeas are now planted out and tied to the hazel arch which arcs over the coldframe
The peas that I sowed in the gutter have been planted out for an early crop
Farmyard Nurseries at Llandysul in Carmarthenshire is a magnet for Welsh gardeners in search of unusual plants especially hellebores, herbaceous and perennial plants, shrubs, trees and alpines. Last year, at their first time at the Chelsea Flower Show, they won a well-deserved gold medal. Set in the rolling hills of West Wales, the nursery is well worth a visit, but if you can’t get there, they also have a mail order service. www.farmyardnurseries.co.uk
Sunday February 28th
Renishaw Hall is hosting a ‘Fanfare for Spring’ from 11am-3pm on the 28th of February. Five Specialist Nurseries will be selling spring flowering bulbs including rare snowdrops, hellebores, bulbs, primulas, alpines and more. Entry: £3.50 with free car parking www.renishaw-hall.co.uk
