Irresistible Offers
Woottens of Wenhaston is a wonderful nursery. Owner Michael Loftus grows a superb range of high quality plants that are guaranteed to tempt the keen gardener. If you find yourself anywhere nearby (between Halesworth and Southwold, just off the A12), be sure to call in and succumb to temptation. The nursery is open throughout the year 9.30am – 5pm seven days a week, except the 25th December to the 2nd January. Woottens Display Garden is open every Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday from the 1st April to the 30th September and there are also three seasonal events that are well worth visiting. From 24th May until the 10th June you can experience the Bearded Iris Field with over two acres of scent and colour. The Iris Sibirica Trial Ground – featuring over fifty varieties – is open for the second and third weekends in June and the flamboyant Hemerocallis Field can be visited over the second, third and fourth weekends in July. In the meantime browse the website and be sure to order yourself a copy of the catalogue. It may cost £4.61, but it is an inspiring and informative read. The Mail order service operates throughout the year and there are regular special offers that will be hard to resist.
Nature’s Calendar
Many years ago a French gardener told me that the leaf buds of the mulberry will never unfurl until after the final frost.
I’ve always planted a mulberry wherever I’ve lived and so far this has always been true. There’s a long tradition of observing seasonal happenings as predictors of weather and temperature. In the past, many farmers and gardeners were illiterate and even if they could read, few had access to books. Instead they passed on, by word of mouth, the knowledge they gleaned from nature and used it as a guide for when to perform seasonal tasks. This is now known as phenology. It’s a fascinating subject that is being taken increasingly seriously, particularly as an indicator of climate change. If it is a subject that interests you, you can get involved by registering on the Woodland Trust’s website.
