Wow, we are really peaking into full springtime magic
Every available space is packed with colour from the blankets of Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), to the glorious early pinky reds of the purple Beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Purpurea’) high above, and everything in between. It’s not only the eyes which are being gifted incredible sights at the moment; the fantastic sweetness of the Rhododendron Loderi Group accompanied by giant, pillowy white flowers smells sensational, and the birdsong is quite the background symphony – Trebah in spring really is a full sensory experience. Take a moment to sit somewhere and just be present; take in all the sounds and smells and feel your body sink in to your surroundings. I often think to myself when we’re alone in the garden first thing in a morning that it’s like working in a mindfulness video.
Bluebell Management
It seems to have been an excellent year for Bluebells this year all over Cornwall. Everywhere I drive, a flash of blue along hedge tops catches my peripheral.
Every scrap of woodland seems carpeted in colour, and verges and gardens are a dazzling Indigo.
There is a reason why we see so many of these beautiful bulbs. Almost 50% of the world’s Bluebells live in the UK, which probably helped sway their common name, the English Blue Bell. If you have visited Trebah recently, you could have easily believed that fact to be untrue and may argue it feels more appropriate that half the world’s Bluebells actually frequent Trebah Garden! An outstanding display this year means almost every spare bit of ground is awash with these native gems. However there is more to it than the right conditions aligning for a good year. Over the past 4 or 5 years, ourselves and our volunteers have been fighting to give the Bluebells the space they need to thrive. We have been waging war on the extremely invasive 3 Cornered Leek (Allium triquetrum), native to the Mediterranean, which outcompetes the Bluebell and interrupts the blanket of blue with large swathes of white. Over recent years, each spring we take a border fork to the steep sides of the valley and dig out each individual clump, bulbs and all. Since starting this process in large areas of Bluebell habitats we have seen a reduction in the number of returning Allium’s and the native plants have really been thriving. We aim to try and collect some
Bluebell seed this spring to distribute to other areas of the garden which has bare ground to cover.
Regeneration
The aftermath of Storm Goretti in January where we lost almost 30 trees, has left us with a big space but a big opportunity to replant for the future. In gardening you must always remind yourself that you are planting not just for yourself but for the future generations too; sometimes nature does that for you. A loss of significant, mature trees reminds us to make space for future growth. We have been planting lots of new things around the garden as the next phase of regeneration including: Fuchsia, Pieris and Salix to name a few.
A Refresh For The Stumpery
A pre-historic jungle of a variety of ferns, the Stumpery is a collection of all thing Pteridological, or should I say was. A challenging environment due to its dry, exposed location, the name Stumpery represents the graveyard of many misfortune old trunks left behind after the ferns died off. The idea is to condition the area, adding in mulch for nutrients and water retention, and then to plant a number of new ferns to restore the area back to its Jurassic feel.
Wildflower Wins
As gardeners, we recognise beauty in the smallest of things because we see the world at a slower pace and different angle (quite literally!). Our morning commute is a stroll down the valley, surrounded by new sights and smells as each new bloom emerges or each new leaf unfurls. We notice nature taking it in turns to wake up to the new season and the importance of where we work being where valuable life survives.
Although our aim is to maintain the garden to a high standard to keep people happy and returning, there is an underlying obligation of someone who shares their office with the homes of wildlife, to preserve and respect their surroundings. The bottom lawn where children like to roll and sometimes families sit to picnic is a bustling mix of wildflowers and source of food for pollinators. Given this reason, our Deputy Head Gardener stops mowing everything but the outer perimeter at this time of year to give way to nature. A vibrant collection of Violets, Self Heal, Cat’s Ears, Buttercups and White Clover amongst others bring the lawn to life and life to the lawn.
Many people battle with these so called ‘weeds’ to get that perfect Wimbledon garden but instead, if we put down the weed killer and gave way to nature, it’s amazing to see how beneficial it can be to wildlife. I would much rather see green patchworked with colour and buzzing with bees, than a boring, perfectly manicured square without an insect in sight. Consider saving Wimbledon lawns for tennis courts this year and encourage nature into your garden.
Plant Database Review
We have had the luxury of walking the paths this months on the hunt for trees and shrubs to cross reference with our plant database. It is an important task to complete, particularly after the loss of quite a few trees following our year of windy weather. The review is helping us on our mission to refresh the plant labels throughout the garden, giving you, the visitors, a helping hand in identification. Slowly around Trebah more and more are appearing but it is a laborious job given the number of plants we have in our 26 acre garden!
So as usual, a busy month for the gardeners and volunteers of Trebah again as we continue to welcome spring with open arms. If you haven’t made it to the garden yet this season, now is the time to come.
As we enter into May and begin to welcome even more visitors, we’re hoping for more sunshine and less bitter Easterly winds.
Whether you read this with a cup of tea on your lunch break, as a family member to see what we get up to in our day jobs, a supportive partner trying to learn some Latin names, or even during nighttime baby feeds I’d like to thank everyone for taking the time to see what we do here at Trebah, and please pass it on and spread the word!
