MANAGING A FRITILLARY MEADOW

The fritillary thrives in the garden’s damp soil, which floods most winters. But Anne has carefully managed and enhanced the area during her time here.

The fritillaries are allowed to go to seed in late spring, and the meadow is cut in June. The growth is left to lie, so that the seeds disperse, and is then removed as hay. A second cut is made at the end of September, and the growth again removed. This helps to keep soil fertility low, allows for easier autumn bulb planting, and also ensures that the grass is short come spring to show off the fritillaries when they are in flower. At Morton Hall approximately 20,000 bulbs are planted each year throughout the spring gardens, to improve the show and extend the season. Each type of bulb has its own planting method. The fritillaries are planted in clumps of 15 beneath a lifted flap of turf. Chilli powder is considered the best squirrel deterrent. Each bulb or clump of bulbs is dusted with the powder once it is in the ground.