GREEN SCENE
BLUEBELL BLISS
The mild winter has also meant that the bluebells are blooming early, and the breathtaking blue carpets are already in evidence in many areas. Most people will already have their favourite bluebell walks but it is always well worth visiting somewhere new for bluebell beautifulness. And don’t forget that these visually stunning flowers also have the most ‘scent-sational’ fragrance. If you can visit bluebell sites early in the morning or early evening the scent will be at its best.
Lots of the National Trust and Woodland Trust sites will have the magical blue-carpeted walks. Choose from Plas yn Rhiw, near Pwllheli, overlooking Cardigan Bay, the fabulous gardens at Bodnant, Conwy, and Llanerchaeron Country House, just outside Aberaeron.
Colby Woodland Garden, Upton Castle and Picton Castle and Gardens could all be visited in one day, or spend the day at Dyffryn Fernant Garden to enjoy the bluebells and explore the six acres of interlinked and inspirational gardens.
Cae Hir, near Lampeter, was voted the 2nd Best Garden in Wales a few years ago and has some beautiful bluebell swathes, and of course, the well-known Aberglasney House and Gardens never fail to delight at any time of year. In the same area, the National Botanic Garden of Wales has matured into the most magnificent gardens while still retaining fabulous natural walks and trails – bluebells are just a bonus at this time of year!
Other Woodland Trust sites include Coed y Wenallt in Cardiff, Coed Tregib and Green Castle Woods and the side of the Blorenge Mountain. For more details and other sites simply type ‘Bluebell Woods in Wales’ into Google and choose from a long list of recommendations. And please, always respect the countryside – ‘take nothing but photographs and leave nothing but footprints’.
MATURE (TASTE) BUDS
Tulips are also providing the most striking colour in gardens at the moment. I think – much like my tastebuds – my gardening preferences have changed a lot over the years. I never used to have much time for tulips and thought they were a bit pretentious and short-lived, but now I absolutely adore them – and all the fancy ones too. They provide so much impact and are just not afraid to ‘be bold’. Even the more subdued colours demand attention. There are a huge range of colours, sizes, varieties and flowering times to choose from, ensuring that there are tulips suitable for everyone and every garden. Planted in drifts, through forget-me-nots, in grass or jam-packed into pots, they are just spectacular at this time of year and I am definitely converted.
I have also changed my mind about ornamental grasses, having always avoided incorporating them into gardens for years, and am now a big fan of the big bold Miscanthus varieties and Stipa gigantica, although I’m still not very fond of the smaller, tufty ornamental grasses like the Carex varieties. But who knows? In another 10 years I may have ‘made friends’ with those too.
ON TREND
One of this year’s ‘trends’, as predicted by the Royal Horticultural Society, is for growing purple vegetables. Largely driven by the health benefits of veggies with a natural purple hue, they have become more and more popular with growers and gardeners. The rise in popularity has resulted in breeders introducing purple varieties that are easier to grow than traditional ones and avoid the many previous drawbacks, such as non-fruiting and limited ‘purpleness’ after cooking. Gardeners and chefs can now indulge in purple carrots, cauliflowers, broccoli, tomatoes, peas, radishes, French beans and even lettuces.
Another ‘forecasted trend’ is the use of wildflower seeds moving away from designated wildflower patch/meadow areas and being used in beds and borders. Alexanders, meadowsweet and Welsh poppies are apparently top choices, although I’m not sure about the success rate of Welsh poppies as they are notoriously difficult to establish where you want them to grow – preferring to choose their own spot.
Even plants traditionally seen as ‘unwanted weeds’ or ‘common weeds’, such as Herb Robert and plantain, are becoming popular in beds and borders, and dandelions are being tolerated and left in lawns as valuable bee food.
Thanks to the Chelsea Flower Show Gardens, cow parsley is also now a ‘desirable border plant’.
Let’s hope ground elder reaches those desirable dizzy heights, and I’ll be ‘bang on trend’ for once.