Allium displays bring a new splash of colour to castle
The Allium displays brings a fresh new burst of colour and intrigue to the castle gardens and landscape and is the perfect follow-up to the popular Annual Tulip Festival.
The pom-pom headed Alliums have erupted into flower as part of its annual Allium Extravaganza.
Alliums are so versatile as they come in many different heights, shapes and shades of purple and white, the tallest can reach as high as five feet!
Alliums are part of the same family as onions, garlic and shallots. The most admired is the amethyst coloured Allium Christophii, known as the Star of Persia these we have planted in between the Lavender Hidcot within the Cut Flower Garden giving the impression of balloons floating above the lavender plants below.
The Fitzalan Chapel white garden you can see Allium Mont Blanc, a rounded bloom with white, star-shaped flowers and Allium White Cloud which boasts a white head containing hundreds of tiny white flowers.
In the Stumpery Garden we have planted the more unusual alliums such as Allium Hair which, as its name suggests, has green and purple hair-like flowers, the striking dark purple Allium Spider and Allium Purple Rain which bears huge purple, rounded flower heads which can measure up to 15cm in diameter looks stunning.
In some areas we have deliberately selected tall ornamental Alliums such as ‘Mount Everest’, ‘Summer Drummer’ to give height and structure to compliment the other plants in our beautiful herbaceous borders.
May for the garden team is a very busy time of the year as we change large pot displays for summer using Agapanthus with Scaevola , sowing our annual wildflower seed, and planting out our seasonal vegetable that supplies the castle.
Over the last few years we have reduced our lawns by increasing our perennial wildflower area, which are already beginning to show signs of flowering, cowslips can be seen in amongst the grasses, these areas are crucial in attracting insects, butterflies and bees to help our environment.
Our long cloud hedge is looking wonderful along our pathway up to the gardens with the dramatic backdrop of the castle and wild areas.
If you are seeking somewhere to get away from the hectic pace of everyday life we can really recommend you find that perfect bench or just spread out a picnic rug on the lower lawn and gaze at the vast architecture of the castle walls, listen to the numerous birds singing or watch them as they feed their young.
Make sure your newly planted trees, shrubs and lawns are well watered.
Cut lawns weekly, cut in alternative directions each week.
If you want to keep your lilies intact, watch out for those pesky scarlet lily beetles!
Direct sow French and Runner Beans.
Pinch out the tops of your Broad beans when they flower to discourage Blackfly.
Tuck straw under your Strawberries to protect the fruits from lying on the ground and rotting later on
If you haven’t done so it is a good time to lightly cut your Box Hedging (Buxus) near the end of the month.
Earth up your potatoes Happy Gardening!
For further information on the opening times, events and booking your online tickets please go to the Arundel Castle website at www. arundelcastle.org