APRIL AT CLUNY

This is one of the most rewarding months in the garden when everything is bursting into growth and looking fresh and healthy (provided there are no frosts!). Please take your time going around the garden. Listen for the birds and look for the red squirrels. Although there are a number of steps and it is steep in places, there are some seats with lovely views to enjoy. 

BULBS

Many species of American woodland bulbs can be seen flowering throughout the garden. There are approximately 18 varieties of white or maroon Trillium (Wake Robin, Wood Lily) throughout the garden. They are easily recognised by their 3 leaves, sepals and petals. The graceful nodding white, yellow or pink flowers of Erythronium (Dog’s Tooth Violet, Trout Lily) are gradually spreading over the woodland floor and paths! There are lots of varieties of Daffodils, Fritillaries, Scillas, and Chionodoxas and in early April there is a large clump of Anemone blanda near No 10. Wild Wood Anemones appear throughout the garden especially where the ground is less disturbed. Large stalks of last year’s Cardiocrinum giganteum (giant Himalayan Lily) which flowered in July can still be seen. Later in the month and into May, you can almost watch the daily growth of the glossy heart-shaped leaves of this season’s flowering bulbs. 

SKUNK CABBAGE & ARISAEMA

See if you can smell them before you see them! The spectacular large spathes of Lysichiton americanus (yellow) & L. camtschatcensis (white) are found in the wet areas of the garden. They will soon produce huge green leaves some as long as 1.5m. Another group of strange looking plants with a spathe rather than a flower are Arisaemas most of which flower in May and June. However A. nepenthoides aptly called the cobra plant, will be through the ground shortly.

HELLEBORES

The Stinking hellebore or Dungwort (Helleborous foetidus) grows prolifically throughout the top half of the garden and has been flowering since January. There is a large range of flower colour throughout the early spring of the Lenten rose (Helleborous orientalis) and their subspecies. Some are almost pure white, some pink, some red and others highly spotted, all are very beautiful and last for many weeks to be followed by attractive seed heads.

PRIMULAS

Cluny is famed for its Asiatic primulas. The pale pinky-blue P hoffmaniana, dotted around the garden has the unusual feature of propagating by runners with next year’s flowering plants on the end of each runner. A large group can be seen from the viewing platform at the top f the garden. A Cluny speciality is the finicky P sonchifolia, with beautiful ice-blue flowers on a short stalk. Other Asiatic primulas, including the rich purple P bracteosa, pinky purple P gracilipes, white P kisoana alba, royal blue P griffithii and yellow P strumosa can be seen around Nos. 18 to 20. There are drifts of the more common primulas such as oxlips, cowslips and even clumps of primroses, probably the most beautiful of them all.  The first candelabra, P chungensis should appear by the end of the month.

DENTARIA & GROUNDCOVER PLANTS

European woodland plants of Dentaria or Cardamine flower in tight, purple or cream clumps in several spots mainly between Nos. 11 & 12 and 15 & 16. Throughout the top half of the garden Dicentra eximia, a graceful spreading groundcover plant with pink nodding flowers will flower towards the end of the month. In various hues of blues and with spotted leaves, is a large swathe of Pulmonaria (Lungwort) around numbers 18, 19 and 20.

TREES AND SHRUBS 

As long as there are no hard frosts, the rhododendrons should flower throughout the month. Look high to see their flowers to the best effect.  Two good specimens of the colourful Pieris formosa are at No. 22 and between 29 & 30. The first Magnolias and Prunus spp. (cherries) should flower towards the end of April. It is still a good time of year, before most of the leaves come onto the trees, to appreciate the colour and texture of the various barks. One good example of this is the Tibetan Cherry, Prunus serrula tibetica with its red, peeling bark. The original plant in the garden can be seen at No 10. It is now over 50 years old, very shaggy, especially around the base, but redder and more polished in the younger stems closer to the top.

WILDLIFE

You should see one of our resident Red Squirrels without difficulty. They are given hazelnuts, pinenuts and peanuts in feeders around the car park and at the first Sequioadendron (No 5). There can often be heard but not seen, racing up and down the trunk. There are plenty of garden birds on the feeders including tits, siskins, chaffinches and greenfinches. Many species are now busy nest prospecting and nest building especially the Long-tailed tits, Song and Mistle thrushes. Bullfinches and Treecreepers are more secretive but do breed in the garden. Buzzards can often be seen and heard displaying over the garden while Sparrowhawks pay regular visits. Great spotted woodpeckers are regular visitors and have been ‘drumming’ regularly through March. Herons also regularly pass over. Usually the first summer migrant to arrive in the 2nd week of April is the Willow Warbler, then we know spring has arrived. Watch out for Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies on sunny days! The first bumblebee was seen on the 24th March, four days earlier than last year, and on the same date a toad was out during the day.

APRIL JOBS

Large quantities of our own leaf mould are spread over areas which have been recently weeded and tidied up. This acts as a mulch and helps to suppress weeds. Spaces which have occurred over the winter are planted up with home-produced perennials and the occasional young tree. In the potting room, plants are being potted on for sale and seedlings pricked out.