MARCH AT CLUNY

Fortunately although it has been another hard and long winter, we have not had the causalities of last winter. The garden is slightly behind but catching up quickly. Of course we can still expect some rough weather over this month but hopefully it won’t be too severe. On good days the garden is alive with bird song and if you have a good sense of smell there are already plants giving off lovely perfumes.

BULBS

This month and next the garden comes alive with flowering bulbs. There are a number of different species and hybrid snowdrops Galanthus dotted throughout the garden along with their near relative, snowflakes Leucojum vernum. There are 2 species of beautiful butter yellow winter aconites Eranthis and the first miniature daffodils Narcissus minor and  N. cyclamineus growing happily and can be seen at Nos. 2 & 10. There are many different Crocus along with Cyclamen, Scilla & Muscari especially in the top area of the garden. Please also look on the slope behind the house where a number of bulbs are naturalising. Towards the end of March, the first Trilliums & Fritillaries should be in flower. Look out for white T. ovatum, usually the first to show especially in the bed opposite the car park and T. chloropetalum var giganteum a very large Trillium up to 40cm with highly mottled leaves. The first Dog’s Tooth Violets, Erythronium revolutum, should also be in flower by mid-March. The large stalks (some over 3 metres) of last year’s seed heads of Cardiocrinum giganteum, the Giant Himalayan Lily, can still be seen in position throughout the garden. 

HELLEBORES

The Stinking hellebore or Dungwort Helleborus foetidus, grows prolifically throughout the top half of the garden and has been flowering since early February. The Lenten rose Helleborus orientalis and their subspecies have a large range of flower colour from almost pure white, to pink, to red and some are highly spotted. All are very beautiful, lasting many weeks to be followed by attractive seed heads. There are other species of hellebore to be found in the garden including H. purpurascens and argutifolius.

PRIMULAS

Cluny is famed for its Asiatic primulas. Amongst the first to flower is the pale blue-pink Primula hoffmaniana with the unusual feature of propagating by runners with next year’s flowering plants on the end of each runner. There is a large carpet of it below the viewing platform on the lawn and below the path at No 19. Towards the end of the month rich purple P. bracteosa, pinky-purple P. gracilipes, yellow P. strumosa and the various blues of P. griffithii will all be coming into flower.

TREES & SHRUBS

Now, before the leaves come onto the trees, is the time to appreciate many of Cluny’s evergreen trees and shrubs and also to be aware of the structure of the garden. The first Rhododendrons flower in March but as we can still suffer from severe frosts at this time of year, the flowers often get badly damaged. At the far end of the lawn, the Cornelian cherry Cornus mas with its umbels of yellow flowers is in flower for many weeks. Wonderfully scented evergreen Mahonia is found in different places in the garden. A large one is one the left between Nos. 30 & 31. Its bright yellow flowers contrast with the dark green sharply toothed leaves. The first Daphnes are flowering, particularly D. mezereum and D. laureola the former with pink/purple scented flowers, the latter with yellow-green slightly scented flowers.

HERBACEOUS PLANTS

Around Nos. 18,19,20, there is a large spreading carpet of Pulmonaria or Lungwort with flowers of various hues of purple and blue, and varied amounts of leaf spotting. Dotted throughout the garden are clumps of white Cardamine enneaphyla and purple Cardamine pentaphyllos rhizomatous perennials from cooler parts of southern Europe. Another European woodland genus slowly increasing in the garden is Hepatica related to Anemone. The various species have delicate and beautiful little purple or blue flowers. 

WILDLIFE

You should easily see one of our resident Red Squirrels. They can regularly be found feeding on the bird feeders around the car park area and at this time of year heard running up and down the trees. Please speak to one of us if you have not been lucky enough to see one. Going quietly around the garden can be very rewarding. There are plenty of garden birds especially on the feeders including various tits as well as a party of 8 Long-tailed Tits, Siskins, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Blackbirds and Robins. The Great-spotted Woodpeckers began drumming in the garden on the 26th February and hopefully it will nest in or close to the garden. Elsewhere Song and Mistle Thrushes, and Treecreepers can all be easily seen and are singing their hearts out on mild days. We think Wrens have suffered greatly as a result of the two winter weathers. Look and listen for Buzzards mewing overhead and quick fly-bys by Sparrowhawks which have been regular visitors to the bird tables throughout the winter.

MARCH JOBS

Where open spaces have been created by the loss of trees, we will be planting them up with herbaceous plants and young trees or shrubs. We are clearing away dead plant material from the beds and covering them with a layer of 2 to 3 year old leaf mould to suppress weeds and provide nutrients. Meanwhile in the potting-room, we are re-potting and splitting up herbaceous plants for sale.