Around Benington at Snowdrop Time

As February approaches each year, I always look forward to seeing the snowdrops appear and to visiting Benington Lordship Gardens to see the spectacular display of snowdrops in the gardens there. It's become a fixture on our February calendar and for me, the snowdrops blooming are the first signs of winter fading away and spring looking nearer on the horizon. It's the time the garden starts to unfold with new colours and life. 

Benington is a small Hertfordshire village on the outskirts of Stevenage and the gardens are usually open to the public during February, as they are home to a vast array of snowdrops of many differing varieties. There are also hellebores, crocuses and aconites in bloom as well as beautiful views across the lake and the rolling Hertfordshire countryside. The village is also very pretty and worth a wander around with its old church and duck pond. Refreshments are also available in the village hall or in the hall in the grounds of Benington Lordship for when you've finished your walk or wander. 

I think the pictures speak for themselves...

January and Time to Take Stock

Apologies for being very quiet since November, as many of you will know I started feeling quite poorly in November and was in hospital right up to New Year's Eve so that's my excuse!

Bright berries on a cotoneastor

It's a brand new year though and a brand new month and time to take stock once more and look forward to the delights which will be coming soon. It's been bleak so far this month with the short days and very wet weather, but I always enjoy a walk up and down the garden each day to see if I can spot anything of interest. It's uplifting to see those bulb shoots pushing through the soil and my thoughts turn to those bright flowers of springtime - the daffodils and the tulips and days being a little longer and brighter.

Bluebell shoots pushing through

It's been mild weather for the time of year and it's interesting to see a few plants flowering out of season and that's one of delights about this time of year -  every little speck of colour in the borders or pots stands out brightly shining and is a welcome sight to be appreciated so much more in the gloom. They are glimmers of hope for what's to come soon. Some of our daffodils are nearly out and I've heard many reports about daffodils being in bloom since before Christmas.

Budding daffodils

Daffodils about to flower

It's also a time for a good tidy up, my hubby's been out there just tidying a hedge or two, trimming a few things back and tidying a few borders. I think these dark, cold months are a little bit about anticipation and preparation - I'm always thinking about what I might like to do next in the garden ready for summer. Which plants I might like to add? A new border perhaps? Move a few plants around? Split and divide a few? There is plenty to be planning ahead for, plenty to get started on if the weather permits.

Rosehips adding a splash of colour

Last summer's geraniums still in flower

One big job we need to organise fairly soon is to sort something out to make the garden more secure for our new dog - at the moment we have just natural hedges and little fencing - I like it like this, but need to think how we can secure it better now with something unobtrusive so the pup can't escape, so that's one task to be getting on with outdoors while the garden is resting.

wallflowers continuously flowerig

Purple hues in a shady corner

Geums still flowering

I'm looking forward to seeing if the snowdrops we planted last year have survived or not and I still must plant some hellebores and aconites - every year I say it and then we seem to move swiftly on to spring before I have chance. This year I'm definitely going to plant some, I'll be on the look out!

Ever faithful flowering pansies

A winter hanging basket to cheer visitors by the front door

In the meantime it's time to savour the indoor plants - my orchids are always a pleasure at this time of year. And it's also a treat to enjoy those cosy nights in by the fire and enjoy the indoors while there's a good excuse!

Last summer's annuals still blooming

A bright pink heather adding a touch of vibrance to the gloom

Spring Flowers at Chippenham Park

We have had quite a lot of sunshine recently and suddenly spring seems to be nearly here at last. We visited Chippenham Park near Ely and found some glorious displays of spring flowers. The park has one of the greatest displays of snowdrops, hellebores and aconites in East Anglia. 

There are circa 330 acres of parkland, including a lake, kitchen garden and tea rooms, formal gardens, woodland walks, canals and rose borders.

Wander along the pretty woodland walks and you will come upon spendid swathes of snowdrops, which carpet the woodland floor and give stunning views. Cross the lawned areas and you will find crocus displays and magnificent groups of aconites mixed with snowdrops. Alongside the lake pathways are clumps of hellobores and snowdrops reflecting in the water.

There are stunning arrays of spring flowers and colour here: shades of white, yellows and purples. They are an uplifting sight after the dark nights and short days of winter. It's as if the flowers suddenly pierce all the gloom of January and February, standing tall against the elements and heralding the start of change. Just as we feel ready for a change, Spring begins to find its way for us. 

Chippenham Country Park

Beautiful Benington

February and it's the time once more for Benington Village's 'Snowdrop Sundays'. I love to visit as Benington Lordship gardens have spectacular displays of snowdrops and many of them are rare species. The gardens are also springing into life with hellebores, aconites, early spring blossoms and crocuses - and there are redwoods scattered around adding to all the new colour.

The grounds of Benington Lordship are interesting with old castle ruins and a lake and moat. The moat is grassed over now and there are swathes of naturalised snowdrops as you wander through it. There are also many herbacous borders that are still resting after the long winter, but will be full of colour soon. At the moment they are filled with the beautiful white of snowdrops and here and there the yellows of aconites and the purples of the crocus add to the stunning spring colour. 

The church, its grounds and the village is also worth a stroll around and you can get tea and home made cakes in the village hall  - an added bonus! Get a sunny February day and it's well worth a visit. I think a visit here always seems to mark the start of the new gardening year for me and signals spring is very close at long last! 

Benington Lordship is open daily 7th Feb until 1st March for snowdrops.

Bennington Lordship