Spring has arrived in spectacular style in the gardens here at Doddington Hall after record temperatures prompted hundreds of blossoms and bulbs to flower all at the same time over the weekend.
Many of the garden’s trees and plants remained tightly in bud during the unusually cold snap earlier in the month. But with the recent unusual high temperatures, the garden has seen rapid changes with blossom varieties normally out in March flowering alongside plants that normally flower in May.
Our Head Gardener, David Logan, said: “The spring gardens at Doddington Hall are particularly special but this year we’re being treated to spectacular spring displays as everything is blossoming at the same time. It’s not something I’ve seen during my time here at Doddington and it really is stunning to see. It is nature at it’s very best.”
Some of the blossom varieties that normally flower early in the month are only just coming out meaning that all the cherry blossom varieties have unusually bloomed together. Meanwhile some of the earlier blossoming plants and spring bulbs have stayed in flower a little longer.
Added David: “Visitors to the gardens will be able to see magnolias, cherry blossom, apple blossom, dog tooth violets and bluebells but we don’t know how long the displays will remain in flower; that’s the fleeting beauty of nature. Hopefully we’ll be able to enjoy it for a few weeks.”
Our Elizabethan gardens, which are maintained by a team of five with the help of volunteers, also saw the introduction of a new digital spring trail this month. It enables families to follow an interactive garden tour by using their smart phones and tablets. Visitors can download a special Gamar app from App Store or Google Play before their visit. They can then follow the ‘Unicorn Trail’, scanning markers with their phones or tablets along the way to find out more about the garden’s spring features. The Gamar app is free to download and the trail is included in the garden admission fee.
The Hall and Gardens are open right through until 30 September every Wednesday, Friday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday, 12noon – 4.30pm. The gardens open at 11am and last admission is at 3.30pm. The gardens will also be open daily 27 May – 3 June (excl. Sat 2 June) for Iris Week and 28 July – 9 September for our popular Sculpture Exhibition.
