The Transience of Nature - April 2019

April 1st 2019 - Norton Conyers gardens looked very smart with its newly-laid gravel paths.
Having witnessed the subtle emergence of Spring colours in late February and March, the season was now in full flow - the speed of change accelerating.

The month began with weeding the vegetable garden, and removing the remaining crops from last season. After hours of painstaking work, it was ready for planting - a blank canvas once again.

In the afternoon, Sharron and I attended to the garden's hazel supports - most of which are in the main border. Repairing and strengthening these structures is a painstaking, yet therapeutic task; weaving the branches requires both delicacy and intricacy, but the process also comes with a great deal of satisfaction. Here, I am once again led to draw a comparison with a blank canvas. The hazel supports stand strong and skeletal over winter; in Spring, the 'colouring in' begins as verdant growth emerges from the earth. Over the course of the seasons, the supports are completely overwhelmed by nature, and cannot be seen. They are the bare bones on which many plants in the garden grow.

It was a joy to walk around the gardens at leisure today. Although every example of 'beauty' and 'perfection' quickly shifts, this transience of nature is to be celebrated.

My personal favourite plant at this time of the year is the stunning Crown imperial (Fritillaria imperialis). With its many bright, drooping flowers, and 'crown' of spiky green foliage, this plant brings exotic ecstasy to the borders in which it briefly blooms.

Crown imperial (Fritillaria imperialis)

There is also something special about the humble Primrose (Primula acaulis), which flowers in a most understated fashion. Its gentle beauty and pastel hues provide unexpected charm throughout the garden.

Primrose (Primula acaulis)

Among many other highlights this month were Spring Snowflakes (Leucojum vernum), (which bears a strong resemblance to snowdrops - except the petals are green-tipped and more pointed) and the beautiful white apple blossom.

Spring Snowflakes (Leucojum vernum)

Apple Blossom

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I was most confused when Giles mentioned the use of a 'Wacker plate'. I wondered what this contraption might be and how it would be used. Either way, I would be using it.

And so the (extremely heavy) machine was lifted onto the ground outside the entrance to the garden. It had the appearance of a lawnmower, but with a completely flat base. A Wacker plate!

Wacker Plate!

Throughout the course of the day, Bex and I used this machine to flatten the path by compacting the gravel. It was a slow and noisy process, but the result provided a smoother, more serviceable surface.

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With a wedding in the gardens in early May, mowing would be a regular activity. The expanse of lawn on the east side of the garden would require mowing by hand and the cuttings would have to be collected! A time-consuming business, but extremely satisfying.

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As some flowers (including daffodils, Spring Snowflakes and Crown imperials) withered, so fresh life continued to emerge; mute purple hostas broke through dead earth; peony stems reached towards the sky in rigid exultation; fern fronds unfurled their verdant coils.

Hostas

Peonies

Fern

Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) had also begun to emerge. Being a cut flower, it is important to provide support at an early stage to ensure strong, upright stems. To this end, Alyson and I assembled a frame of Willow. I always look forward to the Sweet William's dainty 'fireworks' of colour.

Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) supports

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April also saw the colour of the irises begin to emerge; the plants tease with their deep purple and yellow buds. We are expecting great things from the iris borders this year; having been divided two years ago, the flowers are expected to be at their best this year!

Iris Border

And with Dahlias now potted up, there is much to look forward to in the gardens. But, if the last month has taught me anything, it is to savour every moment, and to enjoy and appreciate every flower; without consciously appreciating the garden at each stage of its development, one always runs the risk of missing out on something truly special. Therefore, it's so important to 'keep up' with nature by paying close attention to its cycles of growth, fruition and death.