A trip to Batsford Arboretum this week to meet a friend was a timely reminder that there’s no such thing as a ‘closed season’ when it comes to plants.
True, the arboretum near Moreton-in-Marsh is best known for its stunning autumn colour and beautiful spring blossom, the latter due to its National Collection of Japanese flowering cherries, but Batsford offers so much more.
It was a bitterly cold day and early fog meant the famed view across the Cotswold countryside was not as clear as it could be but that just meant focussing on smaller details.
And there was plenty to see, starting with the vibrant dogwoods alongside the car park. Who says cornus is boring.
The early spring border – I can remember it being introduced some years ago – was the first thing we encountered inside the arboretum.
It’s more than fulfilling its purpose of extending the season at Batsford with a mix of snowdrops, aconites, cyclamen and the first hellebores, all set off by the foliage of ferns and arum.
Adding a bit of height and some striking white blooms was Edgeworthia chrysantha.
The whole bed is edged with logs, giving it a more naturalistic feel that fits with Batsford’s informal style.
There were more snowdrops further into the arboretum where they are gradually naturalising.
More hellebores were beginning to come out elsewhere although they are mostly a bit behind those in the spring border.
There were even some of the daffodils already in flower, another sign of how strange the weather has been so far this winter.
Every so often we caught some scent on the breeze: a large clump of mahonia or daphne. Winter-scented plants always have more impact than those in the summer.
Even the old seedheads looked good.
But for me the stars were the hamamelis.
Their spidery flowers in sulphur yellow, burnt orange and dark red really stood out in the cold winter light.
I’m now working out whether I can fit one into my garden.
Batsford Arboretum is open every day except Christmas Day. Monday to Saturday 9-5pm, 10-5pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
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It’s so beautiful.Thank you for bringing some cheer. It’s been a few years since I visited Batsford, and you’ve reminded me that I’d like to go again. We went in autumn last time and I think a spring visit would be lovely.
I’m getting very jealous of all the spring blooms too, as I’m not sure what’s happened to mine! Fingers crossed that mine are all just having a lie in!
It’s definitely worth a visit – there should be more daffs in a few weeks too. It’s been a strange season for flowers. I’ve got all sorts of things out that shouldn’t be.