New Season begins!

Iford opens its doors to the public tomorrow, Easter Sunday, for the first time for 2013.

It has been a very challenging winter, and continues to be so, with frost damage to stonework, and some structural repairs to the entablatures of Peto’s colonnades along the terraces.  The old Ash tree by the road bridge had to be removed as it was potentially endangering the ancient structure.  Most sad of all was the ongoing loss of our cypress tress to the Seiridium disease.  The search continues for a cypress form which is resistant.

Right now, the major challenge is the delay of spring warmth.  As I write it is 4⁰C. outside.  This has put on hold any hope of fully ‘planting out’ the borders for the time being.  The challenge is exacerbated by the fact that for the first time in 45 years Iford has just begun an historic corrective replanting to bring the planting back into line with Peto’s ethos. 

This is a major project, and visitors to Iford will see significant changes over the coming three years to Iford’s plant-scape.  Right now there is a lot of visible (exposed) work in progress as we wait for the weather to allow us to fill many of the gaps created by clearing large areas of the main borders along the terraces.  On the plus side, this allows a rare glimpse into the underlying structure of a terraced garden.

Design work is being undertaken by Alison Jenkins and as the project develops, we will be sure to ‘ name-check’ other suppliers and experts who help us along the way.  This is a very exciting time horticulturally, but we really could do with the end of this cold spell so we can get some plants in the borders.

Happy Easter!

First day open for 2012 and weather concerns

Earlier in the week the warm spell turned cold, and our thoughts turned excitedly to the prospect of a drought-averting rainy spell.  So much for that!  The reality could not have been further from the forecasts, and Sunday 1st of April has been a glorious, warm spring day - in fact, the type every historic garden hopes for when opening their doors to the public.

The day started with a visit from Oliver Gerrish, @oligerrish if you are a Tweeter, who brought a couple of charming Americans to us - they are on an architectural tour of the UK and were visiting Iford as a part of their visit to Bath.

As the heat of the day began to strike, we were rushing around trying to find all the little essentials (such as car park signs) which had been hidden away safely over the winter, but which definitely needed digging out for the first day open.  The oven was hard at work creating cakes and dough was being hooked (? one uses a dough hook, after all!) ready to be made into scones.  Two o'clock arrived and a few minutes later the gates opened - just about on time, Peto's theatrical garden prepared for summer visiting once more.

I am very pleased to say that a steady flow of garden visitors came to see us; and the tearoom had a healthy first day, which bodes well for the season.  One man telephoned this morning to find out if we were open, explaining that he had been waiting all spring for us to open - very kind flattery, perhaps, but if he did in fact visit this afternoon, he had a good day for it!

But now it seems we are threatened with potentially quite a cold end to the coming week.  Heavy frost at this stage, especially if combined with a cold wind, will freeze-dry the wisteria buds, which are at their most delicate right now - that, for the wisteria fans, would be very sad indeed (although often it means that the second flowering in June is all the more splendid).

We live in uncertain times, weather-wise.  It doesn't help one jot, but I suspect it has been ever thus!

[Iford is next open on Tuesday April 3rd, 2pm]

Spring blossoms and green shoots

This weekend is a great time to visit Iford if you like cherry blossoms (and who doesn't?).  The lawns have been mown off for the first proper cut of the season, and our songbirds have been out and about making the most of the unseasonally warm weather.

This Sunday Iford opens for the first time in 2012, and we shall be opening fully throughout April on account of the increasingly early Spring.  The tearoom will also be open, so there's a warm cup of tea or an ice cream depending on the weather.

And whilst we're at it, cross your fingers for the replacement cypress trees which have gone in to replace those lost to the horrendous seiridium disease which is causing real problems for our cypresses.

Opening Times for the May Bank Holiday weekend

After a phenomenally busy Easter weekend, we have received lots of enquiries about this coming weekend.  Thus, here's a quick clarification on Iford's opening times over the Bank Holiday weekend:

Sunday and Monday, 2-5pm
Teas from 2.30pm on each day.

The wisteria is out, which is rather unexpectedly early - if you are a wisteria fanatic, I guess you've probably got about 2 weeks before much of it is over:  hurry!

A batch of photos of the garden as it stands, on the way shortly (once I can find the cable for the camera!)

New season approaches

It is always an optimistic time of year, full of anticipation, as we approach the first open day of the season.  The blossom is out, the wisteria is in bud, the magnificent magnolia goblets opening to drink in the relative warmth of spring - indeed, the garden is running a bit ahead of schedule this year owing to the warm, dry March.

This Sunday 3rd April, we welcome in the public visitor for another year.  The garden will be open from 2-5pm, and Susan will be providing her Housekeeper's homemade teas, albeit with a slightly reduced menu in early April (cakes not scones, basically...).

Why not pop along to visit us this Spring?