Wisteria Watch - May 13 2012

A mixed bag on the wisteria front.  Those plants which were in exposed locations suffered a significant set-back from the frost in early April.  In most cases they are having a go, and we will see some rare 'intermediary' blooms this year I suspect in late May, when the flowers are out with the smallest of the leaves.

In other, more sheltered areas, we have a good show - especially on the Casita (above) which is ready this weekend, and by the Loggia (below).  

The ring of wisteria around the lily pond in the centre of the garden will need more sun to mature yet:  

Free-standing forms in the upper terraces are coming on and are about a week away, given some warmth.

 The weather has proved this year just how unpredictable things can be, with spring having arrived three weeks early on the average at Iford, and yet we are now looking at a late flowering of the wisteria!  It is as though the late frosts and the drought sent everything into suspended animation for a month.

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]

A winter walk in the morning frost

A sharp frost on Monday this week enticed me out with the camera.  Chilly, and owing to the [foolish] lack of a jacket, a distinctly swift walk.

(Click on the images for larger, slightly sharper versions)