By Richard Larkin, Horticulturist

Winter in the Gardens

We are now well into the winter season, and it has been the mildest in years. Very little snow has fallen but we have had plenty of rain – which is good for the water table but makes working in the garden difficult.

One of our projects this year was to put in a wildflower meadow. The seed has been sown and now we wait for spring and first growth. Removing dead and downed limbs from the woods along the perimeter road is another priority this season.

We’re searching for a planting to replace the formal yew hedge near the front of the Mansion. Deer browsing has taken its toll, so we want to replace the hedge with something that will respond well to clipping and shaping while being deer resistant. Under consideration is Thuja plicata  - “Spring Grove” - which we already use with success in the Maze Garden.  Another plant that we had considered but ruled out is Cephlotaxus ‘Fastigiata’  - “False Yew”. It is very deer resistant but we believe it could not be clipped as tightly and accurately.

Various other projects – painting, sifting of gravel walkways and edging of walkways are also consuming our time this winter.

It is a time for preparation. Spring, with blooming daffodils, snowdrops, forsythia, cherry and magnolia trees will be here soon enough and we will be ready to welcome them.