A Gardeners Diary at Adlington Hall

Gardening Secrets No1 (21st Aug '09)

When I am asked what is the primary requisite of a good gardener my reply often causes consternation. My single word answer of 'patience' is not what some people want to hear. However, with a little reflection most come to see that this is no glib truism and patience is required in most aspects of gardening and also in the appreciation of gardens generally. It is certainly required in the practise of manipulative intervention that is the ancient art of topiary.

Topiary in the modern sense of clipped hedges and figures of evergreen plants was first developed by the Romans. The term is derived from the word topiarus which is correctly translated as the person tending the garden, a wonderfully gender neutral term for our age.

The box, lavender and yew hedges that define many of the garden areas of Adlington are tended in succession with the yew last to be tackled at the end of August. Cutting back the new growth of the yew maze that terminates the rose garden is a major task and, thankfully, a once a year job. The finished work reveals a living sculptural work of art that is best appreciated from above, be that from the raised walk, the upper floors of the hall or Google Earth. The hand clipped yew plants that make up the maze were only planted in 1996 which belies the myth that yew is slower growing. Many of the majestic old yew trees that adorn the Wilderness garden pre-date its development and were planted in the middle of the 17th Century. For over 300 years they have grown into and become a part of the landscape of Adlington. Now that takes patience!

The Flowering Phormium (26th Jun '09)

The most spectacular plant flowering at the moment in the gardens is the variegated Phormium perched atop the unique Regency rockery situated at the side of Shell Cottage.

At least a dozen eight feet high flower spikes are erupting from this bold architectural native of New Zealand. In colour and shape they resemble bunches of mini bananas and will usually last until autumn when the seed pods ripen.

The Phormium shares the summit with a now overgrown and out of scale Irish Yew which is at least 170 years old.

It is a fair guess that this Irish Yew is a survivor of the original planting scheme when this wonderful rockery was constructed in the early 1830's. At that time such constructions were regarded as features in themselves and the planting was considered of secondary importance.

To modern eyes the incongruity of the jagged rocks with the present mixed planting is start but is perfectly in keeping with the ethos of the original scheme. However, it may be we need to seriously reduce in size the Irish Yew?

Rose Garden (11th Jun '09)

As Spring turns to Summer the gardens at Adlington Hall become suffused with the sight and scent of that most evocative of garden plants, the Rose. Heralding what will surely be a good year has been the magnificent flowering of the often shy and, surprisingly rare, Rosa Banksiae Alba Plena. This delicate double flowered white rambler of ancient Chinese origin was introduced to English gardens in 1807 and named for Lady Banks, the wife of Sir Joseph Banks, the First Director of Kew Gardens.

Its delicate fragrance has been described as "having a sweet perfume as though it had just returned on a visit from the violet" which is appropriate as it climbs the wall overlooking the statue of Napoleon in the centre of the flower parterre.

The Rose garden itself, in the lower level of the former mill pool, will follow on with a succession of blooms and a build up of scent on warm summer days. The centrepiece is the trellised Gazebo covered by the perpetual flowering noisette rambler "Madame Alfred Carriere." Sitting underneath this white scented canopy surrounded by the concentric beds of roses in every hue and shade is as near to the realm of Elysium you can get in an English garden.

Planthunters Fair (29th May '09)

On Sunday 24th May 2009 Adlington Hall opened its gates for the first Planthunters' Fair.

The Gardens and Tearoom were also open, with over 700 people visiting and enjoying the perfect May weather.

With 12 Plant Nurseries having stalls situated in front of the recently restored East Range .

All parties involved agreed it had been a most successful event and were looking forward to next year.

Cascade Rises From The Wilderness (27th Feb '09)

Much time and effort has been spent since the New Year completing the final phase of restoration of the Cascade and Pool in the Wilderness.

Since starting the project in January 2007, when only a glimpse of ragged rock was visible above 200 years and many tons of spoil and decay, the transformation of the area is dramatic. What has emerged is a sophisticated and quite unique Stonework Cascade and Scallop Shaped Pool.

The rusticated stone used in construction of the 20 foot high and wide structure gives it a genuine air of antiquity that belies the fact it was only built in the 1750s.

A walk through the gardens now is enlivened by mass plantings of snowdrops.

By the end of April when I will lead a party through the glades of bluebells, the sight of water falling gracefully down the Cascade for the first time in over 200 years will be one of many highlights of this and many more tours.