Early spring is beginning to emerge under the hedges and in the meadows at Great Dixter house and garden in Northiam. The snowdrops are back along the drive, with a new look for the horse pond, which has been completely cleared of weed and vegetation and now gleams in the pale sunshine. The house and garden reopen on March 29 and you might just catch the last of the snowdrops at the winter opening weekends on February 26 and 27 and March 5 and 6.
Crocuses are coming up in the meadows leading to the front door and across the orchard. There is a lovely strip of golden coloured ones, too, as you enter the drive. Proper harbingers of warming temperatures and the possibilities of spring.
Storm Eunice brought down half a cypress and a large part of another deciduous tree, leaving a lot of debris, part of the fence by the horse pond and glasshouse damage, but could very well have been worse.
The nursery team has been busy with the start of the season of basal cuttings and is open until the end of March, Monday to Friday 9am to 12:30pm and 1:30pm to 4:30pm. Saturday it is open from 9am until 12:30pm and Sunday it’s closed. You can also buy from the online shop, it has all sorts of things gardening to purchase.
The online Zoom lectures by Fergus Garrett, chief executive and head gardener, which were started in the pandemic, have been so successful they are continuing. Go to the website “What’s On” to see what is on offer and to book. The official website is here, other ones tend to be incorrect with opening times. Pre-booking is no longer needed.
Great Dixter house and gardens at Northiam, TN31 6PH, will be open Tuesday to Sunday from March 29, opening times house: 12 noon to 4pm; garden: 11am to 5pm
Image Credits: Great Dixter , Gillian Roder .