Newcomers to the square this spring

Should be in bloom by now… dog’s tooth violets.

Our community gardening year started last month with a well-attended turn-out of volunteers to help plant, prune, mulch, garden, chat and eat chocolate biscuits. It is always a joy to work together with our regular volunteers and meet neighbours. As one neighbour sitting by the tea and coffee flasks said, ‘It’s not just about helping make the square so lovely – it’s also about knowing you belong to such a friendly community.’

Should be in bloom by now… Helleborus Cinderella

The new plants in the square are chosen by our lead volunteer gardener Paul Thomson with suggestions and help from our regular gardening volunteers.

Should be in bloom by now… Enkianthus campanulatus.

Interesting plants to look out for at this time of year include Enkianthus campanulatus with its pretty clusters of small pink bell-like flowers planted in the north-west perimeter bed; dog’s tooth violets (Erythronium revolutum Knightshayes Pink) which are diminutive woodlanders with pagoda-like flowers, in the east perimeter bed near the north gate; and Corydalis Chocolate Stars with their blue flowers and attractive chocolate-coloured leaves in the east perimeter bed near the middle. Rhododendron Christmas Cheer should also be in full flower along with many camellias including Camellia Donation, Camellia Desire and Camellia Nuccio’s Gem. Look out too for Helleborus Cinderella and its frilly spotted pink and white flowers, a new addition to the shady north-east perimeter border and a beauty that certainly deserves to go to the ball.