Garden of the Month: March 2021

The Garden of the Month for March 2021 is the Doris Page Winter Garden!
By March, the Doris Page Winter Garden has come through the coldest part of the year and there are many plants springing to life to delight and surprise.
The enchantment starts at ground level where you will find checkered, pink, snake’s head fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris) putting on a grand display under the witch hazels (Hamamelis), pink fawn lilies (Erythronium revolutum) covering the ground around the birdbath, blue and white scilla (Chionodoxa) tumbling over rocks and patches of ground and bright rose-violet flowers from the buttercup family (Hepatica nobilis). Of course, there are tulips, daffodils, blue and yellow irises and so much more.
Shrubs are in bloom all across the winter garden. Azaleas and Rhododendrons are showing off their various colours, the flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum ‘Variegatum’) displays bright reddish-pink blooms, and the black pussy willows (Salix gracilistyla) are so unique. A number of the flowering shrubs provide intoxicating fragrances as well as blossoms: the potted Daphne odora, Daphne mezereum in Bed G, and Lonicera fragrantissima in Bed K are a few.
It is delightful at this time of the year to discover some of the beautiful, but often short lived, vignettes that appear as plants come into bloom. One example is the Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick (Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’), covered in catkins that droop down towards the blue crocuses, the beautiful Bergenia leaves and pink flowering heathers at the base. No doubt, you will find your own favourite vignette when you visit the Winter Garden. Don’t forget to take a photo and share it with your friends.
This information is available as a handout from the front desk with photo references to help you identify the above plants (or click here to download).