Gardens can be wonderfully dramatic and beautiful in winter, when it can be a delight to head outside for a walk to blow away the cobwebs.
More of us are now realising that winter gardens are to be enjoyed rather than endured and over the next few months winter walks will take us from autumn colour right through the January and February and the start of snowdrop displays.
Certainly the build up to Christmas and the New Year shouldn’t deter regular garden visitors from wrapping up and getting out to enjoy the unique drama beauty of winter gardens.
Continue your winter walk here
Getting out into the early winter garden
The garden begins to wind down in November and into December, as deciduous plants enter dormancy. But there are still gardening jobs to do this month to prepare for for when winter truly sets in.
Make sure to get outside and enjoy the garden as it fades, leaving structural plants and evergreens to take centre stage. Here are the key gardening jobs for the weeks ahead.
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Latest features
Calling a spade a spade!
Mon, 26/11/2018 - 14:04Consumer writer John Swithinbank launches a new product testing series in which he looks in detail at some of the most popular gardening tools and accessories.
Houseplants in your bedroom?
Mon, 26/11/2018 - 13:36
You may not feel that having plants in your bedroom is a great way of improving sleep but the fact is, having vegetation in your sleeping space can and does improve the quality of your sleep.
Change your garden as you get older
Mon, 26/11/2018 - 12:08
It comes to us all - the joints get stiffer, the arms a little weaker, and the energy diminishes
- so adapting your garden could help prolong your active enjoyment of gardening.
Latest news
Compton Acres wins two Dorset tourism awards
Post date: Thu, 06/12/2018 - 15:02The popular privately owned gardens at Compton Acres has won two awards at the 2018 Dorset Tourism Awards, scooping a bronze in the Small Attraction of the Year category, and gold for Café/Tearooms of the Year.
Blooming good news for small scale growers at Devon County Show
Post date: Tue, 04/12/2018 - 14:16
The Devon County Show has announced that it is to introduce a new section to the Craft & Garden feature for 2019 which will enable small businesses operating in horticulture to benefit, for the first time ever, from the 91k strong audience that visit the show over three days in May.
Taurus Crafts' bustling Christmas market
Post date: Tue, 04/12/2018 - 14:02
Over the first three weekends in December, the onsite makers and creative businesses at Taurus Crafts will be joined by over 30 independent traders and 100’s of locally-grown fresh cut Christmas Trees to create the area’s largest Christmas Market. Featuring; live performances, choirs, singing groups and delicious food and drink.
Garden visits
Open Garden in aid of St Margarets Hospice - Broadleigh Gardens
Open throughout the year, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm for a £2.50 charity donation.
Over the past 30 years, the five acre gardens and nursery at Broadleigh Gardens have become well established and are a major attraction to our visiting customers. Specialising in bulbs, there is always colour in the garden, which also includes many foliage and structural plants and sculptures.
Willet Farm,Willet, Lyderd St Lawrence- In Aid of St Margarets Hospice
Open by appointment from August 26th until 30th September, Willet Farm, Willet, Lydeard St Lawrence - call Ann White on 01984 667486 to book
A gorgeous traditional Victorian style farmhouse garden, featuring a vegetable patch and beautiful colourful flower borders over-look the rolling West Somerset Countryside,
Approx.3/4 of an acre in size, offering both beautiful gardens and spectacular scenery, including a hay meadow.
Please do call to arrange visits
Entry Fee: £3 Parking Onsite Toilet and refreshments available
Postbox Cottage, West Bagborough
Open by appointment in aid of St Margaret's Hospice until 31 October, for groups up to 25, Postbox Cottage West Bagborough - call Martin Jones on 01823 430579 to book
This stunning 1.5 acre garden on the Quantocks has been planted for all year round interest and offers superb views over the famous Quantock Hills.
With a walled top garden boasting unusual perennials, roses and climber plus plenty of late season interest including asters and grasses. In addition there is a superb orchard area featuring spring bulbs, wildlife ponds and collection of flowering shrubs.
