March at Furzey Gardens

The beginning of March sees changing scents, sights and sounds in the gardens and gives us hope for the season ahead.

There are signs of spring everywhere around the gardens and as our plants respond to the warmth, the gardens really come alive with beautiful blooms, fresh foliage and birds, bees and insects aplenty.

Early spring displays of snowdrops and crocus with their delicate blooms gradually give way to colourful displays from daffodils in the borders and some of our trees and shrubs.

Bursting into life with a bounty of blooms is our glorious selection of old magnolias, which includes kobus and stellata species which were planted back in the 1930s. Elsewhere, one of our oldest and largest specimens Rhododendron Macabeanum, first planted in the gardens in the late 1920s, offers a show of bright yellow flowers among silver foliage.

Also in bloom are a selection of camellias including Camelia Saluensis, which can be seen as you walk up from the lake.

March is also the perfect time to enjoy the abundance of small flowers on our corylopsis pauciflora.

These tiny yellow blooms are a delight for bees who can be seen making the most of the sustenance following a long cold winter.

Another highlight to relish are the delicate purple hues of our winter heather beds, including erica darleyensis ‘Furzey’, a named variety from the pre-war period.

For those of you who are looking for delicious scents you will not be disappointed. We currently have a beautiful selection of Witch Hazel Hamamelis, these emit a spicy, almost tangarine like, scent which has to be smelt to be believed. Later this month the tiny yellow flowers of the azara microphylla produce a delicate chocolate and vanilla scent which drifts across the garden.

The gardens may have been quiet over the last few months, but the garden team continue to be busy repairing and improving areas for you all to enjoy. The team have been laying new  paths as well as pruning, cutting back and clearing areas to allow for new growth.

The tea rooms are now fully open and the team are ready and waiting to welcome visitors back to enjoy delicious cakes, snacks and light lunches.

Around the gardens kids can enjoy our ‘Find Franks Kit’ activity trail which runs from now until 24 April.

Look out for other activities and events we head into our centenary year, celebrating 100 years since Furzey Gardens was first planted out.

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