On the Ground: 2024

The newly planted Crataegus is now in flower, it is a pink form of the common native (white) Hawthorn which is usually found in hedgerows. We’re really appreciating its late spring colour, which lines the pathways leading from the hotel to the car park.

– Alex

The Camassia leichtinii ‘Alba’ has begun to flower, taking over from the blue form of Camassia which has now gone over as we leave spring behind. They have a great upright habit and bridge the gap between Spring and Summer.

– Alex

May has been a great time to admire the Rhododendrons in the garden. Here is one of our most spectacular specimens: Rhododendron ‘Yakushimanum Soft Pink’ Appearing like a fluffy pink cloud against the austere yew topiary.

– Alex

On the sloping south facing border there are more varieties of Narcissi to enjoy; beautiful pure white ‘Thalia’ in layers, cascading down the slope interspersed with pops of cheery yellow from ‘Double Campernelle’. We’ve had an amazing display from all our Narcissus bulbs; they’re fully winter hardy, cope with our heavy clay soil and even all the rain the lake district has thrown their way hasn’t dampened their spirits.

– Claire

Similar in appearance to a snowdrop, only taller, this is Leucojum aestivum ‘Gravetye Giant’. It has several flowers on each stem and green tips to each of its petals. This bulb should happily self-seed and naturalise through the border given our incredibly moist conditions!

– Claire

Many of our planted tulips suffered from the wet winter we experienced here on site and failed. Those that flourished look superb in the borders; the sunshine catching Tulip ‘Salmon Prince’ highlights the paper like delicacy of the petals and the blend of colour to give the overall salmon appearance. Over successive years in the ground tulip bulbs divide into smaller bulbs which are not large enough to provide a flower, or they may rot or develop tulip fire. In the summer months we will dig them up, dry them out and store them ready for replanting to give them the best chance of display next season.

– Claire

Along the roadside woodland border we planted 4 different varieties of narcissi bulbs; 4000 in total. The different varieties will flower at slightly different times and here we can see Narcissus ‘Actaea’ in a large, impactful drift complemented by the upright deep violet flower spikes of Muscari latifolium. All our bulb varieties were expertly selected by garden designer Annie Guilfoyle and placed and planted by the garden team.

– Claire

As the buds begin to swell on our roses and climbers, we have the luxury of being able to apply a generous mulch of Thwaites’ own produced manure. Supplied by the brewery’s own Shire horses, and fed on a diet of hay and spent barley.

We have fed around 80 roses and climbers, giving the new plants a great start for their first spring in the garden.

– Alex

The South Slope has slowly burst into colour over March, and the species Tulips have begun to appear. This is Tulipa humilis ‘Persian Pearl’.

– Alex

As we begin April and the temperatures begin to lift (hopefully), we are able to begin adding the pot grown Eremurus ‘Pinokkio’ to the planting on the South Slope.

Eremurus dislikes the wet winters we have here in the UK and even more so in the Lake District. Therefore growing them is somewhat challenging. However, we are able to achieve this by planting their Octopi like bulbs in a free draining soil mix in the greenhouse. Once the temperatures rise, we plant them outside on a mound of grit and pray for no late frosts (Cloches at the ready just in case).

– Alex

There’s nothing like the acid greens of Euphorbia characias ‘Wulfenii’ to wake you up on a grey morning. This is a strong reliable grower, even after its first harsh cumbrian winter here at Langdale Chase. It’s easy to forget that this is a classic Mediterranean plant.

– Alex

Taking pride of place near the terrace is our Cornus mas, revealing airy flowers on its naked stems. At this pivotal time for the garden we can now enjoy seeing the first buds and flowers on some of our newly planted specimen shrubs and trees.

As you arrive at the entrance you will be greeted by the ruffled blooms of the Camellia japonica ‘Lulu Belle’.

– Alex

As we ebb slowly towards Spring, our winter of toiling in the cold and rain is being rewarded. At this time of year the garden is revealing some of the most delicate and minute displays. Here is the Puschkinia libanotica, commonly referred to as the Russian snowdrop, catching some winter sun on the south slope. This is the earliest bulb to flower in the garden.

– Alex

February is here and the Edgeworthia chrysantha has finally decided to grace us with its beautiful, elaborate flowers. Over this month we will see these unfurl further and reveal a half globe of star shaped flowers.

– Alex

As we battle the elements in this exposed garden, we find many challenges, and plenty of damage.

Here we have Camellia ‘Mars’, its new flowers emerging. However some have succumbed to frost damage, leaving them misshapen and brown. Another example of the extreme weather this garden faces.

– Alex

Whilst clearing out the Bothy, we managed to find a great bit of history from the gardens heyday – a plaque in commemoration of a record high for lake Windermere.

This dates back to around the time that the Thomas Mawson designs were being laid out.

Now we just need to do a bit of research and find out where it was originally placed (Keep an eye out for it on future visits to the garden).

– Alex

The snow and ice of January put a stop to our regular gardening duties. However this gave us an opportunity to take refuge in the “bothy”, which has been in desperate need of a renovation.

With years worth of spiders webs removed, and wooden frames built to hang all our tools (very satisfying) – we now have a garden shed to be proud of.

– Alex

As the freezing temperatures blanketed the garden in snow and ice, something caught our eye – In a shady area of the garden a solitary flower of the Camelia japonica ‘Mars’ stood out. As the month rolls on we should see the gradual unfurling flowers of of numerous Camellias, bringing a burst of colour to the entrance and roadside of the garden.

– Alex

On a sunny winter day – we can be found with our Tripod ladders, doing some structural pruning. In this case, the mature Wisteria Chinensis which adorns the terrace. It had seen better days, and was in need of a renovation – so we have removed any unproductive old stems, and cut back any unwanted long whips. All the time observing its overall shape.

It is a long process to bring it back to a nice framework, and create a more floriferous specimen. Luckily we can see new buds breaking on the older wood (Yay).

– Alex