April is one of the busiest months for the gardeners at Cambo and possibly one of the most satisfying as they prepare for the coming season, planting seeds, taking cuttings, mulching and planting. As you will see, the greenhouses and frames are full of seedlings and plants – you are welcome to go in and have a closer look.
In the woodland edge planting beside the potting shed (1) there are many interesting spring flowers – hellebores, pulmonarias and primulas weave their way between shrubs such as mahonia and two cultivars of ribes sanguineum (flowering currant). Drifts of assorted narcissus help to lighten the scene and across the path towards the burn the colchicum meadow provides a lush green carpet of contrasting textures.
Going through the Garden Gate and turning right, on the left is:
The Calendar Bed (2)
This steppe planting is still filling out. Mostly grown from seed, it is a diffused natural planting in a pastel colour range. The textures are just beginning to emerge as the perennials and grasses break into growth. This long season border has a focus in July-August.
Behind the long hedge of prunus cerisifiera is the main vegetable production area for the house which means that our wonderful vegetable potager can remain unscathed. All the seeds are currently in modules in the greenhouses.
Steppe Planting (3)
As with the Calendar Bed the textures are just beginning to emerge in this planting which takes its inspiration from natural areas with little available summer rainfall such as the Polish and Russian Steppes or the North American short grass prairie.
In the main greenhouse, a wonderful splash of colour is created by 26 varieties of tulips in pots with the magnificent centrepiece of Cestrum, a tender shrub with large red flowers.
The Annuals (4)
These beds have been planted with tulips this year – the start of our planned Tulip Festival 2010.
Traditional Border (5)
The traditional borders represent a modern reworking of traditional flower borders incorporating some traditional cottage garden flowers such as delphiniums, lupins and geraniums which are not often found in contemporary naturalistic plantings and during April we will continue to adjust the plantings.
Cut Flower Area (6)
This function based natural planting is based on an offset geometric layout which is designed to make picking easier, slow the visitor down and enclose them with flowers. Having made adjustments last October, we are now looking forward to watching it as the season progresses.
Early Flowering Area (7)
The mingled style of this area is suitable for smaller gardens. Parts of this area were planted last year, the remaining less hardy plants will be planted this month. The aim is to create an early planting which also looks good later in the season.
Naturalistic Potager (8)
We will be planting the hardy perennials and grasses this month, followed by the vegetables as they are ready. The grid relates to a gridded plan and is an aid to laying the plants out quickly and accurately.
Behind the potager the nepeta (catmint) walk is awash with bulbs – narcissus, anemones and erythroniums surrounding the fresh purplish leaves of peonies. The pale blue starshaped flowers are chionodoxa which selfseed freely and are one of the first bulbs to flower. The bulbs are used to add interest and extend the season before being covered by the pale blue of the nepeta later in the season. Also look out for the stunning trilliums in the far right hand corner of the garden.
Double Prairie Borders (9)
This habitat based planting is influenced by the North American tall grass prairies, albeit a very stylised version. The plants are from moister regions of North America and are suitable for most parts of Scotland.
Tulips have been interplanted between permanent plants to help extend the season.
The Lilac Walk along the top wall is underplanted with spring bulbs such as muscari and anemones.
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