WINTER 2009-2010
The winter colours of the garden cannot rival the riotous splendours of other seasons, but at Cambo we do encourage the changes throughout the year and rather than rush to tidy and remove stems and leaves we embrace the season and allow it to express itself as nature intended. Traditionally evergreens are used to supply winter interest but in the natural garden, grasses, seedheads, form and foliage colour are also included.
A newly created winter garden is in an adjacent paddock up beyond the Potting Shed. The planting has been designed specifically for winter interest and a place to showcase our more unusual snowdrops.
WOODLANDS EDGE (1) The autumn colour of Euonymous alatus and Acer griseum gives way in November highlighting their striking bark which creates a beautiful backdrop for the snowdrops.
CALENDAR BED (2) This border maintains its interest with the impressive sword like leaves of Phormium tenax and the buff seedheads of the grasses Stipa calamagrostis and Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Goldtau’, upright persistent seedheads echo the Phormium, providing rhythm.
STEPPE PLANTING (3) With its high concentration of grasses, the Steppe looks good with frost effects. The tall vase-shaped grass repeated throughout the border is Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gracillimus’, the small tussock grass along the front is Pennisetum orientale and additional interest is supplied by the persistent foliage and ball seed heads of Lavandula stoechas, the French lavender. Notice at the back of the border the architectural spiky seedheads of Acanthus spinosus.
THE ANNUALS (4) The annual beds are stripped back at the beginning of November to allow planting of Tulip bulbs for springtime.
TRADITIONAL BORDER (5) Here the main interest is supplied by Miscathus sinensis, the two large drifts of grass. Anemone x hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’ provides a haze of small ball-like seedheads.
MOIST AREA (6) This area is under renovation so please visit again to see our new planting.
CUT FLOWER AREA (7) This area was created to provide the house and guest accommodation with cut flowers. During the winter months it is the grasses which persist and these are used along with berried trees and shrubs to make floral displays.
WOODLAND BORDER (8) Snake bark Maples, Betula nigra and Garrya eliptica provide winter interest in this border.
MIXED BORDER (9) The fading colours of the late season prairie perennials are being replaced by good purple autumn colour from Cotinus coggygria and Viburnum plicatum ‘Mariesii’.
EARLY FLOWERING BORDER (10) Although designed to peak from June to July the carefully selected plants provide interest in terms of form from April to February.
NATURALISTIC POTAGER (11) This area is being stripped back to allow planting for next year’s Tulip festival on the 29 April to 3 May.
POTAGER ENTRANCE BEDS (12) These beds provide a transition between the rich colours and exotic planting of the potager and nearby areas.
LATE DOUBLE BORDER (13) The double prairie borders are designed to persist over winter. The winter skeletons and seedheads fade from yellow to brown and combine with the buff colours of the dormant grasses. This area looks amazing with frost effects or a light covering of snow.
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