Broadgate House’s Garden Guide

broadgate house garden 2009 006

With this garden guide I always think the great advantage of Broadgate House is its’ remarkable setting. An enormous vista of sea and sand spread out below on the Duddon Estuary and then equally wonderful fell views particularly up to the great bulk of Black Coombe.

I always think of the garden as a rainbow – starting off with white – the snow drops, then going yellow with all the daffodils and on through the crocus’s, the wonderful azaleas, rhododendrons and then the roses and all the flowers in the herbaceous borders and then the amazing hydrangeas which flower from June to November. It is a very exciting time of year for all gardeners and everything hopefully getting ready to go.

There is always colour in the garden and at the moment the daffodils are quite outstanding and the snow drops but are not going to be at their best for Easter! I have been very busy all winter and worked in the garden for 3 to 4 hours every day. The big job which I started today is dead-heading the hydrangeas – which will probably take about 10 days. It is worthwhile as they are such a low maintenance plant and do love the soil here and I have all colours – red, blue and white.

broadgate house garden 2009 004The walled garden is looking very dormant and it is hard to imagine what it will look like in 2 months time. All the beds have been weeded out and I am plotting what new plants to put in for the summer. Am going to plant more poppies as they are planted for my oldest granddaughter and some of the old poppies that used to grow here have now given up.

The magnolia tree is looking healthy – it flowered twice last year. There is always a threat that we can still have snow – having had only one day this year but that can break branches especially of the magnolia.

The grass has really grown this winter as it has been so mild – I don’t think we will start mowing for another 4 weeks as one doesn’t know what is in store with the weather. The evenings are now drawing out and one can imagine sitting outside with a nice drink and admiring the garden and the amazing views.

broadgate house crocusThere are other gardens to visit in this area. There’s Muncaster Castle with wonderful rhododendrons and azaleas: that’s best visited in spring. Holker Hall has award-winning gardens with lovely roses. And Levens Hall has a world-famous topiary garden, laid out in 1694 and still going strong.

They are all great, and would more than justify a trip to Cumbria. But after a visit, when the weather is right, my garden is a very nice place to come back to.

Diana Lewthwaite, Broadgate House

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