Under snow: walking in a winter wonderland!

The prolonged cold weather has meant the garden’s horticultural staff have had their work cut out making sure that temperatures in the Glasshouse Range and reserve collections are maintained.

Some borderline hardy plants, including the Cycads and Tree Ferns which are clustered around the eastern end of the Glasshouse, have been wrapped in protective fleece. While the chill has set in the establishing collection of cactus and succulents being trialled outside have had a temporary glass shelter erected over them. 

Sally Petitt, Head of Horticulture, said: “With heavy snow forecast, we will be monitoring the tree collection particularly closely to ensure that any damage caused by the weight of settling snow, often compounded by strong winds, is dealt with swiftly and safely.

“But, with the ground frozen solid, we will also be taking refuge in our offices and potting sheds to pore over seed catalogues and plan the summer displays.”

It is thought that a proper, cold winter can act as a re-boot, re-setting the seasons and helping the summer flowerings by encouraging good bud formation and also helping to zap pests and diseases that have been thriving in the recent milder winters.

Following last year’s cold winter, when snow covered the ground for the first half of February, the Botanic Garden enjoyed particularly show-stopping spring and summer flower displays, and anecdotal evidence indicated that the leaf miner damage to the Chestnut Trees was less severe.

With the ground frozen rock-solid, any snow will quickly settle and blanket the ground, showcasing the impressive structure and design of the garden.

This wonderful image is revealed by the recent uploading of many beautiful winter wonderland photographs to the photosharing site Flickr, which hosts a group dedicated to images of the Botanic Garden.

The importance of structure and design is nowhere more spectacularly evident than in the renowned Winter Garden, a masterclass in weaving together foliage, flower and fragrance.

Juliet Day, Development Officer at the Garden said: “Now that the leaves have been stripped from the polished burgundy, ebony and green stems of the many dogwoods and willows, the Winter Garden is really beginning to zing and under snow the colours will take on an even greater vibrancy. The air is also richly scented as the Viburnums and Wintersweets brave the weather to bloom.”

The snow also makes it a great time for birdwatching at the Garden and large flocks of long-tailed tits are often spotted in the Woodland Garden, although the itinerant Kingfisher is unlikely to visit until the lake has thawed.

For younger visitors, the extensive lawn areas make the garden a great canvas for snowman building.

To warm up, a visit to the magnificently-restored Glasshouse Range is a must. Recently re-planted with support from Donarbon Ltd through Mondegreen Environmental, the Glasshouse Range offers year-round warmth in which to explore contrasting habitats ranging from arid lands of architectural cactus to flamboyant tropical rainforests, from diminutive alpine jewels to the fire-dependent ecologies of South Africa and Australia.

The garden’s extraordinary Jade Vine, probably the best flowering specimen in the UK is already putting down tentacles of buds from the roof canopy that will open to form one-metre long jade-green inflorescences perhaps within the month. Watch this space.

The garden is an inspiration for artists and photographers all year round. To share your photos of the Botanic Garden under snow, visit the link at the top right of this page.

The Botanic Garden does intend to open as usual in the snow, but may have to close early to allow staff to travel home safely. Please check opening details on 01223 336265.