After a miserably cold and wet beginning to the year, West Dean Gardens is now bathed in glorious sunshine and the gardeners have changed their fretting from endless rain to endless watering as it's been so dry recently.
In terms of fruit blossom, most of it is all before us. Hoorah! Cherry blossom will soon fill one wall in the pit yard and pears and apples won't be far behind, so there's plenty to ooh over if you visit West Dean in the coming month, not forgetting the flowery meads that have been created throughout the Gardens and Arboretum.
A soggy December saw 2017 rainfall almost catch up to our 30-year average of nearly 41 inches. It's a joy to see the River Lavant running once again. There's a lot of hustle and bustle under glass in January as all the ornamental plants are attended to before they are set up for display in their respective houses.
Feisty winter weather can either have you huddling by the fireside or donning outdoor gear for an invigorating walk outdoors. Even clothed in winter garb, West Dean Gardens offers a special treat for those of us who enjoy watching, listening to and walking through the seasonal changes.
Current warm night temperatures and a very odd apocalyptic-coloured sky have graced autumnal months so far at West Dean. This unseasonal weather has kept the gardeners wondering whatever will be next and this year's weather has been so conducive for box blight, it's been unbelievable.
How quickly the seasons pass, there's a change in the air as autumn strides into view. Hey-ho it's apple harvest time and Stu has begun to harvest this year's crop. Fruit is his forté and harvesting is the natural conclusion to his fruit year. We need to plant more fruit trees, don't you think?
Glorious summer weather greeted our garden visitors earlier this summer and after a turn on TV's Gardeners' World recently with mouth-watering aerial shots of the gardens, even more people are coming to discover the delights of West Dean.
As mad May segues into a calmer June, now we just have to keep on top of weeds and watering! Yes folks - it's garden maintenance time! Anne, the border queen, has her work cut out as she keeps her climbing charges under control on the Pergola, House and in the Walled Garden and Shaun, the kitchen gardener, has once again whipped the vegetable garden into line. Read more about what's looking good in West Dean Gardens in June.
Now listen you lot, I know that many of you are keen to see wildflowers and lots of them, so all I can do is invite you to visit the gardens to walk up to the Arboretum to see the sheets of cowslips which are looking truly splendid at the moment. Read more in the latest blog by Sarah Wain.
Fritillaries are the flowery beacons of early April in the orchard at West Dean Gardens. Generally the appearance of all/any bulb is a treat, even blousy pink tulips that are currently frolicking in the Walled Garden are eye-catchers, wear your sunglasses though as they're so bright.