Winter

  • Winter

    The new generation of trees

    Posted on 18th February 2020

    To date 'we' have planted the four main clumps in the Parkland; consisting of sweet chestnut, hornbeam, oak and disease resistant elm with a couple of more exotic clumps which comprise of cedar, Liquidambar, pine and purple beech. Head Gardener Tom Brown gives us an update on the new generation of trees being planted at West Dean Gardens this year.

  • Winter

    Welcome to West Dean Gardens in 2019

    Posted on 1st February 2019

    Who would have thought that after the heat and lack of rain of summer 2018 that we almost reach our average of 1100mm by the end of the year? Rainfall is a fascinating business and it's so interesting to see how differently it falls year on year. The River Lavant started flowing in December, which was a bit of a yah- boo to expectation.

  • Winter

    Snowy scenes

    Posted on 11th December 2015

    December is a quieter period in the gardens. In the run up to the festive season - and in this very mild weather - we thought our readers would enjoy looking back at snowier times.

  • Winter

    Valentines means Roses

    Posted on 12th February 2015

    In the spirit of Valentine's Day I have just spent a very pleasant day pruning roses at home. It's not a huge garden and, like most of us, I want to grow more plants in it than the space will sensibly allow.

  • Winter

    Snowdrop Time

    Posted on 28th January 2015

    Early spring is the best time to see the emerging displays of snowdrops and crocuses which carpet the lawns here, until spring when the daffodils will light up the gardens. Who can ever get bored with coming across a delicious bunch of snowdrops or winter aconites?

  • Winter

    The Kindest Cut of All

    Posted on 21st January 2015

    On one level early January is the nadir of the gardening year. Days are short, light levels low, temperatures chilly and everything seems deeply dormant. But look more closely and the signs are there that nature's pulse is already strengthening.

  • Winter

    Holly and the Ivy Evergreen

    Posted on 16th December 2014

    Two of our very few native evergreens, holly and ivy, are as seasonally synonymous as Christmas and pudding. For our forebears, these were plants that mysteriously denied the seeming extinction of nature during winter's icy grip and, to this day, we retain the ancient custom of decking the house with these evergreen plants to subdue sprites and goblins over the festive season.

  • Winter

    December at West Dean

    Posted on 16th December 2014

    I feel as though I'm in the wrong story- more White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland (its late! its late!) than bringing December news from West Dean on time. Who says there isn't much to do in the garden in winter. West Dean Gardens will remain open until Sunday 21st so there is still time for you to visit our Gardens Shop for Christmas gifts and enjoy the delights of the Gardens Restaurant; best to get in quick as we will be closed throughout January 2015, reopening on February 1st. At this time of year you can take advantage of our reduced entry fees to the gardens too.

  1. Previous page
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. Next page