The Low Garden

To the west of the Mill Pond is the Low Garden, which was the first area of the garden to be developed.  Recently the original planting has been rejuvenated with many choice new plants added.  In late winter and spring the curious purple flower of toothwort - Lathraea clandestina, a parasitic plant which colonises willow roots, can be found at ground level scattered through this area.

At the same time the birch bank is carpeted with Crocus tommasinianus followed by Anemone blanda, which in turn make way for Galactites tomentosa in summer.  The raised terrace beds are packed with flowering bulbs, which in spring look over a wonderful fresh mass of the shuttlecock fern Matteuccia. 

Beyond this, in late June the giant lily Cardiocrinum giganteum, produces its enormous spikes of amazing trumpet like flowers.  This bulb has very particular cultivation requirements and takes about seven years to flower and then dies.  However, it leaves behind a ring of small bulbs to start the process again and we are fortunate to have a selection of plants of different ages to ensure a display of flowers in most years.  The mix of shady areas and sunny glades in the Low Garden offers ideal conditions for a whole range of charming woodland plants in spring and summer together with lilies followed by displays of colour in autumn.