The camellia and the rhododendron may not be the most traditional of Christmas plants, but they are bringing delightful array of colour to Borde Hill this winter!
The Christmas Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’ is a mouthful to pronounce but a joy to behold! It may be long way from its original home in Southern Japan, but it is very content in its adopted home in Southern England !
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| This glorious rhododendron is keeping up a festive appearance with its glossy textured leaves and Christmassy crimson flowers. |
 Christmas may be just around the corner but our gardening team are still as busy as any other time of year. There is plenty of work to be done to get us ready for our spring opening in March 2014. |
 One of the more gruesome winter jobs will be the clearing of the |
Our Head Gardener, Andy Stevens has five festive tips for the colder months:
1. Finish clearing leaves from borders and grass areas. Apply mulches if ground is not frozen or waterlogged.
2. Check greenhouse heaters are working and lag any outdoor water pipes. Make sure garden hoses are fully drained.
3. Ensure tubs are slightly raised off the ground to help drainage. Tubs at risk of frost damage can also be moved up against a house wall to offer some protection or wrapped in hessian or bubble wrap.
4. Continue planting deciduous trees and shrubs, and lifting and dividing perennials, but only if ground is not frozen or waterlogged.
5. Send your mower off to be serviced. Don’t wait until the spring when everyone else wants theirs done too! Drain fuel from stored machinery as unleaded fuel doesn’t keep.
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| A misty view across the valley to the Victorian viaduct. |
