The first signs of spring

Friday, March 18th, 2011

Is there a flower more symbolic of change of dark turning to light, cold to warmth, grey to green than the daffodil? You know Spring has sprung when you first see yellow trumpets rear up from the soil.

The English countryside is of course teaming with daffodils, and many public gardens have exceptional displays for you to wander through. Coughton Court is one such example; a famous Tudor house in Warwickshire with links to the Gunpowder Plot, which is home to the rare Throckmorton daffodil. With pale buttermilk petals and a tiny trumpet, the collection at Coughton is the only one of its kind in Europe. The Throckmorton family have lived at Coughton since 1409 and are the sole managers of the extensive and diverse gardens. Well worth a visit if you are in the area.

Rydal Mount, the home of poet William Wordsworth in Cumbria is a must-see for lovers of literature and gardens alike. It was here that Wordsworth devised and wrote much of his work, including his most famous poem Daffodil. From the look of the garden in spring, it’s not hard to see where he got his inspiration.

After their Snowdrop Festival in February, April sees Howick Hall Gardens give way to a spectacular drift of daffodils. Previous winner of Garden of the Year, Howick Hall in Northumberland is deliberately aimed at garden enthusiasts and boasts a wide selection of flowers, and, crucially, a lovely tearoom.