See the changing seasons in our garden
Spring
One of the highlights of the season is the blossom in the Vicary Gibbs area. There is a beautiful old specimen of the Great White cherry (Prunus Tai-Haku) which flowers in mid-April, bees love the nectar and it’s fascinating to watch them move from flower to flower. A week or so after the cherry has started to flower our Chinese crab apple (Malus chinensis) start to flower too, its flowers are smaller but very abundant.
Lyme is the second highest garden in the National Trust, so spring bulbs often flower later than other properties. Each autumn the formal beds outside the orangery are planted with over 4000 bulbs and this year we’ve added hundreds of forget-me-not plants too. The daffodils will be the first to flower followed by grape hyacinths and then tulips, giving a continuous display of fabulous colour throughout the season
In the orangery where the temperatures are warmer spring starts a bit earlier, the first plants to flower are the two Camellias which are over 150 years old. On the Rhododendrons walk, the Rhododendrons start to flower in May providing a kaleidoscope of colour.
Summer
In summer the garden is at its brightest, with flowering plants throughout. There will be some new additions in the rose garden - several beds of roses have been removed to improve the soil, and other summery blooms will be taking their place for 2021 while we add lots of compost and manure to build up the earthworm and soil microorganism population.
In May and June, look out for a wave of blues and purples across the lake - this is from 5000 Camassia esculenta bulbs which were planted in the autumn.
The perennials planted in the Italian garden will be in full flower. This area was made inaccessible to the public after the floods in July 2019 severely damaged the paths, and we look forward to welcoming visitors back into this area.
Autumn
The trees in Lyme's gardens really come into their own once autumn sets in. The Vicary Gibbs area contains several exotic trees brought to Lyme by famed horticulturist Vicary Gibbs in the early 1900s. Look out for fiery reds from the cornus kousa, or dogwood tree, as well as the flowering cherry. Close to the Italian garden, the leaves of the spindle trees will start to turn a distinctive shade of pink as the season progresses
Winter
With frosty mornings and a windswept moorland backdrop, the views of Lyme from the garden terrace are dramatic and ever changing during the colder months. Meanwhile, the Orangery is a year-round indoor oasis of tropical planting. Throughout winter, the gardening team will be hard at work with path repairs and other conservation works.
In January and February, keep an eye out for the first winter iris and snowdrops starting to peek through.
Dogs in the Garden
Dogs on leads are currently welcome in the garden every day. Why not bring them along with you on your next visit?
