Spring in the garden at Mottisfont

Late spring flowers create pockets of colour around our gardens, including the last daffodil displays of the season. Wild cherry and young apple trees are crowned with blossom, while other trees show off fresh new leaves. Hundreds of tulips are blooming in the walled gardens. Look out for the first, early roses in May.
During winter we plant masses of mixed, naturalising spring bulbs under ancient trees, in the winter garden, the walled gardens, and in the cherry orchard. Maud Russell’s head gardener, Mr Buckle, started the tradition of ‘bulk planting’ a single plant variety which has since been adopted by subsequent head gardeners.
This spring bulb showcase is designed to provide changing displays throughout the season. Now, as we enter the last months of spring, tulips and hyacinths create colourful displays in the walled gardens and parterre. Snakeshead fritillary and orchids bloom in the long grass of the little cherry orchard.
Overhead, the many trees in our gardens are beginning to display bright new leaves. Tree pruning carried out by our garden team helps ensure the best possible displays year on year.
The first spring vegetables have been planted in the Kitchen Garden, and young apple trees produce modest displays of blossom here. Alongside tulips, the raised beds are full of mixed salad leaves and perennial herbs, including medieval varieties that would once have been planted here in the old priory gardens.
Roses start to emerge from May onwards in the adjoining walled gardens. Wall-climbing varieties are the first to flower, building up to the main “rose season” in June.
Wildflowers on the wider estate
Our estate woodlands put on a wildflower show for spring. Species such as lady's smock (also known as the cuckoo flower), celandines and bluebells begin to cover the meadows and woodland floor.
Our estate walk is the best way to see this annual flowering.