The Easter holiday has arrived, and I hope everyone enjoys a wonderful weekend with opportunities for gardening or exploring beautiful gardens!
Three participating gardens in the National Garden Scheme are available for visitors during this period. Peelers Retreat located at 70 Ford Road in Arundel welcomes guests today, which is Easter Saturday. Alternatively, 47 Denman’s Lane in Lindfield will be open on Saturday as well as Easter Monday. The Old Vicarage in The Street, Washington is another option, also opening on Easter Monday.
Visiting hours and admission prices vary across these locations. Peelers Retreat operates from 2pm until 5pm with an entrance fee of £5. The garden offers inviting permanent gazebos and comfortable seating where visitors can unwind while enjoying refreshments, alongside interconnecting planting beds that provide color and fragrance throughout the year. At 47 Denman’s Lane, doors open from 11am to 4pm with tickets priced at £7. This peaceful acre-sized plot has been developed by its owners over two decades and maintains visual interest across all seasons. The Old Vicarage welcomes visitors between 10am and 5pm at a cost of £10. Spanning three and a half acres, the grounds showcase formal topiary, changing seasonal borders, a modern water feature, an Italian-style gazebo, mature specimen trees and additional attractions. Comprehensive information about all three gardens appears at www.ngs.org.uk.
Reflecting on twelve months prior, I was approaching surgery for a left knee replacement. Little did I expect that today I would have full mobility in that knee. As demonstrated by this photograph, thanks to a new thick and plush garden cushion, I can now kneel down to work in the garden, including tending my beach garden area. Rising back up presents some difficulty, but this represents considerable progress. Managing garden tasks while unable to kneel would have posed significant challenges. I dedicate considerable effort to rehabilitation exercises at home to achieve this outcome.
The wooden platform on the house corner, originally constructed in 2013 to create the impression of crossing a pier to reach the rear garden, had deteriorated badly and required urgent attention. The structure had become weathered and unappealing. Last month I arranged for complete removal and renovation. The underlying wooden framework had also decayed and needed disposal. A fresh foundation with high-quality composite decking was fitted in its place. I am highly satisfied with the outcome, as illustrated in the accompanying photograph. The small water channel underneath remains intact, preserving the bridge-like aesthetic.
Bergenia plants have displayed beautiful blooms in recent weeks but have now finished flowering. These evergreen herbaceous perennials feature recognizable glossy, rounded foliage, which explains their popular nickname elephant’s ears. While frequently planted in challenging shaded locations where other plants struggle, they actually function well throughout the garden and merit more prominent placement. Many varieties develop striking winter foliage in shades ranging from coral through red to burgundy. Their spring blooms appear on brief stems in magenta, light pink or white, pairing effectively with spring bulbs and offering early nectar for pollinating insects. These plants demand minimal care, tolerate drought and thrive in diverse soil conditions including poor, dry ground and clay. They grow successfully in full sun or shade and suit gravel garden settings, such as the example shown in my front garden.
This season typically marks when I begin sorting through the succulents that have remained sheltered during winter. Agaves emerge first from their winter quarters alongside the house. My collection exceeds eighty plants in various sizes. The photograph displays smaller specimens in multiple containers, including two vintage metal kitchen colanders. Several are young plants separated from parent specimens last autumn. All will be positioned either in the beach garden or on the rear patio. Larger agave specimens occupy the front garden and will be discussed in next week’s feature. Aeonium varieties follow the agaves, typically emerging later this month or early next. I have already removed each container from the greenhouse, refreshed them and repotted plants where necessary. Watering and feeding have been completed as needed, with plants returned to the greenhouse awaiting confirmation that cold mornings and frost risk have passed.
Discover more about Geoff’s garden at www.driftwoodbysea.co.uk or follow both his updates and the garden’s progress on social media platforms.