A Gardener’s Guide to Northumberland

Gardens to visit for inspiration, Plant Nurseries to peruse and general gardening related gossip. By Karen Phillips. Karen is a qualified lecturer in horticulture. She is passionate about all aspects of gardening and growing food within the constraints of the Northumberland climate. She runs many courses (including gardening, floristry and cookery demonstrations) at Widehaugh House, a two acre garden close to Hexham. You can also follow her on Twitter.


Howick Hall Gardens
This gem of a garden contrasts well with a trip to The Alnwick Garden; whereas Alnwick triumphs in the creation of a beautiful garden in the relatively short time (in gardening terms) of 10 years, Howick’s 65 acres have been created over several generations with many of the towering trees grown from seed collected on plant hunting expeditions centuries ago. Howick truly is a plantsman’s paradise and, as a newly qualified lecturer in horticulture, filled me with dread when accompanying student groups – there was simply no hope of knowing all the plant names!

My favourites are the huge variety of Magnolias which start to flower from late March with M. campbellii, considered by many to be one of the most beautiful trees in the world with its goblet-shaped rose pink flowers adorning bare branches. In April the Camellias are a riot of colour but for me the star attraction is the lawn in front of the grand house, planted annually with tulips to create a Monet-like tapestry of colour. Come May the Rhododendrons take centre stage within the woodland, but it is hard to overlook the striking azure blue of the Himalayan Poppies: Meconopis betonicifolia; those hard to establish little beauties whose plants flower, set seed and then die never to reappear unless you, the knowledgeable gardener, have provided the perfect moist, cool conditions required for the new seeds to germinate.

But don’t just take my word for it: Howick Hall Gardens was voted Garden of the Year 2009; is voted one of the top five coastal gardens in the country by Gardener’s World Magazine; and is rated ‘one of the best 10 gardens to visit in spring’ by The Independent. Take some time out this spring to visit this local ‘eden’.

www.howickhallgardens.org
Gardens Open 4th Feb –11th Nov 2012
Winter: Wed-Sun 10.30-4pm; Summer: daily 12-6pm