Embrace the beauty of January at Capel Manor Gardens, where the winter landscape unfolds in a tapestry of vibrant hues. Amidst the chilly air, venture alongside our Head Gardener, Mark Cook, as he unveils the hidden treasures within our expansive 30-acre estate in Enfield, north London.
- Nandina Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica): Outside the Café and in the Low Allergy Garden, vibrant nandina berries stand out against the silver birch trees, adding a burst of colour. These low-maintenance plants remain captivating in all seasons, making them a perfect choice for brightening winter gardens.
- Winter Honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima): Along the main path near the Jungle Gym Garden, the fragrant, creamy-white flowers of winter honeysuckle entice early bees, providing essential nectar throughout winter into early spring.
- Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla): Opposite the Jungle Gym, the blooms of summer hydrangeas line the main path. Gardeners deliberately preserve these flower heads, allowing seed heads and hips to develop, serving as valuable food sources for birds and wildlife during the colder months.
- Hellebore (Helleborus): Discover the first blooming hellebores near the Old Manor House Garden, with various types scattered across the Gardens in beds, pots and borders. These winter favourites promise a long flowering period, continuing well into spring, thriving in shady spots.
- Clematis or Early Virgin’s Bower (Clematis cirrhosa): White clematis adorns the Chapel Ruins in the Old Manor House Garden, resembling large hanging bells against the brickwork. Nearby in the Walled Garden, the ‘freckles’ variety boasts white petals speckled with charming pink freckles, a hardy and easily grown climbing plant.
- Paperbark maple (Acer griseum): Not only featuring blooming flowers, the Gardens also showcase trees and shrubs, some without their leafy cover. Notably, the paperbark maple, with its striking red-brown bark peeling back like paper to reveal new smooth bark underneath, is a highlight in the National Gardening Centre and scattered throughout the grounds.
- Arrowwood (Viburnum × bodnantense ‘Dawn’): The dawn variety of Arrowwood at the National Gardening Centre exhibits a stunning display of pale pink clustered flowers, similar to the winter flowering cherry trees. Stroll through these shrubs opposite the Vincent van Gogh Garden for a delightful sight.
- Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum): In the Walled Garden, the star-shaped yellow flowers of winter jasmine not only add cheerful colour but also spread a delightful fragrance, enhancing the charm of the winter landscape. These versatile plants, capable of growing in raised beds or along walls, create a stunning arch at the garden’s entrance, welcoming visitors with a dazzling display.
Wrap up warm and walk through the Gardens. Please note that our Gardens are open on Monday through to Friday during the winter period.
