April Arrives in a Blaze of Blossom and Colour The apple and cherry trees are blossoming beautifully, their soft clouds of pink and white drifting above the steady glow of wallflowers below. Now the tulips step forward to take centre stage—bold, theatrical, and utterly irresistible.

Everywhere you look at the moment, there are signs of preparation and expectation for the season ahead. Winter’s pruning and clearing are done. Seeds have been sown and are germinating. Cuttings are taking root. Bulbs are poised to bloom. The lawnmowers have started up again, and there’s a distinct freshness in the spring air. At the time of writing, temperatures have climbed to 14°C — a noticeable shift. The early hints of growth we saw last month are now gathering pace. Golden daffodils and...

Just inside our gate stands a still quite modest, but wonderfully vibrant, young monkey puzzle tree. It’s easy to imagine how, in time, it will grow into a tree of real presence and character, greeting and inspiring everyone who arrives at the Garden Gate Project. For now, it feels symbolic of much of the garden in February: young, full of promise, and quietly gathering strength.   As winter enters its final wet and windswept month, the garden sits in that familiar in-between space. Growth is...