Winter time at National Trust Nymans is beautiful.
A walk around the National Trust's Nymans Gardens in Handcross, West Sussex.
I love Nymans Gardens - I look upon it as an extension of my back garden as it is only up the road. Perfect for Doorstep Stravel. And that we head over there quite a lot. My kids love it. There is some great places for hide and seek and he loves the 'House of Sticks'. See if you can discover what he is talking about!
Nymans in the Winter is a delightful contrast to the amazing summer displays of colour and plant abundance. Nymans in the Winter is Naked. Except for a few little things.
Daphnie Bholua at Nymans. What always delights me in a winter garden, Nymans has in abundance - Daphne's and the variety here is Daphne Bholua (Nepalese Paper Plant). The delicious scent of the tiny pink purple flowers seemed to follow me wherever I went, even to the compost heaps. Winter flowering plants have such a strong scent, you almost want to just lay there and drink it in - but when it it is -1c and trying to snow you can't really. Which is why the scent has to be so strong - who wants to hang around sniffing plants for long when it is that cold?
The other wonderfully scented plant that they have to tantalise your smell receptors is the Sarcococca Hookeriana - another small lightly flowered plant that packs a punch well above its weight in the perfumery department. Add in a little Mahononia Japonica and you really are there with your scented winter garden.
These plants, ahead of the Helebores (unless I missed them) balance off the stunning, naked, skeletal forms of the deciduous trees and Magnolias. The Magnolia's are resplendent in their structure and the delightful buds, protected by what can only be described as moleskin, keeping them warm, protected from the snow until the weather brightens and they bloom in the majestic way that only Magnolias can. Trumpets, stars, purples, whites, pinks they are all there, waiting to burst out when the temperature is right (which, until a few days ago probably was).
Nymans in the Winter - Naked Nymans - go and visit and enjoy this garden wearing different clothes - or not as the case may be.
Have you been to Nymans Gardens? What do you think of it? Be great to hear your comments.
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