CULTURE CLUB
Full of the joys of spring Sally Petitt, head of horticulture at Cambridge University Botanic Garden, tells us about the delights this time of year brings Spring is a magical time to visit the Botanic Garden – not just visually, but it wakes up all of the senses. Emerging foliage is young and fresh, flower buds are preparing to burst, the air is full of scents and there’s a sense of anticipation as everything gets ready to bloom. In late March and early April, the cherry blossoms look stunning – the Yoshino cherry on the main lawn is a real must see, and there are several
other species of cherry blossom around the garden to look out for. We also have a succession of bright and blousy magnolia flowers, which look particularly striking against a blue sky. The long, grassy area on the fairway at the eastern end of the garden is peppered with naturalised bulbs in spring, making it a lovely place to sit with a picnic blanket. Meanwhile, the rock garden around the lake yields gems such as the pasque flower (pulsatilla vulgaris), the county flower of Cambridgeshire. A rare treat, as it tends to occur on limestone grasslands, the
flowering of this species often coincides with Easter, hence its common name. The Mountains House is another highlight, showcasing exquisite flowers native to alpine environments, such as fritillaria, saxifraga and tulip species. I also strongly recommend visitors look out for our jade vine – its flower spikes are an extraordinary colour, with some reaching up to 5ft in length! This climbing member of the pea family hails from the Philippines, with flowers believed to be pollinated by bats. Sadly, this amazing plant is under threat in the wild, so we pride ourselves on having a wonderful specimen here. It flowers
over many weeks in April and is always very popular with visitors. There’s plenty coming up over the next few weeks, including the Enchanted Egg Trail over the Easter holidays and the International Garden Photographer of the Year exhibition. Looking ahead to June, our Festival of Plants is a great family day out, offering stalls, advice, demos and craft activities. In July, our Sounds Green concerts will return, bringing live music to the garden every Wednesday, while Apple Day is back in October. Keep an eye on our social media channels for all of the latest news and updates.
BLOOMING BRILLIANT The revered Philippine jade vine (right) is the shining star of springtime at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden, alongside grassy areas great for relaxing with the kids while being surrounded by nature
10 APRIL 2023 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
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