Hillier propagator Barry Clarke and head gardener Fran Clifton admire their early camellias
HAS spring already sprung? Plants at the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Ampfield think it has.
Camellias are blooming in the 180-acre site owned by Hampshire County Council.
Head gardener Fran Clifton has counted more than 80 varieties in flower along the garden’s Spring Walk with colours ranging from whitest of white, through various shades of pink to crimson reds.
“Most of our camellias are not normally in flower until late February of early March so they are treating us to an early display. However, they should still be flowering well into March.”
Besides camellias, there are many winter flowering shrubs in bloom at the gardens, including hazel and daphne. Some early daffodils are also in flower at the Jermyns Lane site.
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