GOLDEN TRUMPETS: Daffodils in front of the Palladian bridge, Stourhead (Image: Petra Mirosevic-Sorgo)
Visitors to a National Trust property in Wiltshire, will be welcomed by waves of golden daffodils. The display at Stourhead, near Mere, is thanks to a collaboration with the Blue Diamond garden centre group.
The National Trust was gifted 5000 ‘JOY’ bulbs which were planted by a team of staff and volunteers in October 2023. The name reflects the feeling of joy experienced when seeing daffodils pop up after months of winter.
The warm weather over winter has meant the daffodils are now flowering and the next few weeks are the perfect time to catch them. These blooms will be seen at the main entrance to Stourhead, outside the visitor reception building, and the outdoor seating area at the restaurant.
The bulb is British grown, and has an open, bright yellow flower head, which bees and early pollinators love, with a beautiful orange centre. It has the added benefit of being good for cut flower arranging too.
The JOY bulb is part of a collection of seeds, bulbs and plants inspired by the gardens the National Trust cares for, as part of their five-year collaboration with Blue Diamond. It is exclusive to, and available in, all Blue Diamond Garden Centres across the country, plus selected National Trust shops.
A minimum of 10% of the retail sales price per product will be given to the National Trust. These financial contributions help fund important plant conservation and garden projects at properties such as Stourhead.
Tim Parker, head gardener at Stourhead, said: “After the dark, wet months of winter we’re looking forward to seeing the bright cheeriness of the National Trust JOY bulb, heralding the start of spring and warmer months ahead. Daffodils are symbolic of Easter and new beginnings as the growing season gets underway.
“The welcome area is among the busiest onsite so it is great this new bulb, can take centre stage. We’ve wanted to enhance the planting in and around the car park, restaurant and shop and this support from Blue Diamond Garden Centres has helped us to realise that vision.”
Find out more about the collaboration between Blue Diamond and the National Trust here. To plan your visit to Stourhead, with its Palladian house and world-famous landscape garden, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stourhead
Location: Mere, Wiltshire