World’s biggest display of Great White Japanese cherry blossom
The Alnwick Garden’s a spectacular place at the best of times, but in spring it is truly extraordinary, with the world’s biggest collection of Tai Haku cherry trees in full blossom. Normally flowering for about three weeks per year, you can see the blooms in the contemporary garden. The garden was the brainchild of the Duchess of Northumberland.
Planted in 2008, this is the largest ornamental cherry orchard of its kind. It contains 326 Prunus Tai Haku ( Great White Japanese cherry) trees. They fill the air with cherry blossom which resemble snow as it falls. For more on The Alnwick Garden in Northumberland, see my review. Read more about growing cherries.
Alliums and wildflowers
Underplanted with 60,000 Alliums and wildflowers, it provides colour throughout the season. Visit in autumn to see the spectacular foliage colours of bright yellow, red and orange.
Head gardener Trevor Jones said: “The Cherry Orchard means a lot to me, not for the number of trees or the blossom. I see myself as a ‘guardian of the trees’ and the memories attached to them by the sponsors, young and old. People have dedicated many of the orchard’s 300 Tai Haku trees to loved ones past and present.
“Compared to the rest of The Alnwick Garden, there is hardly any work involved in looking after them, apart from cutting the grass paths around the trees and cutting at the end of the season.
Tai Haku cherry trees – Swinging seats
“We added 50 double swinging seats to the orchard. This is a place for adults, families, and children to gently swing and contemplate their surroundings. Children can have fun, make, and remember happy memories. We can get up to three weeks of blossom from our beloved 300 Tai Haku trees. We are very happy with what the weather and our trees give us.
“Every day, each gust of wind blows the blossom like a delicious cascade of snow. We are never happier than to keep this rare and delightful species, even for just a short while every year.”
You can sponsor a plot, tree or rose, a swinging seat or dedicate a bench in The Alnwick Garden, in memory of a loved one or in celebration of a family event or person. For more information, visit www.alnwickgarden.com.
