What's happening in March

Daffodils are now in bloom. The flowering currants at Brockhole, such as 'Pulborough Scarlet' with dark pink flowers and white centres and 'Tydeman's White' are also opening up. Ribes speciosum, the fuschia-flowered currant from North America, is another choice plant as is the hybrid rhododendron such as 'Yellow Hammer', with small canary yellow blooms.

What the gardeners are doing this month:

As the Visitor Centre prepares to open for another year, we will be giving the paths and steps a final sweeping, and raking and scarifying the croquet lawn. Gooseberries and redcurrants are pruned, and herbaceous perennials that have got too large are lifted and separated.

Designer gardens

Come explore the 30 acre Thomas Mawson designed Arts and Crafts garden. With views over Windermere and towards the Langdale Pikes, this is a garden with a magnificent backdrop.

Depending on the season you can walk along the terraces to see dazzling displays of camellias, magnolias and rhododendrons filling the air with delicate fragrances.

Elsewhere there's the cherished Handkerchief Tree with its fluttering white flowers and the beautiful vivid crimson blooms of the Chilean Lantern Tree. Other features include:

• Herbaceous and mixed borders
• Old fashioned and shrub roses
• Wildflower meadow
• Kitchen garden with fruit, vegetables, herbs and cut flowers

We use environmentally friendly techniques including composting, recycling and the minimal use of pesticides, peat and water resources. The gardens are home to a wide variety of birds and wildlife and are open 365 days from dawn until 6pm.