Harlow Carr is slowly changing into its Christmas wardrobe, like a mousy maiden who transforms herself with a few well chosen shades into a head turner. Not for her the brash and trashy jarring colours of the office party, but an intoxicating sophistication which makes you realise the underlying beauty has been there all along. Our lesson today was about pruning techniques, starting with a master-class on cordon apple trees taken by the charming Francisco, a good looking gardener can enhance the bleakest of Yorkshire days! A stroll around the winter walk emphasised the different stooling and pollarding methods beautifully whilst showcasing the colours which are shown off to best advantage by the muted light of November. The garden staff are hard at work adding festive touches in just the right places, never overstating the Christmas theme they enhance the trees and make the garden revel in this underrated season. Now is the best time to visit as you will have the place mostly to yourself, the less resilient Harrogate gardeners can only nurse their hot cups of coffee behind the steamy windows of Bettys!
"Of winters lifeless world each tree,
Now seems a perfect part,
Yet each one holds summers secret,
Down deep within its heart"
Charles G Stater
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