The sun is shining, plants and animals are stirring and spring has arrived on the Peninsula. Nowhere is this more evident than in the beautiful gardens at Docton Mill. Join Lana and John Borrett for their 2015 season opening this Sunday, March 15th 11am – 5pm which is also Mother’s Day. It’s the perfect place for all generations to spend a memorable day together, and U18s are free.The garden is looking fantastic with many shrubs and bulbs putting out their finest spring displays. There are sweeping banks of snowdrops; drifts of Hellebores (sometimes known as the Lentern Rose) including striking double headed ones and the ‘Pluto’ variety with its gorgeous deep purple petals; carpets of pink, blue and white Pulmonarias; and, not forgetting, radiant Narcissus Tete-a-Tete which are the start of the incredible display of over 20,000 daffodils that open right across the formal and woodland gardens.
Lana says, "I love this time of year, it is so exciting. There are carpets of flowers everywhere, the star magnolia and camellias are out and the corylopsis are looking magnificent. Everywhere you look something is bursting into flower – you can’t help but be uplifted."
And Docton Mill really does appeal to all the senses: the delights of their gardens are fully complemented by the pleasures in their tea room. "We’ve got locally reared Ruby Red beef, fresh crab, smoked salmon and we’ve extended our cake range this year," says Lana. Regulars will be pleased to know all the old favourites are still there including Docton Mill’s award winning cream tea with its two warm, freshly baked scones, finest jam and lashings of West Country clotted cream.
But there are also some new additions like rich chocolate brownies and the indulgent caramel
shortbreads. "If there are chilly days over the next few months we’ll have the wood burner going and of course there’s always our home made soup too."
Entry to the tea room is free, for the gardens it’s £4.50 for adults, £4.25 for OAPs and U18s are free. Well behaved dogs welcome. See www.doctonmill.co.uk or call 01237 441369
