Head gardener at Arley Hall Gordon Baillie is hoping for a change in the weather.

In his regular column for Weekend, he talks about what to expect in the next month.

TO say us gardeners might be feeling a little under the weather at the moment is something of an understatement.

Torrential rain has left us at Arley a little behind the times and no doubt you are in the same boat!

What’s important is not to panic.

It will come good in the end. It will, I promise.

Right now it is slowing us up dreadfully and when we can get back on the ground it is going to be a frantic time.

However, let’s look on the bright side.

For as well as the downpours we’ve enjoyed some lovely days in March and Spring is in full swing.

At the time of writing our magnolia archway was about to provide us with one of the year’s highlights and carpets of daffodils were everywhere.

The Grove at Arley seems to come to life first each year.

For nearly 50 years this part of the garden has been developed by Lord Ashbrook who has collected more than 400 varieties of rhododendron since the 1970s.

Since then he has travelled to the Himalayas and China where he has gathered more information about growing rhododendrons in their natural habitat.

The Grove will be his legacy to Arley in the same way that his forbears have made their own contributions for centuries.

Now it is the highlight of any visit to Arley at this time of year thanks to the narcissi, rhododendrons and camellias to name but a few of the species gracing us with their presence.

PLANT OF THE WEEK > Ribes white icicle is a beautiful plant with a delicate scent to match.

Warrington Guardian:

It is a flowering current and ours stands out because it is white, most you will see will be of the red and pink varieties.

JOBS FOR THE WEEK > If the weather has abated (and it has done over the past week) get stuck into your ground works.

That means cultivating and getting good compost in.

We are well behind so as soon as we get chance we will be in the Kitchen Garden getting the outside seeds sown including the parsnips, garlic and carrots.

WILDLIFE IN THE GARDEN > It really is a time when the birds are as busy as us gardeners.

They are pairing off, declaring their territories and building their nests.

Be aware that at Arley we have found nests in the strangest of places.

Most memorably a pair of ducks set up home on top of the wall in the walled garden.

So look out for the birds at this time of year, but also take care not to disturb them if you do spot a nest.

If you want a better view why not head for the bird hide in The Grove?