QUEBEC OPENING: posted by The Duke of Devonshire

After two years of talking and planning and some very hard work by the gardens team Quebec is at last a reality. Quebec is a 4 acre part of the garden to the south and west of the canal pond, till now a neglected and dank area which was covered with Ponticum Rhododendrons. These were cleared in 2006 as I thought it would make an interesting extension to the Arboretum walk, the path that runs along the top of the steep bank which is the main feature of Quebec. Trees planted at the bottom of the bank will be viewable from above, along the old Arboretum Walk, and from their base, from the new path created where the ponticum had dominated. As soon as these pestilential shrubs had been removed two other exciting advantages became obvious. One was that we had rediscovered an 18th century Cascade: the water had always been heard but the cascade itself never properly seen by at least this generation of gardeners. The other was that the new walk gives you wonderful views out in to the south park, across the river Derwent and up the hill towards New Piece wood. These views give superb insights into Capability Brown's landscape genius, his creation better viewed from Quebec than anywhere else in the garden

The Quebec project has been very exciting and rewarding and now we are just waiting for Allen Jones to come and finish the installation of his big red sculpture at the end [or the beginning] of the walk. He will be back as soon as there is no more danger of frost, which means the end of May.

As well as the views and the new Cascade, we have started to plant the 'new' garden with trees and shrubs, mostly indigenous to North America as we wanted to continue the Quebec connection. This planting will continue next winter and if you have any suggestions of trees or shrubs that would suit this area please let me know.

The Duke of Devonshire