What to see in the garden on your visit:

The Herbaceous Border:

The Herbaceous Border always has something of interest and plenty of colour with Hemerocallis, Anemones, Penstemon, Rudbeckia, , Liatris, Zuaschneria and many more. Look out for the Chinese Paper-bark Maple (Acer griseum) a small tree with a very interesting bark.

Home Wood:

The Sundial Garden is looking good with some very interesting perennials including a good collection of Salvia's, Dahlia's, Fuchsia's, Cuphea, and the large leaves of a Paulownia tomentosa all enclosed by a large yew hedge and an old pergola smothered by an ancient Wisteria.

Next door to the Sundial Garden is the Tennis Court Tea Gardens with a Mediterranean feel to this area with a good balance of plants which tolerate dry conditions. These include Perovskia (Russian Sage), Myrtus communis ssp tarentina (Myrtle) the same plant used extensively in the Alhambra in Granada in southern Spain. Santolina, Lavenders, Lippia and many others. If time permits have a cup of tea and enjoy the surroundings.

Yard Wood:

The Hydrangea & Board Walk:

The Hydrangeas along Hydrangea Walk are beginning to look at their best with a wide variety of colour and flower shape. The Board Walk is in complete contrast and boasts plants from a Jurassic age and includes Ginkgo, Wollemi Pine, large leaved Gunnera manicata (Industrial Rhubarb), lots of bamboo and interesting foliage plants.

Trees & Shrubs Flowering in the Garden include Eucryphia's in Home Wood, Yard Wood and the American Garden. Hoheria's from New Zealand in Home Wood by the Middle Pond and Catalpa bignonioides Indian Bean tree by the House Lawn, and Clethra alnifolia in the Home Wood.

Plant of the week: Verbena bonariensis "Purple Top Verbena".

John Anderson
Head Gardener.