The gardening year starts in February with
masses of snowdrops welcoming the early
spring. These are followed by daffodils
and, later, bluebells. During March and
April the collection of Magnolias is at
its best, and together with Rhododendrons
and cherry blossom, makes a riot of colour
for Easter time. In May the alpines and
early-flowering herbaceous plants begin
to flower. Around the lakes and stream drifts
of colourful Primulas are starting to give
several months of colour.
A large bog garden linked to the lakes
is a haven for moisture-loving plants such
as Astilbes, Iris, Hostas and Ligularias.
A large pergola is covered with Wisteria,
Roses and Clematis. During the summer months
the areas around the walled garden are a
mass of colourful blooms and the walls are
draped with Clematis. As autumn approaches
the hardy cyclamen around the bases of the
trees start to produce their pink and white
flowers, while above, the autumn tints of
the trees' leaves give one last riot of
colour.
The garden is famous for its collection
of Camellias, the largest in the country.
A large greenhouse is planted with over
one hundred big plants which in March and
April are covered with flower. Three national
plant collections are located within the
gardens. The Astilbe collection is one of
the biggest in the world. In the walled
garden is the Plant Centre, where plants
propagated and grown at the garden may be
bought. Many of these plants are rare and
not often for sale at garden centres. The
three lakes are home to many ducks and large
fish.
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