Our Head Gardener points out what to look out for now and in the coming weeks…

Paulownia fortunei ‘Fast Blue’ – known as the ‘Fox Glove tree’ because of the beautiful lightly scented lilac-blue flowers shaped like the foxglove flower – can also be found along ‘Her Ladyships Walk.’

It is also worth looking out for the impressive displays of Wild Garlic with sporadic displays of Bluebells.

The wildflower area surrounding our ‘Daphne’ statue has come alive, starting with a mass of beautiful blue Camassia leichtlinii and white Leucojum (Spring Snowflake).

Darmera (umbrella plant) – with Clusters of pale pink flowers on tall stems – around Rockery Bridge.

Viburnum carlecephalum (Fragrant Snowball) with white scented flowers.

Genista porlock – with its scented bright yellow flowers – can be found along ‘Her Ladyship’s Walk’.

Ornamental flowering crab apples trees (Malus) covered in pink flowers.

Ornamental flowering dogwoods are not to be missed; Cornus ‘Norman Hadden’ and Cornus ‘Porlock’ – flowerheads grow to 8cm in width, with four ovate white bracts which turn pink with age. Both are covered in bracts which makes for an impressive sight and can be found to the lower front of the Rest House, by Lord Dulverton and Ken Hope’s memorial benches.

Finally, a trip to Batsford in May would not be complete without a visit to our beautiful ‘Pocket Handkerchief Tree’ (Davidia involucrata var. vilmoriniana)!