The garden is in full flow at the moment and almost overwhelmed with scent and colour! Many rhododendrons are in flower now although it's obviously not been a good flowering year for some species, the large-leaved ones for example. The highlight just now is the wonderful collection of tender Maddenia rhododendrons, both species and hybrids, including Rhododendron maddenii subsp. crassum, mostly white and gloriously fragrant! Many of the old hardy hybrids are flowering too, such as Rhododendron 'Starfish'. Deciduous azaleas too are at their most exuberant, especially the old scented varieties. Why be beautiful and have no fragrance? A good question!

Many other shrubs are blooming at the moment, such as Crinodendron hookerianum, an evergreen from Chile which bears hanging clusters of red, lantern-like flowers. The tree ferns up at the NE end of the garden, particularly Dicksonia antarctica, below right, usually keep their fronds through the winter - we don't protect them - and other evergreen ferns are also looking good. You might also see our new and rather tender tree fern from Norfolk Island, Cyathea brownii, which we intended to protect but found we didn't need to!

Perennials are romping away now, with a large selection in full flower. The Long Border is bursting with new growth and far too many plants are in flower to be able to list! Our blue poppies, Meconopsis species and hybrids, are in flower, particularly down by the Heron Pond where they associate well with the fresh fronds of the Ostrich or Shuttlecock Fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris.

There are many birds in the garden now - various finches, tits and other small garden birds are visiting the bird-feeder outside the Head Gardener's house. Ravens, buzzards and a greater spotted woodpecker are seen and heard frequently and a red squirrel was seen high up in a tree in September. In early December an eagle was seen soaring over the garden - whether a golden eagle or a sea-eagle wasn't clear. There's always something to see here, either flora or fauna - anyone who drives past the garden entrance should be ashamed of themselves! Please turn around and come back immediately!

If you need any more information please phone us on 01852 200366 or email to mwilkins@nts.org.uk

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