June
The Round Pond continues to be colourful, with late hybrid Rhododendrons. The walled garden is coming into season, with many interesting borders, including the main herbaceous borders. The Embothriums (Chilean Fire Bush) should be flowering, in particular by the Dancing Green, and other specimens of this splendid tree can be seen at Dettingen and the Canal Entrance.

April/May
This is the best time for Rhododendron species and hybrids. The Pieris are showing brightly coloured young growths and the yellow Azaleas are starting to flower and scent the air all over the gardens. The Round Pond is surrounded with colourful Azaleas and Rhododendrons. The Sunken Garden surroundings are hybrid Rhododendrons with a colossal ‘Cynthia’ making a hu9e pink mass.

July
The season for Rhododendrons is nearly over, and the wild Rhododendron ponticum and the last of the yellow Azaleas are much in evidence. The very late scented Crassum Rhododendrons on the outside of the Walled Garden opposite the castle should also be flowering. The Walled Garden itself should be full of colour now, and from July through to September is the most important feature of the gardens.

August/September
The Walled Garden is at its best, in particular the main herbaceous borders. The Eucryphias are coming into flower, and particularly noteworthy nymansay specimens are the two facing out of the canal bridge (see page 7) at the entrance to the gardens (forty feet high), and the one guarding the southern gates of the Walled Garden. There are others in the gardens, and they are a feature of the Dancing Green at this time of year.