Hatley Castle & Gardens - April / May

One of the original plants a wisteria (now over 75 years old) in the Italian garden.

Original rhododendron - One of the original rhododendrons.in the Japanese garden. Soon the massed plantings of astilbe and Japanese iris will be in bloom.

As part of your spring garden tour join us for an intimate interpretive tour of Hatley with its spring colour and fragrance. In the Japanese garden the rhododendrons and azaleas combine with massed plantings of primulas and other spring perennials. There is the fragrance of the original trees including cherry trees, Carolina Allspice and the deciduous species azaleas (Knapp Hill and Exbury). Everywhere you hear the sound of water from the brooks, rills and waterfalls as water flows from springs to the man made ponds. Throughout the estate the deep perennial borders are bursting into bloom. Next to the castle, spring has arrived in the Italian Garden with its pergola, formal box enclosed plantings, and turn of the century urns and statues. The original wisteria is joined by delphiniums, peonies, iris and other spring perennials. May finds, enclosed by a stone wall, the fragrant roses in the Edwardian Rose Garden.

Japanese style gazebo with cherry blossoms.	Japanese cherry blossoms over Japanese pond’s path.	Japanese cherry blossoms over Japanese pond’s path.	Japanese cherry blossoms over Japanese pond’s path.
Hatley man made bog garden's path lined with Primula japonica and rodgersias.	Gunnera plantings in man made bog.	Espalier pears - Espalier pears, now almost 100 years old, trained against a stone wall. Using an espalier is a great way to combine the verticality trend with the heritage trend. Nurseries will supply already trained plants such as fruit trees, grapes and evergreen plants such as pyracantha.	White wisteria with Japanese bridge.