The garden as at 28th April 2008

Help – how do you keep track of what’s going on in a garden this size when it changes by the day? As a Woodland garden, full of Rhododendrons, Camellias, magnolias and blossoming malus varieties, Picton is a very special place at this time of year.
TOP TIP: If you’re short of time and can’t explore everywhere, start with the Bluebell Walk, peek into the Peep-In Walk and perhaps wander up to the Dew Pond. On a longer visit, you could also stroll along the path to the Walled Garden.
The Bluebell Walk
As you approach the courtyard from the car park, turn left along the lane, then left again into Bluebell Walk. At the time of writing, the bluebells were just beginning to break into flower. With each day that passes, the woodland carpet of blue will become more beautiful, particularly as it is prettily highlighted with bright yellow daisies and white wood anenomes.
The Front Drive
At the end of Bluebell Walk is the tarred Front Drive. Go right; within a few steps, you will find two stunning malus trees laden with blossom, surrounded by a colourful assortment of towering rhododendrons and eye-level azaleas on the fringe of Peep-In Walk. There’s plenty to see along the Front Drive if you only want a short stroll, or you could take a longer walk by turning left into Peep-In Walk where two huge logs flank the drive.
Peep-In Walk
There’s an inspiring variety of woodland perennials to be found in the bedding along this path. The Trilliun grandiflora have just come out, together with hellibores, bright blue lungwort, Boykinia and Trilliun sessile. If you smell honey in the breeze, it’s thanks to the Euphorbia millifera set back on the left. Continue to the end of the path and turn right at the Fallen Woman. Rhododendron Jock Hybrids are just beginning to flower on the edge of the clearing. Just beyond them, where the path forks, you can choose whether to take the short route back or see much more.

The short route: Take the fork to the right, onto the path which takes you through our Myrtle avenue. Glance left as you exit the myrtles to catch a glimpse of the tree fern glade. Carry on straight, and you will soon get back to the front drive close to the courtyard. Highlights along this Rhododendron strewn path are bright red Azalea hinodo-giri on each side of the path, with a gorgeous flowering myrtle in the background.
The longer route: Take the left fork on the path and you’ll find a wealth of flowering shrubs. A purple Rhododendron Augustinii faces a white flowering malus, followed by a white Azalea mucronata lilacinum. Numerous other varieties bore fat buds at the time of writing and will burst into flower very soon.
Turn left to go to the Dew Pond. At the junction and further along the path are our own Rh Picton Tetra., with large delicate bell-like pink flowers. The path to the Dew Pond is a lovely example of mixed planting. The delicate blossom of Malus Red Sentinel is framed by linear bamboo and laurel’s chunks of green. Wild flowers are scattered in the grass. Follow the path by the Dew Pond and come back via the filtration beds. When you reach the main path, turn right, then left to go past the Acer Palmatum Atropurpureum, now just coming into leaf. Around the Acer are masses of Primula Pulverulenta, just beginning to flower. Exit Peep-In onto the bottom of the Front Drive and you’re back to the entrance of the courtyard. Perhaps a cuppa or light lunch with a glass of wine would go down well now!
The Walk to the South Gardens:
The path to the Walled Garden will be a stunning feature for a while yet, with Camellias, magnolias and Rhododendrons vying for attention.
About two-thirds of the way down the path, look to the right and see the Jungle Garden, currently a tad forlorn after winter but with grand ambitions for the summer. Roddy, our head gardener, and his team have put up wooden structures to support a summery show of climbers and creepers to add to the Jurassic feel of the area. The Jungle Garden is by the children’s adventure play area, creating a great work-out for little minds and limbs. Before you turn towards the walled garden, you’ll find a comfy bench set among a pretty pink arrangement of Magnolia Soulangeana Lenneii, the Rh. Picton Tetra and a couple of Azaleas. Across the path, about 20 paces away, is a stunning Magnolia Stellata. You’re welcome to wander among the many flowering shrubs around the M Stellata and down into Peach House Wood, also rich in Rhodies and woodland plants.
With so much to see in the woodlands, perhaps save the walled garden for the summer when it’s at its most colourful – although you might want to peek in on the non-hardy ferns in the fernery and peruse the herb garden on the way.
There’s always lots to see at Picton. We do hope you enjoyed your visit and will come back soon to see more.