It was a relatively early start this morning arriving at Castle Howard a few minutes after 9.00am. The weather these past few weeks has been dry, bright, and sunny and today was no different, this afternoon’s temperature was predicted to reach 25c which is a bit too warm especially for Meg and Gracie, hence our early start.

Not that we need an excuse to visit this house and gardens, but the reason for our visit today was to have a look at the Azaleas and Rhododendrons which have started to flower in ‘Ray Wood’. This collection of plants is of significant national importance, back in the 1940’s the wood was clear felled and it was not until the 1970’s that George Howard decided to reinstate the winding tracks and trails that we see today. Within this woodland are approximately 800 species of rhododendrons, as well as Pieris, magnolias, hydrangeas, viburnum, maples, and rowans. 

After a quick stop for coffee in the Courtyard café we made our way across the deserted cobbled courtyard to the booking office, and after a pleasant chat with the booking staff, we made our way outside and headed over to the Walled Garden. The borders were looking full and the long-stemmed Alliums were shooting up. The lilac-coloured tulips looked beautiful in the flower garden. On leaving the Walled Garden we turned left along the Lime Terrace and continued along the gravelled path till we reached the South West corner of the house. I always stop here, firstly to admire the view of the house which today was bathed in early morning sunshine, and secondly to put my empty coffee cup in the waste bin! We continued our walk along the South Terrace, stopping to admire the architecture on the South face of the house, we continued our walk passing over the Time Capsule and up the gentle grassy slope to the woods. The Daffodils along the slopes which we saw on our last visit had died right back, the grass had now grown to about a foot in height and if you looked closely amongst the grass were a host of wildflowers including Creeping Buttercup, Orchids, Indian Hyacinth, and Cuckoo plants which were in flower and added a bit of colour to the green pasture. The views looking over to the Atlas Fountain and the South Lake were beautiful. The peace and tranquillity was broken for a few moments whilst a pair of Grey Lagged geese had a bit of a domestic and made quite a racket in the process before flying off to another part of the lake. On reaching the top of the slope we sat for a moments before heading through the wooden gate and into Ray Wood. We were greeted with a mass of colour from the rhododendrons, and azaleas, the pinks, reds, lilacs, and white colours certainly brightened up the woodland, nearly 800 species including magnolias, glades of Pieris, wild roses and hydrangeas provided a spectacle of colour amongst the trees, their sweet scent hung in the air as we made our way through the woodland towards the ‘Temple of Four Winds’. The bluebells that lined the path through the woods last month have all but gone and have been smothered by the wild garlic, its faint scent lingering in pockets amongst the trees. Birdsong filled the air with Chiffchaff, Wren and Robins singing their heads off, I could hear a small flock of Swifts soaring above our heads, their distinctive call letting everyone know they were here. On leaving the woods we headed around the Temple of Four Winds to admire the view across the open countryside and watch the Buzzard that was soaring high above the trees over by the Mausoleum. After a few moments we continued our walk down the slope to the ‘Temple Hole’ admiring the beautiful colours of the flowering Rhododendrons, just below the South Lake cascade stands the 18c statue of a lone Shepherd boy leaning against a tree stump, he should be accompanied with his dog and flute but both were missing. I spotted lots of unidentifiable wild flowers along the water’s edge on the walk up the slope to the South Lake but hopefully I will be able to identify them on my next visit. The view from the corner of the lake looking towards the house always takes my breath away, especially along the eastern and southern edges of the lake. we walked along the southern edge of the lake, for a change and because we have not had any significant rain for several weeks was bone dry. The reeds and bullrushes were six feet tall in places and will soon obliterate the view of the house from the water’s edge. We stopped to watch Mrs Mallard tend to her four tiny young siblings close to the water’s edge, they only looked to be several days old. As well as other Mallards on the lake they were accompanied by some Moorhen and Tufted Duck. On leaving the lake we headed up the slope, through the trees, and Rhododendron bushes to the house, the blue and lilac petals of the Camassias also known as the Indian Hyacinth were in flower amongst the long grass and put on quite a show, they are a tall plant which produce tall spires of blue, white, or occasionally pink star-like flowers from late April, through till early June. These unusual looking plants originated from the damp meadows and woodland edges in the Pacific Northwest of the United States and were once the staple food on the native Indian tribes. They were certainly flourishing amongst the bushes and long grass here at Castle Howard. On reaching the house it was just a steady five-minute walk along the gravelled drive to the Stable Courtyard where we enjoyed a very pleasant brunch sat out in the morning sunshine, whilst Meg & Gracie enjoyed their doggie breakfast and a quiet snooze under the table before the journey home.