It was a dry, bright, and sunny morning as we drove up the A1 motorway for a visit to the gardens at RHS Harlow Carr on the outskirts of Harrogate. I like to visit the gardens at least once a month but have lapsed somewhat badly since our last visit there at the beginning of June!

It was just after 10.00am as we drove in to the car park, I was quite surprised at the number of visitors already there, the car park was half full and the gardens had only been open for thirty minutes.

After passing through the reception area, we headed down the slope, stopping to admire the bright red florets on the Chinese Trumpet Vine on our right, turning left at the bottom of the slope we headed over towards the Learning centre. The borders were full of flowering Lilies, Mediterranean Sea Holly, beds of flowering Mallow, Roses, Grasses, and purple flowering Perovskia. The roses around the Learning centre were a picture especially the pink coloured ‘Olivia Rose Austin’ which gave off a lovely fruity scent, and the orange blossoming ‘Lady of Shalott.’

Passing the Teaching gardens on our left blue flowering Agapanthus were making quite a statement, heading on towards the Edwardian Garden flowering Agapanthus were gently swaying in the morning breeze along with flowering Echinacea, and Alliums. Looking over to the QM lake the water was covered in a green weed which must have covered ninety percent of the water’s surface. Continuing to the Sunken Garden the borders were bursting with colour, which combines formal garden design with soft, romantic planting. The centre beds were full of pastel hues, including prairie mallows Sidalcea ‘Elsie Heugh’ and ‘Mrs Borrodaile’ and pink roses Rosa Mortimer Sacker (‘Ausorts’). Purple Alliums and Astrantia major ‘Claret,’ mixed with the fuzzy seedheads of grasses Briza media ‘Limouzi’ and Pennisetum ‘Fairy Tails.’ I have never seen this part of the garden as full of plants as it was today.

We followed the new gravelled footpath down to the lake, the borders on both sides of the path had been planted with wild flowers including Field marigold, Calendula, Violets, Patterson’s curse, and Dwarf Morning glory and were awash with colour and insects and certainly made quite a statement. Walking over the bridge Purple Loosestrife added additional colour to the water’s edge. From here we continued around the green lake to the Streamside path. False Goat’s Beard, Ferns, Hydrangeas and Spirea provided lots of colour along the streamside. Work is continuing along this path and a new path is currently being constructed close to the recently refurbished bridge over the stream which will take you closer to the stream and rockery. Primula florindaei, a later-blooming primula, also provided more colour with its yellow, nodding flowers and sweet scent. As we approached the Old Bath House giant Gunnera some over six feet tall on the right filled the stream side area.

I popped into the Old Bath House for a browse; on today’s visit it was showcasing over 30 contemporary artists and makers based in the British Isles. The arts and craft theme inspired by nature, included handmade jewellery, paintings and prints and lots of trinkets and brochettes. The exhibition runs through till the 20^th August.

We had a brief stop for brunch at Betty’s tea house which was very pleasant although like most places at the moment Wasps were being a nuisance so after a quick bite to eat, we carried on with our walk around the gardens. We continued on the opposite side of the stream, flowering Hosta’s, Cowslips and Primulas were in full flower around the Geoffrey Smith memorial stone. After several hundred yards we climbed the slope to the Sandstone Garden now home to many mature and new specimens of Japanese maple. This is one of my favourite parts of the garden, I have an infinity to water in a garden and I am spoilt here with a stream and ponds either side of the footpath. It was quite congested with visitors so we continued our walk to the top of the slope to the Sun Border. Looking back towards the stream the Main Borders were full of colour and looking vibrant, various forms of Pampas grass and Stipa gigantea were swaying gently in the breeze along with Hydrangeas with massive flower heads. Huge swathes of Pinks and Purples and blues added lots of additional colours to the wide borders. The Sun Border proved a popular spot with visitors alike, many just sat admiring the views across the gardens, today with the sun shining and a lovely blue sky seemed to make it extra special.

The Alpine House was our next port of call; it was one of the first projects to be completed since the gardens came under the ownership of the RHS back in 2001. Today it is home to a wide variety of Alpine type plants, all native to the mountainous regions from around the world. After passing through, I headed over to the Sub Tropical Garden, the top part of this garden is quite dense with Banana plants, various forms of Bamboo plants and Palms all created a tropical feel to the area. Aeoniums, and Echeveria added more form with their tightly packed petals, whilst Salvias, Dalias, Cannas, Ricinus, Martagon Lilies and Phlox all provided lots of colour to the area.

I must add a date in my diary to visit the gardens more frequently than I have been of late!