Hydrangea petiolaris
Acer palmatum ‘Atropurpurea’
Take a stroll through the gently curving Colonnade with its magnificent collection of magnolias, the majority of which were planted over 50 years ago. Each magnolia tree is exceptional and merits special mention. Smell their fragrance, see petals on the pathways and look upwards to see their beautiful blooms in full display.
You will find the M.s. ‘Diva’ and M. stellata in the Yellow Garden. M. gf ‘Samuel Sommer’ is in the Rose Garden near the Pergola. M. macrophylla is in the Display Garden.
April and May are the months the mature rhododendrons put on their springtime spectacle, forming a colourful canopy over the Colonnade and alongside its border.
Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’
In June, you may spy an unusual shrub, the Fragrant Epaulette Tree (Pterostyrax hispida) with its dangling flower clusters.
Pterostyrax hispida
The Colonnade Garden is also home to two tree species once thought to be extinct: the Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) and the Maidenhair Tree (Ginkgo biloba).
Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Ginkgo biloba
Greeting visitors at the far end of the Colonnade is a large locally painted trompe-l’oeil. This French term means “deceive the eye” and this large mural cleverly fools us with its three-dimensional look, beckoning us to walk through it and explore the gardens on the other side.
