Some yellow Rhododendrons in flower at High Beeches

Rh. Hawk

 Just a taste of some of the stunning yellow Rhododendrons in flower at High Beeches at the moment.  It is an especially good year for them.

The garden is looking particularly beautiful now.  The primroses are still in flower amongst the bluebells and the camellias are late to flower and so have not been damaged by frost.
The Loderi Rhodendrons are filling the garden with their sweet scent along with Rhododendron johnstoneanum.


Rhododendron Hotei
One of the best yellows



Rh campylocarpum

Rh wightii

A great place to see Rhododendrons

Rhododendron Matador

'Rhodos rule' an article by Robin Lane Fox, in the Financial Times on Saturday 11th May, extolling the virtues of the Rhododendron.   He advocates visiting some well known Rhododendron gardens to see the Rhodos in their full glory.
Many of the Rhodos he mentions can also be seen here at High Beeches Garden including many of those bearing the Loder name.

High Beeches is the original Loder Garden.  The Loder Family bought High Beeches in the 1860's and continued to garden here until l968 when the Boscawens bought the garden and it is now managed by High Beeches Gardens Conservation Trust.

Three beauties. Rhododendron hybrids Moonstone, Elsae and Elizabeth

Rhododendrons on Forrest's Bank
Amongst them are Rhodo russatum and Rhodo campylogynum

These are just some of the stunning Rhodos to be seen at High Beeches.

Camellias and Magnolias

Camellia williamsii Donation
perhaps the most beautiful camellia raised this century

Two camellias and two magnolias looking their best in the Garden at the moment.

There is so much to see - the garden changes everyday.

It is an extraordinary year for primroses and cowslips.  There are literary carpets of primroses and there have never been so many cowslips in the meadow.  It promises to be a superb year for the native wildflowers and the bluebells will be in full flower next week.

Camellia reticulata



Magnolia Alexandrina 

There are more Rhododenrons out every day;
Rh. niveum, Rh. sino grande, Rh. thomsonii,
Rh. Jenny, Rh. fargesii, Rh. morii, Rh. calophytum, Rh. reticulatum, Rh. Queen Wilhemina,  Rh.caloxanthum, Rh. uvarifolium,
Rh Barclay Fox to name just a few.






The later flowering magnolias have survived the frost and are looking glorious.  In addition to these two Magnolia stellata, Magnolia kobus, Magnolia lennei, Magnolia Star Wars and Magnolia veitchii are in full flower.

Magnolia Leonard Messel 

Some Magnificent Rhododendrons

Three big leafed rhododendrons in flower in the gardens.  Two species, Rh. calophytum, Rh. macabeanum and a hybrid Rh. macabeanum x montroseanum.  Rh. calophytum is a native of West China and Tibet and was discovered by Abbe David and introduced to the UK by Ernest Wilson in 1904.  It is an evergreen tree which can grow to 15 metres.  Rh. macabeanum is a native of the Himalayas and was introduced to the UK by Frank Kingdom Ward, also evergreen it too can grow to 15 metres.  Rh. Macabeanum x montroseanum was hybridised at the Saville Gardens, Windsor and given to High Beeches where it is now well established and producing large flowers.



Rhododendron calophytum







Rhododendron macabeanum

Rh macabeanum x montroseanum

Visitors to the Garden

A Comma Butterfly - Polygonia c-album

Spring has brought visitors to the garden.  The first butterflies including a comma and a peacok.

  

Clients and Staff from Aldingbourne Country Centre

 Clients from Aldingbourne Country Centre came for their annual visit to see the Daffodils flowering.  They planted a thousand bulbs last year.  The Daffodils are putting on a good display this year.

Harris Hawk from Breck Falconry

Breck Falconry were in the garden for their first display of the year.  The birds and visitors were enjoying the good weather on Saturday.
They return for another display and Hawk Walks on Saturday 15th June

February in the Garden

Lathraea clandestina

Rhododendron Bric a Brac

There is already much to see in the Garden.

Primroses are in flower and there are some early Lent Lillies.  Some of the very pretty early Rhododenrons are in bloom as is Lathraea clandestina and I found the first Narcissus cyclamineus flowering alongside the snowdrops and crocus thomasina today.

The magnolias are covered in flower bud and should be out when the garden opens on March
16th.

High Beeches will be taking part in English Tourism Week 18th to 24th March.  Quote ETW1 and get entry for two paying adults for the price of one.



Rhododendron Cliff Garland



Narcissus cyclamineus

January 2013

Hamamellis mollis

Stewartia monodelpha

 A beautiful New Years Day

Hamamellis mollis, Wych Hazel, is in flower and the bark of Stewartia monodelpha glows in the sun.

The ponds are full of beautiful reflections.

The Daffodils are already beginning to sprout and there is a primrose in flower.

Although the garden is closed for the winter
there is much work to be done.  The leaves are all off the trees and so Russell and Mark are hard at work with the leaf blowers.  Other jobs include pruning and tidying up after all the recent rain.  Several of the ghylls (streams) over flowed their banks.

The Magnolias are covered in flower bud and should give us a magnificent display this year.

Fagus sylvatica Asplenifolia reflected in Centre Pond