The Spring Gardens at the rear of the Gardens, dip and dive over the hills and provide pockets of colour and surprise and many trails to ramble. While many of the collections flower in late winter and spring, the Spring Gardens also include a mix of trees, shrubs and flowers to provide year-round interest.

Daffodil Dell and Walk
The Daffodil Walk rambles over a mild hill through a dell that in spring is a mass of gold, best viewed from the Dovey Gazebo look out or from a Prunus lined walk from the Boothby Fern House at the rear of the Gardens. In spring lookout for the Daffodil signs that mark the start and end of this walkway.

Daffodils were planted in the 1990s as large full circles of bulbs spread out amongst the trees to flower in early, mid-season and late spring. Frilled trumpet Ice Follies, yellow and orange cupped Falstaffs and Indian Maid are very vigorous. By the gazebo, the pink cups next to the Acacias are the last to flower.

Magnolia Grove
At the end of the daffodil walk, at the rear of the Gardens, is a collection of Magnolias, best viewed July to late September when they are at their flowering peak. The grove includes a collection of Jury hybrid magnolias along with Magnolia doltsopa and Magnolia sellata.

Camellia Grove
The Camellia Grove shows many varieties and unlike many Camellia gardens is planted in species beds that include ornamentals such as Camellia sasanqua, Camellia japonica and Camellia reticulata (and their hybrids) to miniature species such as Camellia transkoenemsis.

Rhododendron and Azalea Walk
At the edge of the Spring Gardens, the short Rhododendron and Azalea Walk is a colourful place in October and November. The Rhododendrons include a number of species and hybrid forms while the Azaleas feature evergreen Azalea indica and deciduous Mollis Azaleas.

return to map