A walk in the gardens April 16th and 26th 2006

Suddenly all the leaves are beginning to emerge and everywhere is looking fresher and greener. The Cercidiphyllum at the entrance to the garden is looking almost as good now as it does in the autumn

The bank in front of Achamore house is ablaze with daffodils.

The north walled garden has a wealth of dwarf rhododendrons coming into flower. These include Rh. pemokoense, Carmen, campylogynum and Intrifast. The plum trees are in flower and there is a Magnolia Leonard Messel. (Photo)

In the south walled garden Rh. johnstoneanum has fragrant yellow flowers and reddish flaky bark, Rh. John Bull has white flowers flushed with pink and Rh. Songbird has blue flowers.

Out side the walled garden in Hugh's border is another blue Rhododendron, Pematit Cambridge and in Islay 's border 2 red rhododendrons Gigha gem and Argyll.

There are now more red and pink rhododendrons coming into flower. Earlier in the year yellow seemed to be the prominent colour.

Elsewhere in the gardens other rhododendrons flowering are Rh. fulvum, Rh. thomsonii, Rh. Brocade and Brocade Plus, Rh. Crarae,and a magnificent Rh. Glory of Athlone and Rh. Mrs James Horlick.

There is an Embothrium flowering and some Azaleas are beginning to flower. This pale pink one is at the top of what used to be called the servants walk.

One plant I keep forgetting because there are so many of them is Lysichiton americanum, the skunk cabbage. This plant even grows in the ditch beside the main road.

On April 16 th there was an Easter egg hunt in the gardens and strange fauna were to be seen amongst the flora! Little hunters both male and female were to be seen running hither and thither searching for the elusive eggs! The adults of the species were banned from taking part but the young hunters had a successful day! And are hoping for a repeat event next year!