Harlow Carr in May

At long last we've visited Harlow Carr without risking hypothermia. We'd planned to go on Sunday as there was a Spring Plant Fair being held but the weather was terrible, it was pouring down with rain, much like today, so we went yesterday instead. Knowing what it's been like on previous visits, I wore my coat but I soon stripped off to a t shirt, it was so warm. We definitely chose the right day to go.

The first thing that hit me as we walked through the door was the tulip border. In March it was nothing but bare soil, by April a few yellow tulips were flowering but just two weeks later and the rest of the tulips had followed suit creating this stunning display.

As the weather was being kind on this visit, we decided to head in to the woodland.

Many of the rhododendrons are now flowering, though some are still in bud.

There's a good collection of different plants which you'll see from my next photos. I don't think they need any explanation.

This bee was covered in pollen.

We trip trapped over the small bridge even though a troll was on guard.

Work at Harlow Carr doesn't stop for a bank holiday, here some forestry work was being undertaken.

It's evident that lots more of this type of work has been carried out. Log piles line the paths in some areas.

Is it just me who can see a dinosaur in this tree? My knowledge of trees is sadly lacking, I'd love to know what this tree is if anyone knows.

We came upon the bird hide so we decided to see who was about. There wasn't any unusual birds on the feeders but we often see red kites soaring overhead whilst we're at Harlow Carr.

Daffodils are still flowering but they're really past their best now.

I'm not usually one for fancy daffodils but I though this frilly variety was lovely.

I like this narcissus Sir Winston Churchill, a multi headed variety.

The kitchen garden was looking very neat and tidy. I asked one of the girls working there what happens to the produce they grow and was told that they don't grow sufficient quantities to sell so the gardeners get to take it home.

Crops are starting to appear in the raised beds now. Here we have radish, spinach and peas.

Apple mint being grown in a sunken container. I know myself how invasive it is, my first allotment plot was covered in the stuff and we never managed to get rid of it. I'd never plant mint in open ground without some form of barrier.

The rhubarb bed has now been cleared of the forcing pots and the plants are being allowed to grow uncovered. There were bare patches of earth here and there when we last visited but the plants have put on a lot of growth since then. There's odd tulips flowering amongst the rhubarb.

There's been a lot more growth in the bed I'm following. I'm looking forward to seeing what emerges over the next couple of months here.

The tulips are really doing their thing now, so many different varieties. I'd like to leave you with some photos of the displays and varieties being grown at Harlow Carr.

This has been my favourite month to visit Harlow Carr so far but I'm looking forward to seeing which plants will be the stars of the show on my next visit.