Temple Newsam Gardens In June

I showed you around Temple Newsam Gardens in my Garden Visiting In December post but the photos I've got to show you today are very different from the ones you'll see in that post. In December, there wasn't very much interest in the borders but come May, and in to June, the rhododendrons are flowering and there's colour everywhere you look.

As we walked from the car park we could just see a first tantalising glimpse of the spectacle before us.

More colour to see as we got a little closer.

This is the very start of the rhododendron walk, there's a photo taken from the same place in my December post but I'm sure you'll agree it's very different now that the rhododendrons are blooming.

I think the rhododendrons are just starting to go over now, though they're still stunning to see. We've had lots of high winds just lately and many many petals have blown on to the floor.

I think these next photos can do the talking for themselves.

A few close ups.

We weren't the only ones enjoying the rhododendrons, can you see the bees drinking the nectar?

As well as rhododendrons, Temple Newsam Gardens also have borders filled with azaleas. All azaleas are rhododendrons but not all rhododendrons are azaleas. Confused? So am I. It can be very hard to distinguish an azalea from a rhododendron but some ways you can tell is that azaleas only have five stamens whereas other rhododendrons have ten or more and rhododendrons are evergreen whereas some, but not all, azaleas are deciduous.

As we walked down towards the lake we came to more azalea beds.

Even across the lake there are splashes of colour amongst the trees.

I absolutely love all the different greens and shapes around the lake.

At the side of the lake is a small grass garden. I'm not really in to grasses, I don't have any at all in my garden, but some of them are so tactile. I just can't help reaching out and touching them.

The gunnera is growing again by the side of the lake. The leaves are huge.

I've never looked underneath a gunnera plant before, I believe these are the flowers.

Also by the lake are these candelabra primroses, aren't they pretty?

There are lots of different hostas edging some of the beds, it's interesting to see how some varieties are more prone to slug damage than others.

A view from a bridge.

Although Temple Newsam Gardens are interesting throughout the year, I'm sure you can see why a trip there in May or June is just a little bit extra special.