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Rhododendrons

BOWOOD RHODODENDRON WALKS NOW OPEN.

From late April to mid June, according to the flowering season, a seperate woodland garden is open to visitors. Please see images below - some stunning sights to look out for.

This is a spectacular attraction offering breathtaking vistas of colour and beauty covering over 60 acres. This woodland oasis of azaleas, magnolias and rhododendrons is considered to be one of the most exciting gardens of its type in the country; it lies on a seam of greensand running from Poole in Dorset to The Wash on the East Coast.

The woodland garden surrounds the family mausoleum, one of Robert Adam’s finest Classical buildings, which was commissioned in 1761 by the widow of the 1^st Earl of Shelburne, who purchased Bowood in 1754.

Recently, the Rhododendron Walks have been the subject of one of the most exciting and significant horticultural finds – over 30 original hardy hybrids which were thought to be extinct. The original plants date back to when the garden was first planted by the 3^rd Marquis of Lansdowne in 1854. The present Lord Lansdowne’s great grandfather substantially expanded the garden on his return from being Viceroy in India. Most of the species originate from the Himalayas. Successive generations have continued to add to the collection.

If you are interested in keeping up to date with which species are flowering, please check the Garden Diary.

Combined tickets are now available at a discounted rate for the Rhododendron Walks and the House & Gardens. Visits can either be made on the same day or split over two visits.

Prices for 2013

Day Ticket

Adult £6.50; Senior Citizen £6.00; Children aged 12 and under FREE

Combined Ticket to Rhododendron Walks and House and Gardens

Adult £15.00; Senior Citizen £13.50

Rhododendron Map 2013

The Rhododendron Walks are located off the A342 between Derry Hill and Sandy Lane at Kennel’s Lodge. Please use postcode SN11 9PG for Sat Nav. For a map please click here

Well behaved dogs on leads are permitted in the Rhododendron Walks only.

Follow the little plan below which will guide you through the particular species to see this week.

	At the junction of Keeper’s Drive and Pauline’s Ride, you will see this magnificent rare hybrid “Currieanum”, a Waterers plant from Knap Hill Nursery, pre 1851.
Then look to your right down Pauline’s Ride between the “Pieris” - what a view! Species Rho. “mucronatum” in the foreground, Rho. “Loderi” in the distance.
	100 metres going down Pauline’s Ride, you will find a track across the now fading bluebells. In front are five enormous “Loderi”. Look out for the late pink. Also “venus” one of the 38 “Loderi” varieties!
Return onto Pauline’s Ride, looking over the fenced bed of miniature plants you may spot this stunning white seedling with a deep pink throat. That’s a challenge; it’s difficult to find!
	Near the bottom of Pauline’s Ride on the right, a much easier plant to recognise Rho. “davidsonianum”. A wonder species named after a missionary W. H. Davidson, but introduced by Wilson in 1908.
You should now be on Lady Lansdowne’s Ride. Cross over the stream which is about 100 metres from the start. Continue over Petty’s Walk. Immediately on your right is a striking rosy crimson named “Maxwell T. Masters”, another Waterers Knap Hill hybrid, pre 1900. Am focussing on this as I believe it to be one of the parents of the next stunning Bowood seedling shown in the image below.
	This 20’ plant is a topper! I nearly removed it ten years ago as it elbows out a “sinogrande” and a “macabeanum”. But just look at the size of the trusses. They are exquisite. It is likely the other parent is “Kewense” close by, which is now over.
Just up the path from the above is a huge yellow skunk plant, “Candelabra Primulas”, with a backdrop of “mucronatum”.
	Twenty metres further on is a beautiful group of Azaleas “April Showers”. We only planted these three years ago!
The next plant worthy of special attention is on a short unmarked ride, between Lady Lansdowne’s Ride and Lord Shelburne’s Walk. It is called “The Master”. It is a 1964 “W. Slocock” hybrid - a cross between “China” and “Letty Edwards”. It is scented so has some “fortunei” in it.
	Now I am guiding you past the Mausoleum - stop to look at that view across Calne to the downs beyond, above Broad Town. Coming back on Lady Shelburne’s Walk, you will reach the Quarry. It is a “room” full of treasures!
Now finally, am guiding you back onto Keeper’s Drive and the Jubilee Garden. Seven years ago, this little valley was dominated by sycamores, bracken and brambles. We felled the sycamores, landscaped the little stream, sprayed out the bracken and brambles. After two years relentless spraying in August/September to protect the bluebells, we started planting. It is now a treasure trove. Our dedicated amenity team mow and maintain this area. Over the seven years I have been creating this garden, I have had the invaluable help on Saturdays of a friend and employee, Bill Goddard. We are both 72 this year! What fun we have had doing it.