So much to see

There is so much to see in the garden.  The bluebells are carpeting the glades, the Rhododendrons are flowering and the azaleas will soon be with us.

These are just two Rhododendrons which stand out at present.  Rhododendron augustinii is a beautiful chinese species discovered in china by Augustine Henry in 1899.  High Beeches has a particularly good blue form.

Rhododendron augustinii

To contrast a Rhododendron cinnabarinum
hybrid.  Rhododendron cinnabarinum was introduced from the Himalayas by Sir Joseph Hooker in 1849, sadly it is prone to powdery mildew but this unnamed hybrid is slightly more resistant than the species.

Rhododendron cinnabarinium hybrid

The Loderi Rhododendrons are already coming into flower as are the Davidia and the Crinodendrons.  The ground is covered in many wild flowers amongst the bluebells and the young foliage on the trees gives a vibrant background to it all.

Rhododendron Show

Rhododendron racemosum

On Saturday High Beeches competed in the early Rhododendron competition at RHS Wisley.

A long week of looking for perfect blooms for the show bench bore fruit.  On Friday as we were packing the cars with exhibits things did not look good.  The larger species Rhododendrons were either marked or going over as were some of the earlier hybrids.

Competition was stiff with the Savill Gardens, Exbury, Borde Hill and many others taking part.  This made for a very good show.

High Beeches gained four firsts for Rhododendrons racemosum, rex, nerriflorum and primuliflorum with many places in other classes.  The smaller species rhododendrons saved the day.

Rh primuliflorum was voted Best in Show.

Rhododendron rex

Rhododendron primuliflorum
'Best in Show'

Early Rhododendron Show

Rhododendron beanianum

It has been a busy week, High Beeches is showing some of their Rhododendrons at the early Rhododendron Show at Wisley this weekend. An opportunity to see some of the best Rhododendrons growing in this country being exhibited by both professionals and amateurs.

The three Rhodos opposite are just some of those that have been selected from High Beeches Garden for the show bench.   A good year for species although in another week or two the hybrids will be at their best.



Rhododendron rex

Showing means a change of routine in the garden for staff. The hunt for the perfect bloom or spray can be challenging as many of the larger Rhododendrons are 10 metres + in height and are often on a slope. A certain amount of ingenuity is called for as well as a great deal of care so as not to damage the chosen bloom.


Rhododendron scabrifolium

Spring

.A thank you to Plantlife for listing High Beeches Garden as one of eleven gardens, in the country, to see wildflowers.  The meadow is already coming into bloom with cowslips and violets.  The meadow is at its peak in June. 

 

Magnolia denudata

One of the most beautiful magnolias is now in flower, Magnolia denudata also known as the Lily Tree.  It is a large shrub or small tree, as it is here, with pure white, cup shaped, fragrant flowers.  It was introduced from China in l798.









Many of the larger flowered Rhododendrons are now in flower.  Amongst them is

Rhododendron eximium

Rhododendron eximium.  The big, fleshy flowers are tinged with pink and the large, glossy leaves, up to 30 cm long, have an orangy brown indumentum, making this a very attractive plant.

Rhododendron eximium may well be one of the garden's exhibits at the early Rhododendron Show at RHS Wisley on 12th/13th April.