© Molly Hollman Photography
HOLE PARK
GREAT COMP GARDEN DODDINGTON PLACE GARDENS
SPRING
Perhaps nothing is more welcome in the garden than the first sightings of spring flowers to mark the end of the darker days of winter . A wonderful place to spot the early bloomers such as crocuses and daffodils in the early months of spring is Emmetts Garden in Sevenoaks . These give way to pretty bluebells that cover the woodland floor with a blanket of blue and purple hues . Of course , it is daffodils that announce the arrival of spring . Whether in the wild or in the garden , their assertive trumpets capture the imagination and bring cheer to the bleakest of days . One of the best places to witness daffodils of Wordsworthian glory is Hever Castle , where each year 70,000 daffodil bulbs are set to bloom .
Early April will see swathes of crocuses , narcissi and daffodils , which can also be enjoyed at Hole Park in Cranbrook , where there is also a pretty ‘ Camelia Walk ’ with shade-loving hellebores takes walkers down a path flanked by flowering cherry trees . Before the bluebells take centre stage , the meadows and woodland floor are a sea of primroses and dainty blue scillas . Magnificent mature magnolia trees will also be flowering throughout the gardens and woodlands . Spring is also the perfect time to visit the Great Comp Garden in Sevenoaks , which erupts into bloom with swathes of magnolias , azaleas and rhododendrons , underplanted with large drifts of hellebores and spring bulbs .
Rhododendrons and azaleas also come in abundance at Doddington Place Gardens ’ woodland garden - a spectacle for May and June . Doddington is also home to a large Edwardian rock garden with pools , a formal sunk garden with herbaceous borders , and a flint and brick folly . Extensive lawns and avenues are framed by impressive clipped yew hedges and many fine trees .
A time of blossoming fruit trees , one of Kent ’ s best gardens to visit in spring is the garden of Winston Churchill - Chartwell . With delicate pink and white cherry and apple blossoms in the orchard and bountiful blooms of magnolia trees framing the approach to the house , this is one garden not to miss at this time of year . This year , Chartwell are taking part in the national Festival of Blossom ( April 22-30 ) when local community groups will create blossom benches in the garden decorated with origami paper flowers . There will also be a collaborative art project making origami blossoms to hang from the pergola on the terrace lawn .
One of the most stunning arrays of late spring is the tulip . Pashley Manor ’ s spectacular Tulip Festival ( April 19 - May 3 ) sees this garden carpeted with over 48,000 tulips , creating supremely stunning scenes . Over 100 varieties of tulip are planted in colour-themed garden ‘ rooms ’ throughout the grounds and in pot displays . Visitors can wander from elegant displays of white lily flowered and palest cream classic tulips planted around an old brick terrace to the open space of sweeping herbaceous borders covered in a riot of reds and oranges surrounded by tendrils of bronze fennel , or romantic soft pink peony flowered blooms cloistered between red brick walls and pleached pear trees . Yet more tulips are on display as cut flowers in the Bloms Bulbs marquee . Bloms , winners of 69 Chelsea gold medals , are on hand throughout the festival to share their knowledge of these beautiful bulbs and to take orders from those inspired by the spectacle .
Perhaps the most famous gardener that called Kent home was Vita Sackville-West who transformed Sissinghurst Castle Garden into one of Britain ’ s greatest . The epitome of the English garden , visitors can now explore its series of garden rooms , each filled with different planting schemes and unique designs . Heralded for its beauty and diversity , the garden is a result of the creative tension between the exuberant planting of Sackville-West and her husband , Harold Nicolson ' s formal design . Spring sees gorgeous magnolias - early guests will spot huge white flowers , and a few weeks later , the dark , dusky pink ones will be on show . Late April also sees the bluebells rise up and in May irises encroach blessing the garden with their intense colours of violet and blue .
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