Hare
Hill Gardens
Hare Hill Gardens are a
National Trust site between Prestbury and Alderley Edge and the
NT Guide describes it as - 'woodland garden especially spectacular
in early summer includes azaleas, rhododendrons, hollies and hostas.'
The rhododendron shrubbery
lined entrance pathway.
Not all the interest is
at eye-level or lower, mature rhododendron shrubs struggle for
dominance 10-12 feet above ground.
Delicate colours stand out
against shade, colour and texture of surrounding vegetation.
Some flowers are in a perfect
unsullied state ...
... while others are just
opening into that blissful state.
Some have delicate subtle
colours (I've not quite caught the greenish tinge on these flowers)
...
... some a bolder more arresting
colour ...
... some with stronger markings
allied with delicate shades and gradations of colour.
Not all the interest is
in the rhododendrons. Here is a bed of mixed hostas, but we are
too early to catch them in flower.
There are, however, a number
of holly varieties that are in flower, though you have to look
closely to be sure.
We couldn't miss the big
new leaves of the horse-chestnuts ...
... and hiding behind them
a Victorian potting shed.
Deeper in the wood small
ponds that would have reflected the blue sky and the flowers were
it not for the scum of dead flowers off the trees stirred into
a circular pattern by unknown mechanism.
Also in the middle of this
woodland is a large walled garden ...
....
... with various plants
climbing or, like these quince, being trained up the walls.
Not quite the light in which
to capture the fluidity of this sculpture but an attractive piece
of work worth seeing.
However, our flying visit
does not allow for us sitting about in contemplation, so it's
time to slip back through the gate ...
... and back onto the main
path, where we encounter our first flowering azaleas.
These yellow azaleas are
my favourite, because in addition to their colour and form they
have the most pervasive sensuous scent.
....
Colour contrasts again between
adjacent plants and within the flower ...
... but let's finish our
visit with this single bloom, its virginal lily-white relieved
most delicately with the pale green mottling, but sadly not scented
like a lily.
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