THE gardens at Westerhall near Bentpath will open once again for Scotland’s Garden Scheme on Sunday, May 26, and raise money for charity.
It has been a busy two years since the previous open day and regular visitors will see a lot of changes, with many new additions to the plant collection.
There is no doubt that spring is the best time to go to see Westerhall, with its many glades and grass rides adorned with colour and texture.
The opening buds and young growth on the trees add interest to the canopy above the flowering rhododendrons, azaleas and magnolias.
The woodland floor just now is covered with a carpet of bluebells but later on in the month there will be other plants of interest, most notably the meconopsis (Himalayan Blue Poppy).
The dappled shade and moist acidic soil provide the prefect conditions for the large, silky-blue flowers.
The walled garden is fully functional and the greenhouses within provide a protected environment for more tender plants, all worth seeing.
Nurseryman Alan Clark will host the plant stall. There will be many rhododendrons and azaleas to choose from and Alan has promised there will be a good collection of paeonies available, along with other plants.
Having specialised in rhododendrons for many years, Alan is the perfect person to quiz about what is the right plant for your garden.
Come rain or shine, exploring Westerhall gardens is sure to provide a fun day out. The gardens open at 2pm.
For further details visit Scotlandsgardens.org