However you like your gardens to grow, there's a style to suit everyone at Kingston Lacy. Relax in the Japanese Garden, wander down woodland paths or admire the fine lines of the formal gardens. It's entirely up to you.

Whet your appetite with these five highlights from the garden:

Towering glory

© NTPL / Mark Bolton

A garden feature of giant proportions, this imposing Egyptian obelisk had to endure a river dunking, high seas and a 20-year journey from Philae, Egypt, to get to Kingston Lacy. If that wasn't enough, it took a team of 19 horses to haul the hefty obelisk vertical.

It now casts a crisp shadow across the sweeping South Lawn, sat on a foundation stone laid by the Duke of Wellington.

East meets west

© NTPL / Mark Bolton

Stroll to the far end of the garden and cross continents into the Japanese Garden. At its heart is the Tea Garden with its tea house.

The garden’s oriental planting scheme is stunning all year. A snowdrift of blossom will greet you in spring when the Japanese cherry trees burst spectacularly into flower and the Acer Glade is ablaze with colour in the autumn.

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Let it snow

© NTPL / Stephen Robson

We can't promise snow, but we can predict a dazzling blanket of snowdrops at Kingston Lacy each winter. The garden wakes up in spectacular fashion in January and February when thousands of this favourite flower burst through the soil transforming the garden into a sea of white.

Special snowdrop openings are a tradition at Kingston Lacy so you can wander through the displays and salute this first welcome sign of spring.

The Fernery

© NTPL / Stephen Robson	The Victorians were fascinated by ferns and they often dedicated special parts of the garden to growing them. Kingston Lacy's Fernery, dating from 1900, is a rare survivor of this love affair. Over 20 varieties of ferns flourish in the Fernery's damp shade - also perfect conditions for reviving wilting visitors.

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Stretch your legs

© NTPL / Richard Pink

The garden is criss-crossed with scenic walks. Pathways lead out of the more formal gardens closer to the house and into cooling woodland. Enjoy long and short walks (depending on how far your legs need stretching).

Listen and look for wildlife and admire specimen shrubs and trees including azaleas, camelias and acers. Striking displays of daffodils, fritillaries and bluebells make spring a particularly special time to experience this part of the garden.