Spring
The rhododendron display is a dynamic one, gradually building in colour to its late spring peak. An early spring species ‘rhododendron macabeanum’ with its large lemon coloured flowers tucked away from the path network is worth seeking out and you cannot miss the crimson-scarlet flowers of ‘rhododendron Doncaster’, one of our most photographed species along the main drive. You will need to look up at some of our taller specimens including the appropriately named rhododendron arboreum.
We also have a number of specimen trees flowering at this time - the handkerchief, pieris and snowdrop trees are of particular interest. Spread around the garden are fifteen species of magnolia to admire.
Patches of bluebells decorate much of the estate including the wild garden, and if you extend your walk into the parkland you will be rewarded with a display of buttercups and cowslips in late spring.
Summer
The rhododendron season draws to and end as summer approaches, but the brilliant white flowers of rhododendron polar bear are a fitting end to the display. Look out for our two Eucryphia trees along the main drive, which will add to your summer experience with their rose like white flowers. By August, we see the striking red berries appearing on the rowan trees - and the white berries on the Sorbus koehneana trees.
Autumn
Look out for two of our specimen trees in early autumn, the striking display of the golden larch can be short lived, but the change of the smooth Japanese maple is a far more gradual process and can be enjoyed for a number of weeks.
Veteran beech and oak trees will react to drops in temperature to provide a golden display in the garden, often coinciding with a colourful show of fungi.
Ancient and remarkable trees
We have some special trees in the wild garden, including one of the biggest Scots pines outside Scotland, and the larger of our two snowdrop trees is one of tallest specimens in England.
A number of veteran oaks dotted along the main drive may well have acted as boundary markers in the past. Many of the beech trees are well over 200 years old, including our wandering beech tucked away to the side of one of Repton's glimpse points.
The bright green bark of the moosewood tree is particularly striking in the winter, alongside the fresh red growth of the smooth Japanese maples. With many of the trees bare it is a good time to observe the bird life which includes winter thrushes, woodpeckers and roving flocks of tits.