summer
As the rhododendron season ends and summer begins, the mixed borders and walks on the hillside garden take centre stage.
herbaceous border
herbaceous border
Familiar favourites - oriental poppies, paeonies, lilies and lupins are followed in turn by elegant grasses and the more exotic cannas, dahlias, salvias and zinnias.
Canna iridifolia
    
Many choice trees including the Indian bean tree and Kentucky coffee tree provide an extra interest well into August and the oncoming autumn.
Catalapa bignoniodes
 
Catalapa bignoniodes
Plant Profile  
Tetrapanax papyrifer

Tetrapanax papyrifer - the rice paper plant is a spectacular foliage plant from China, with deeply lobed leaves spreading up to 50cm across.

A tender shrub overwintered under glass, it has now been planted out making a bold feature in the newly created gravel garden.
Tetrapanax papyrifer