Dear Readers, I first visited Myddelton House Gardens last year with my friend L, so I jumped at the chance for a return visit with my friend S on Wednesday. We were nearly six weeks later than on my last visit, and it was wonderful to see all the spring flowers. And the birds were in full song – have a listen to this song thrush (plus lots of other birds) below…

Incidentally, when I just played this recording while putting the blog together, Jolene my foster cat was very intrigued…

Anyhow, back to Myddelton House! I wrote a lot about the history of the place in my last post, so this visit was really about just enjoying the flowers. First up, the Bird of Paradise flowers in the conservatory are extraordinary this year. They really do look like crested cranes….

And look at this twisty cactus? I think it’s a Spiral Cactus (Cereus forbesii), originally from Bolivia to Argentina.

There was a lot of white comfrey about, which was very popular with the hairy-footed flower bees, and also this unusual pale yellow variety. I am seriously thinking about getting some comfrey for the garden – I know I’ll never be rid of it, but it’s such a pollinator-friendly plant. This yellow one is Tuberous Comfrey (Symphytum tuberosum). It’s native to mainland Europe through to Turkey.

I was very taken by this periwinkle – I liked the dark purple colour. It’s Vinca herbacea, and comes originally from eastern Europe.

And just look at the newly renovated rockery – absolutely full of daffodils, hybrid bluebells, and scillla (and three-cornered leek).

Plus, the garden has some of the biggest Lesser Celandine that I’ve ever seen. I’m wondering if it’s a cultivar?

Plus it’s always nice to see some new plants – this is Annual Toadflax (Linaria maroccana) which, as the name suggests, comes originally from Morocco.

And this little guy is Yellow Monks-wort (Nonea lutea), originally from Russia and Ukraine, but found in the wild in the UK since 1956, and reputed to be spreading north.

So, what a lovely visit! And free too, apart from the cost of parking and a couple of cups of tea. Highly recommended.

https://www.visitleevalley.org.uk/myddelton-house-gardens