Perthshire Springs Into Bloom

Bells Cherrybank Gardens, Perth

These gardens are home to Europe’s largest collection of heathers. Visitors can appreciate the range of colour of the flowers and foliage of some 50,000 plants representing 900 varieties in a stunning garden setting.

Branklyn Gardens, Perth

This oasis of peace and colour (pictured above in delicate sunshine) bursts is particularly attractive in May and June as primulas, alpines and rhododendrons flower to complement the collection of plants from China, Tibet, Bhutan and the Himalayas, including the famous Blue Meconopsis. 7 May is Scottish Garden Scheme Day, and Branklyn will be holding a guided walk with the Head Gardener from 2 – 3pm. The ever-popular Blue Poppy Day will take place on 28 May. Find out more about how these wonderful species are grown and cared for on a guided walk with the Head Gardener (2 – 3pm)

Cluny House Gardens, nr Aberfeldy

This wonderful woodland garden will be running evening guided tours on Wednesday 26th April at 7pm, and Wednesday 24 May at 7.30pm. John Mattingley will take visitors around the garden naming plants and explaining the ethos behind the garden. Wendy Mattingley will concentrate on Cluny’s rich wildlife, including the many birds and squirrels that are resident at Cluny. The cost is £3.50 per person, with the proceeds from Wendy’s walk going towards food for the squirrels, and provision of new nest boxes. Please phone 01887 820795 for more information.

In April many species of American woodland bulbs can be seen flowering in the garden, along with 18 species of Trilliums. Wild Wood Anemones appear throughout the garden especially where the ground is less disturbed. Cluny is also famed for its Asiatic primulas, with the pale pinky-blue Primula moupinensis dotted around the garden, along with the beautiful ice-blue Primula sonchifolia. The colours and textures of the bark on may of the exotic trees and shrubs can be best appreciated at this time of year, before most of the leaves come onto the trees.

In May the wild bluebells, wood anemones and primroses add to the fantastic scents and wonderful birdsong as primulas, rhododendrons, Himalayan poppies and American woodland bulbs flower. The large population of Red Squirrels adds to the colour as they run about the garden feeding on nut and seed feeders. June is another glorious month, signalling the start of the lily season. It is also the main month for candelabra primulas, for which Cluny is particularly well known.

Drummond Gardens, nr Crieff

The Japanese maples in this magnificent Italianate parterre give a fantastic display of Spring foliage that illustrates why Drummond is one of Scotland’s most important formal gardens. On 10/11 and 17/18 May, Drummond will be holding two special gardening breaks, in association with The Royal Hotel in Comrie, when visitors will be able to go ‘behind the potting shed’ with Head Gardener Peter Randlo to hear more about the history, design, planting and maintenance of the gardens. Please telephone The Royal Hotel on 01764 679200 for more information.

Explorer' Garden, Pitlochry

Here in Pitlochry you can take a journey around the world, following in the footsteps of Scotland’s unsung heroes – the Scottish Plant Hunters. This unique garden celebrates their fascinating lives and their amazing contribution to the way our gardens look today. In Spring and early Summer expect to encounter tall banks of beautiful blue, red and yellow Meconopsis in flower, and drifts of Primulas including the rare Primula whitei hybrid.

Glendoick Gardens & Garden Centre, nr Glencarse

Recently voted one of Europe’s top 50 gardens, Glendoick features a unique gathering of plants collected and hybridised by three generations of the Cox family from their plant hunting expeditions. Fabulous collections of rhododendrons, azaleas and primulas are just some of the highlights. Other Glendoick specialities include Sorbus, Camellia, Magnolia, Eucryphia, Lilies, Primula, Trillium and Nomocharis – all of which can be found in the streamside woodland garden.

New for this year are two new dwarf rhododendrons with red leaves which are on view in the gardens and on sale for the first time anywhere in the world at Glendoick this Spring.

'Everred' has dark red leaves all year round and dark red flowers. 'Wine and Roses' has pink flowers and a deep red leaf underside which flashes in the wind giving a striking effect. Both are hardy, easy to please and suitable for Scottish Gardens.

"It took over 25 years of breeding, selecting and testing to bring these plants to market. They will be available nationally in a few years’ time, but for now, Glendoick is the only place you can see or buy them,” said breeder Kenneth Cox.

They are the first rhododendrons in the U.K. to be 'patented' with plant breeders rights, so that they can only be grown commercially under licence. The Glendoick Breeding program has already produced a long list of best-selling plants such as dwarf rhododendrons: 'Curlew' and 'Chikor' and azaleas 'Panda' and 'Wombat' as well as newer introductions named after Scottish Lochs such as 'Loch Awe' and 'Loch Leven'.

The gardens at Glendoick House are open from mid April to mid June, Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm, and on the 1st and 3rd Sundays in May under Scotland’s Garden Scheme, from 2 – 5pm.

Hercules Garden, Blair Castle

This walled enclosure of about 9 acres was developed by the 2nd Duke of Atholl in the mid 18th century. Named after the life-size statue of Hercules which overlooks it, this stunning garden incorporates landscaped ponds and planting. Other features include statues, urns, a Chinese bridge and a folly, as well as productive fruit trees, vegetable beds and colourful herbaceous borders. Visitors can also enjoy a superb collection of conifers in nearby Diana’s Grove.

Kinross House

Built between 1685 – 93 by Sir William Bruce, Kinross House and its gardens command stunning views out over Loch Leven to the castle where Mary, Queen of Scots spent a year in captivity. The gardens include a formal rose garden, yew hedges and lovely herbaceous borders, making it one of the finest formal gardens in Scotland.

Scone Palace Gardens, near Perth

The natural surroundings of the woodland gardens, which are awash with colour from rhododendrons and azaleas in late Spring, create a delightfully peaceful setting for strolling or picknicking. In the magnificent Pinetum, dating from 1848, there is a Douglas Fir raised from the original seed sent from America in 1824 by Plant Collector David Douglas. Douglas was himself a son of Scone – he was born in the village of Scone in 1799 and worked as an under-gardener in the newly - landscaped Palace grounds. Many other David Douglas introductions can be found throughout the gardens.

University of Dundee Botanic Garden

This garden houses a wide range of plants, with fine collections of conifers and broad - leafed trees and shrubs, tropical and temperate glasshouses, a water garden and herb garden. The collection includes many species of indigenous British plants as well as representative collections of important plants from all continents of the world.

On Saturday 29 April the gardens will be holding a Family Fun day, with face painting, wacky workshops, Countryside rangers, Bee Keepers, Alice in Wonderland and much more. On Saturday 6 May, the Friends of the University of Dundee Botanic Garden will hold their annual plant sale where visitors have the opportunity to buy more unusual plants. On 31 May, join a member of staff on an RHS Guided Walk to explore ‘Secret Places in the Garden’. On Thursday 15 June, Chapterhouse Theatre Company will present an outdoor production of the Shakespeare classic ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Information on all the events at the University of Dundee Botanic Garden: www.dundeebotanicgardens.co.uk

All in all, the colours, scents and wildlife of Spring and early Summer make a visit to any of the gardens a blooming great day out.

The Perthshire Gardens Collection offers a Season Ticket for £15.00 (£20 for two) that enables holders to visit all the gardens as many times as they wish throughout the year. A 14-Day Ticket is also available for £10.00 and is perfect for people holidaying in the area, giving them unlimited admission to all 11 gardens over a 14-day period.