After a hectic couple of weeks since we came back from Devon, it was nice this morning to get out and about again with a walk around the gardens at RHS Harlow Carr.

It was a cloudy start to the day, quite humid 18c, rain looked threatening but fortunately it stayed fine and dry for our visit.

It was an uneventful drive up the A1 motorway and we arrived at the gardens just after 10.15am. It was relatively quiet in both number 1 and 2 car parks, on leaving the car we made our way to the garden entrance, before which I popped into Betty’s for a takeaway coffee. After exchanging pleasantries with the staff in the entrance hall we made our way into the gardens. I always like to stop at the top of the steps which lead into the garden to admire the view over towards the Summerhouse, this view changes with every visit and every season.

We followed our usual route turning left and following the path towards the library and learning centre, the borders round the back of the restaurant were a mass of colour, the Dahlias especially in full flower along with clusters of Symphyotrichum and beautiful yellow Daylilies. As we passed the Teaching Gardens, to the right of us next to the small pond, we passed a massive Gunnera, like giant rhubarb, its broad leaves were massive and quite imposing. We stopped to have a selfie with Shaun the Sheep, some of the paintings on its back were amazing and well worth a look at. Shaun and his friends are at the gardens for the duration of the summer holidays. We continued our stroll past the lakeside gardens till we reached the Elizabethan Sunken Gardens, again the left-hand border was a picture, especially the Eryngium and Sea Holly. From here we headed down the slope and across the Thaliana Bridge over the QM lake to join the Streamside walk. Much of the grassland surrounding the lake had been left to grow wild which seems to be the trend these days, Yorkshire Fog Grass dwarfing many of the wildflowers, we continued our walk along side of the stream, Lilac coloured Peach leaved Bellflowers provided lots of colour along with blue and pink coloured Hydrangeas, lots of Primula Florindae and Cowslips provided additional colour. Meadow Crane’s bill looked beautiful, their lilac-coloured bell-shaped flowers swaying gently in the light morning breeze. False Goat’s Beard was flowering nicely, its whispy florets looking striking set against the greenery of some of the other shrubs. Huge swathes of Giant Hogweed covered the stream in places. Work on the refurbishment on one of the streamside bridges looks finally finished with just some landscaping to complete. We continued our walk along side of the stream towards the Old Bath House, stopping occasionally to admire the views across the stream. Common Spotted Orchids, Yellow Alstroemeria and Evening Primrose continued to provide lots of colour to the grey and overcast sky. After reaching the Old Bath House we headed over to Betty’s Tea Room for a very pleasant brunch. It was quite pleasant sat outside, people watching. Much of this area is being re landscaped in conjunction with the restoration and opening of the Harrogate Arms cafe and several of the borders have been planted with wildflowers which looked an absolute picture. Continuing our walk up the slope towards the Alpine House we passed the vegetable gardens which were full of seasonal vegetables and some beautiful tall flowering Sunflowers, a large patch of Yellow Chamomile caught my attention looking bright and radiant along with some lilac coloured Symphyotrichum. Passing through the garden centre there were some very clever and imaginative displays of Alpines. Even on a dull cloudy and overcast day there is still plenty to see at these beautiful gardens.