RHS Harlow Carr Garden October 2022

Jon Evans visits the wonderful garden at RHS Harlow Carr in advance of the AGS Autumn Show. ...(more below)
October 23, 2022
AGS Editor
Category(s):
Genera:
Species:

Last weekend I made the long journey up to Harrogate for the last show of the season, at RHS Harlow Carr garden.  Because I am so busy during a show, we went up early, so we could spend Friday viewing the garden.  I’m going to share some of that visit with you, before moving on to the show itself.

Salvia bank

What a glorious day – we had bright sunshine all morning, before the sky gradually clouded over, and a heavy shower curtailed proceedings around 3pm.  When we entered the garden, our first objective was the alpine house.  We walked along the path at the top of the garden, with a bank of salvias on one side of us, and views over the lower garden and the herbaceous borders on the other.

Vibrant alpine garden with colourful flowering plants and green foliage, showcasing diverse alpine hardy plants and garden design for enthusiasts and visitors.
Vibrant alpine flowers and plants in a garden display, showcasing diverse flora suitable for alpine gardening and plant enthusiasts.
Vibrant alpine garden with colourful flowering plants and lush greenery, perfect for alpine gardening enthusiasts.
Yellow and purple alpine flowers in a garden scene, showcasing native plants for alpine gardens. Perfect for enthusiasts interested in alpine gardening and rare botanical species.
Vibrant alpine garden with colourful flowering plants, lush green trees, and a serene landscape, perfect for alpine gardening enthusiasts and garden design inspiration.

Dianthus superbus

In several places in the garden we found plants of Dianthus superbus, with its spidery scented flowers.  This is one of my many favourite plants, but you seldom see it grown now.

Wild alpine flowers with delicate, star-shaped blooms thriving in rugged mountain terrain. Perfect for enthusiasts of alpine gardening and native plant conservation.
Wild woodland flowers with delicate, fringed white and purple petals, part of the alpine garden plant collection.

Autumn Borders

At the far end of this walk, we came to some late summer/autumn-themed borders, planted with Michaelmas daisies, dahlias, salvias, geraniums, Penstemon, Persicaria, Rudbeckia, Sedum spectabilis and grasses.

Clusters of vibrant pink daisy-like flowers in a garden setting, showcasing alpine plants with yellow centers and silvery foliage, perfect for alpine garden enthusiasts.
Bright pink candelabra primulas blooming amidst lush green foliage in an alpine garden, showcasing vibrant seasonal flowers perfect for temperate climates.
Vibrant pink and red flowers in a lush garden bed at the Alpine Garden Society, showcasing magnificent alpine plants and colourful floral displays.
Bright yellow alpine flowers blooming in a colorful garden setting, showcasing the beauty of alpine plants and garden design. Perfect for enthusiasts of mountain flora and alpine gardening.
Alpine Garden Society display featuring colourful alpine plants and vibrant flowers in a lush garden setting.
Vivid alpine garden with colourful blooms including white dahlias, yellow daisies, and purple lavender, showcasing diverse plant varieties ideal for alpine gardening and landscape design.
Bright pink chrysanthemums blooming in a lush garden with ornamental grasses and purple flowering plants in the background, showcasing alpine garden planting schemes and floral displays.
Vibrant purple daisies in a lush flower bed, perfect for alpine gardens and garden enthusiasts.
Vibrant alpine garden filled with colourful flowering plants, including pink, purple, and yellow blooms, set against lush greenery and trees, illustrating the beauty of mountainous flora.
Vibrant alpine garden with colourful flowering plants and lush greenery, showcasing the beauty of mountain flora and horticultural diversity. Perfect for gardening enthusiasts and nature lovers.
Vibrant alpine garden with colourful asters, golden ornamental grasses, and pink chrysanthemums, showcasing diverse flora suitable for mountain garden enthusiasts and alpine plant lovers.
Alpine garden with colourful flowering plants, ornamental grasses, and lush trees in the background, showcasing diverse alpine flora and landscaping at the Alpine Garden Society.
Vibrant alpine garden with colourful flowers, ornamental grasses, and lush greenery, showcasing alpine plants suitable for rock gardens and cool climates, ideal for garden enthusiasts.
Vibrant alpine garden with colourful wildflowers and ornamental grasses, ideal for plant enthusiasts and alpine garden lovers, showcasing diverse species and natural beauty.
Vivid alpine garden with colourful flowering plants including purple daisies, red blooms, and ornamental grasses in a beautifully landscaped garden setting, showcasing diverse alpine flora.
Rustic ornamental grasses in a lush garden setting with trees and sky in the background, showcasing Alpine Garden Society plant collection for outdoor gardening enthusiasts.

Troughs and Tufa

Around the alpine house things were quieter.  The troughs and tufa walls were neat patterns of foliage, with some hints of autumn colour.  This time of year makes you really look at the colours, patterns and textures of the leaves.

Rock wall with alpine succulents and plants, close-up image of hardy garden plants in stone garden wall, representative of alpine gardening and succulent cultivation, suitable for British climates.
Rock garden with succulents and moss, outdoor alpine plant display, rustic stone wall feature, drought-tolerant plants for alpine gardens, gardening with hardy succulents and moss in a UK alpine garden setting.
Rock garden wall with various alpine plants and succulents, showcasing native plant gardening and rockery landscaping techniques at the Alpine Garden Society.
Rocks and alpine plants display in a garden planter, showcasing rare succulent varieties and hardy alpine flora for rock gardens and elevated environments.
Alpine garden display with diverse cushion plants and labelled species, showcasing hardy alpine plants suitable for rockeries and mountain gardens.

Poppies

In the bed above the tufa walls, which presumably is extremely well drained, two poppies offered their last flowers

  • Dicranostigma leptopodum (yellow)
  • Argemone platyceras (white)
Vibrant yellow alpine flowers growing in a garden bed with a grey wooden fence in the background, showcasing diverse plants ideal for alpine gardening enthusiasts.
White and yellow alpine flowers in a garden bed, showcasing alpine gardening and plant diversity for Alpine Garden Society enthusiasts.

Cyclamen hederifolium

At the base of the wall, in a rather cooler and shaded environment, Cyclamen hederifolium greeted us cheerfully.  Elsewhere in the garden we found white ones.

Cyclamen horticultural flowers in a garden bed with a small plant label, showcasing alpine garden plants suitable for rock gardens and borders, ideal for enthusiasts and succulent collectors.
Vivid white cyclamen flowers blooming in a garden bed with dark soil and green foliage, representing alpine plants suitable for garden features and shade gardens.

Alpine House Cushions

Inside the Alpine House, the picture was much the same.  The majority of flowering plants were over, but some impressive cushions drew the eye:

  • Draba Buttermilk
  • Raoulia hookeri
  • Helichrysum County Park Silver
  • Rhodanthemum hosmariense
Diora 'Bulbiformis' alpine plant displayed among rocks at the Alpine Garden Society.
Dense alpine succulent ground cover plant, thriving in rocky settings at Alpine Garden Society displays, showcasing hardy, drought-tolerant species ideal for alpine gardens and rockeries.
Helichrysum stoechas alpine plant, silvery-grey foliage thriving in rocky terrain for alpine garden enthusiasts.
Alpine garden plant with grey-green foliage and white daisy-like flowers in a greenhouse setting.

Alpine House Colour

In between the cushions we found welcome splashes of colour.  Cyclamen graecum was flowering well, with a pretty sky blue gentian, Gentiana Devonhall.

I found an interesting Nerine in a pot without a label; I suspect this is one of the many forms of Nerine humilis, but it was hard to be sure.  Erodium foetidum Frans Delight made a wonderful close-up – I love the pattern of veins in the petals.  This has probably been in flower all summer.

Flowers were beginning to appear on two different miniature goldenrods, Solidago cutleri and S. multiradiata, the latter perhaps more eye-catching.

Violet and pink cyclamen flowers with dark green variegated leaves, cultivated in a garden setting.
Violet geranium flower, alpine garden plant, vibrant purple blooms with dark veining, perfect for alpine gardens and rockeries, UK hardy perennial.
Bright yellow alpine flowers blooming in a terracotta pot surrounded by small gravel, showcasing hardy plants suitable for alpine gardening and rock gardens.
Vivid pink and white cyclamen flowers blooming amidst lush green foliage, showcasing alpine garden plant collections at the Alpine Garden Society.
Blue alpine flowers, garden, blooming, flowers, plants, natural, close-up, vibrant, outdoor, garden plants, blue blossoms, floral, nature, alpine gardening, flower bed, garden scenery, botanical, flora, ornamental plants, exotic flowers, garden enthusiasts, plant care, nature photography, seasonal blooms, gardening tips, plant diversity.
Pink Grevillea flower in bloom at Alpine Garden Society garden, showcasing native Australian plants and vibrant floral displays. Perfect for succulent and drought-tolerant plant enthusiasts.
Yellow alpine flowers in garden bed, alpine garden society plant collection, vibrant yellow blooms with green foliage, cultivated for rock gardens and high-altitude environments, showcasing hardy alpine plant varieties in a well-maintained garden setting, suitable for rock garden enthusiasts and alpine flora lovers.

Jamesbrittenia bergae

This South African produced what were undoubtedly the most eye-catching flowers in the whole alpine house – a startling scarlet.

Alpine garden society flowers in a pot with red blooms, gardening in a nursery setting, ensuring vibrant alpine plants; perfect for rock gardens and outdoor landscaping.
Pink trailing thyme flowers in an alpine garden, showcasing vibrant red blooms with yellow centers, surrounded by lush green foliage, ideal for rock gardens and low-maintenance landscaping.

Yellow Gesneriad

However, for me the star of the alpine house was this primrose yellow Gesneriad, a bit like a pale yellow Streptocarpus.  The label declared it to be Primulina lutea, but I am not convinced that was correct – it does not have the prominent bracts which appear in the most credible photos of this species.  However, it looks like the bracts shrivel after the flower opens – those in the background do have bracts, so maybe the label is correct.

Pansy flowers in a terracotta gardening pot, close-up of alpine garden plants, vibrant and delicate blooms for rock plant displays, ideal for alpine garden enthusiasts and collectors.
Primula auricula flower, alpine plant native to mountainous regions, showcased at the Alpine Garden Society for rock garden and alpine plant enthusiasts.

Scented Garden

From the Alpine House, we descended, through the Sub-Tropicana garden, burgeoning with sumptuous foliage, salvias and dahlias, to an area known as the Scented Garden.

Here there were Echium, and Clerodendrum bungei, but my favourite planting was an area under a mature oak, gloriously planted with coloured foliage.

Lush alpine garden with diverse plants, vibrant greenery, and scenic natural landscape showcasing the beauty of mountain flora suitable for alpine gardening enthusiasts.
Vibrant alpine garden with lush greenery and colourful flowering plants, featuring a woman exploring the natural beauty during a sunny day.
Vivid purple elderflowers blooming amid lush green foliage in a beautiful garden setting, showcasing alpine and ornamental plants ideal for garden enthusiasts and plant collectors.
Lush alpine garden with vibrant flowers and shaded trees at an Alpine Garden Society event in the UK. Visitors enjoy nature and garden displays in a peaceful, scenic setting.
Lush garden with diverse alpine plants and a large central tree, featuring visitors enjoying the serene outdoor landscape. Perfect for alpine gardening enthusiasts and nature lovers.
Tranquil garden setting with lush greenery, colourful flowering plants, and outdoor seating area, highlighting botanical beauty and peaceful relaxation in an alpine garden environment.
Vibrant alpine garden with colourful foliage and flowering plants, perfect for enthusiasts and botanical collections, showcasing the beauty of mountain plants and sustainable gardening practices.
Vibrant alpine garden with diverse plants and colourful flowers under a large leafy tree, showcasing the beauty of alpine horticulture and garden design.
Vibrant alpine garden with colourful flowering plants and lush green foliage, showcasing diverse hardy plants ideal for alpine gardening and outdoor plant displays.
Lush green foliage and white flowering plants in a dense alpine garden setting, highlighting diverse plant species and rich greenery ideal for alpine gardening enthusiasts.

White Garden

At the bottom of the hill, the White Garden produced its usual tapestry of white flowers, grasses and white berries overhead.  I found the display less impressive than last year, perhaps because the wonderful Leucanthemella serotina was less in evidence.

Lush alpine garden with diverse plants, ornamental grasses and vibrant foliage showcasing alpine species ideal for rock gardens and mountain landscapes.
Lush alpine garden featuring vibrant, diverse plants and ornamental grasses, perfect for rock gardens and mountain landscapes. Ideal for alpine plant enthusiasts and garden designers.
Alpine garden with diverse flowering plants, including ornamental grasses and lush greenery, showcasing alpine gardening and landscape design.

Herbaceous Borders

We moved on to explore the riot of colour provided by the herbaceous borders.  The major players were Helenium, Michaelmas daisies and grasses, but all manner of plants provided highlights:

  • Scabiosa
  • Gaura lindheimeri (beautifully intermingled with a low-growing Aster),
  • Salvia
  • Echinacea purpurea
  • Achillea
  • Helianthus Lemon Queen
  • Rudbeckia subtomentosa Henry Eilers
Vibrant alpine garden with colourful flowering plants, lush foliage, and ornamental grasses, showcasing the beauty of mountain flora and garden design, perfect for alpine plant enthusiasts.
Vibrant garden flowers with colourful pink, orange, and white blooms, perfect for alpine gardening enthusiasts and outdoor plant lovers.
Vibrant alpine garden with colourful flower beds featuring pink, purple, yellow, and white blossoms, surrounded by lush greenery and trees, showcasing diverse alpine plant species.
Colourful alpine plant garden with a variety of flowering species and lush greenery, designed for enthusiasts of mountain plants and rock garden landscaping.
Vibrant pink coppery asters with silver-white pampas grass in the background, showcasing colourful gardens at the Alpine Garden Society.
Wildflower garden with colourful blooms including purple, pink, and white flowers, lush green grasses, and ornamental grasses, perfect for alpine garden enthusiasts and plant lovers.
Vibrant garden flowers including yellow Black-eyed Susan and bright pink asters at an Alpine Garden Society event, showcasing diverse alpine plant displays and gardening excellence.
Vibrant alpine garden with colourful flowering plants, lush green lawns, and scenic pathways, part of the Alpine Garden Society's botanical display for showcasing mountain flora and garden diversity.
Vibrant alpine garden featuring colourful flowering plants, ornamental grasses, and lush greenery, perfect for rock gardens and mountainous landscapes, showcasing the beauty of high-altitude horticulture.
Vibrant alpine garden with diverse ornamental grasses and wildflowers in natural sunlight, showcasing ornamental plants ideal for rock gardens and alpine gardens.
Goldenrod and ornamental grasses at an alpine garden, showcasing hardy plants for mountain landscapes and alpine gardening enthusiasts.
Yellow and purple flowering plants in an alpine garden with a diverse mix of ornamental and native species.
Vibrant autumn garden with colourful flowers, ornamental grasses, and lush foliage, perfect for alpine plant enthusiasts and garden design inspiration.
Golden yellow alpine flowers blooming in a natural mountain garden setting, showcasing diverse alpine plants and wildflowers, perfect for alpine gardening enthusiasts.
Vibrant alpine garden with colourful flowering plants, including yellow, purple, and grey foliage, maintained by the Alpine Garden Society, showcasing diverse microclimates and plant species for rock and alpine gardening enthusiasts.
Vibrant alpine garden scene with purple asters, ornamental grasses, and colourful plants under bright sunlight, showcasing the diversity of alpine flora.
Vibrant yellow daisies blooming in the Alpine Garden Society's natural woodland setting during autumn.

Grass

One of my favourite features was this little clump of grass on the corner of one of the beds.  It looks like a Pennisetum, perhaps P. orientale, but I am really uncomfortable trying to put names on these.  If someone can be more definitive, please let me know.

Colourful alpine garden with diverse drought-tolerant plants and flowering perennials, perfect for rockeries and outdoor planting enthusiasts seeking vibrant, low-maintenance garden ideas.
Fluffy ornamental grass plants in garden, sunlight backlighting tall grasses, garden garden design, summer landscaping, alpines, alpine garden society.
Exotic alpine grasses and colourful flower borders in a botanical garden setting, showcasing diverse plant species ideal for alpine gardening enthusiasts.

Euonymus alatus

From here we moved into a more clearly autumnal garden.  The rock garden was dominated by the beautiful magenta red leaves of Euonymus, carefully set against the yellow of a Taxus, with a silver conifer above.

Vibrant autumn garden with diverse trees and shrubs, lush greenery, and colourful foliage, ideal for alpine gardening enthusiasts and nature lovers seeking inspiring garden designs.
Pink flowering shrub in a botanical garden with diverse trees and plants in the background, vibrant garden display, Alpine Garden Society, plant enthusiasts, horticulture, landscape design, flower photography, botanical collections, gardening enthusiasts, gardening clubs.
Vibrant pink leaves of a Japanese maple tree in a lush alpine garden during autumn, showcasing seasonal plant beauty and gardening enthusiasts' outdoor space.
Vivid pink foliage of a deciduous shrub or small tree in a lush garden setting during autumn, with colorful trees in the background, emphasizing seasonal plant display.
Vivid red Japanese maple and yellow-green autumn foliage in a lush garden scene, showcasing the beauty of mountain plants and garden design.
Vibrant pink flowering shrub surrounded by lush green conifers in a garden setting, illustrating alpine plant diversity and garden design for alpine enthusiasts and garden lovers.
Vibrant colourful shrubs in a lush garden scene, showcasing high-altitude and alpine gardening plants for the Alpine Garden Society.

Kniphofia

A lemon-yellow redhot poker provided a similarly effective contrast against a red Persicaria, with turning leaves and a deep red leaved shrub behind.

Bright yellow Astelia and colourful Heuchera plants in an alpine garden rich with diverse foliage and textures.

Rock Garden Pool

I always love the way the light falls on the pool here, with its patterns of water lily and fallen leaves.

Autumnal pond scene with water lilies, fallen leaves, and colourful trees, featuring reflection of yellow foliage on the water surface, ideal for botanical and garden enthusiasts.
Water garden with lily pads and aquatic plants reflecting autumn trees, ideal for alpine plant enthusiasts and garden lovers.
Serene garden pond with water lilies and lush foliage, showcasing the beauty of alpine landscape garden design, perfect for alpine gardening enthusiasts and plant lovers.

A few sumptuous late blooms remained on Iris Draco; in contrast, Hesperantha coccinea Mrs Hegarty was just coming.

Purple iris flower blooming in alpine garden with lush greenery in background, attracting plant enthusiasts and garden lovers, showcasing rare and vibrant alpine plants for gardening inspiration.
Bright red gladiolus flowers in full bloom, surrounded by lush green foliage in a garden setting, showcasing the beauty of ornamental flowering plants.

Maples

As we moved along the valley, the autumn colours of Japanese maples became more prominent.

Vibrant alpine garden with diverse colourful plants, lush green lawns, and scenic pathways, dedicated to alpine plant enthusiasts and garden lovers.
Vivid autumn foliage of Japanese maple trees with red, orange, and green leaves, showcasing the beauty of cultivated plants at an Alpine Garden Society garden or event.
Vivid red Japanese maple leaves during autumn, showcasing intricate leaf structure and vibrant colour, ideal for alpine gardening and garden design inspiration.
Red Japanese maple tree in autumn garden scene, showcasing vibrant fall foliage and ornamental landscaping for alpine gardening enthusiasts.
Vibrant autumn foliage in a lush garden with colourful trees and ornamental plants, showcasing the beauty of a well-maintained alpine garden in fall.
Vivid autumn foliage of a Japanese maple tree with bright red, orange, and green leaves, showcasing the beauty of seasonal garden planting, perfect for garden enthusiasts.
Vivid autumn foliage on a Japanese maple tree in a lush garden with diverse plants and trees, capturing the beauty of seasonal changes in an alpine garden setting.
Vibrant alpine garden with colourful trees, lush greenery, and a tranquil stream, showcasing diverse plants and landscape design for alpine gardening enthusiasts.

Aruncus Guinea Fowl

Below the trees, the leaves of Pulmonaria and Aruncus Guinea Fowl provided pattern and texture.

Vivid garden foliage including Siberian bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla) with silvery variegated leaves, lush green plants, and textured soil, showcasing Alpine Garden Society’s plant diversity and garden designs.
Vibrant pink and purple alpine plants in a garden, showcasing rare and hardy plants suitable for mountainous and rocky terrains, part of the Alpine Garden Society collection.
Lush pink and red Aruncus 'Guinea Fowl' shrub in alpine garden, showcasing vibrant foliage during autumn. Perfect for rock gardens and border planting, highlighting the beauty of alpine horticulture.

Anemone x hybrida Honorine Jobert

A white Japanese anemone, probably Honorine Jobert, sparkled along the steam, among the autumn leaves.

White woodland flowers with yellow centers among lush green foliage and ferns in a garden setting, suitable for alpine plant enthusiasts, image from the Alpine Garden Society.
Autumnal deciduous tree with orange and red leaves in a forest setting, vibrant fall foliage at its peak.
Vibrant autumn scene in an alpine garden with colourful foliage and diverse shrubs and trees under a partly cloudy sky.
Blue spruce trees in a garden with autumn foliage in the background.
Golden autumn tree in a landscaped garden with walking path, featuring vibrant fall foliage and lush greenery, ideal for alpine garden enthusiasts and outdoor garden projects.
Vivid alpine garden scene featuring white flowering plants with green foliage and a lush backdrop, showcasing plants suitable for alpine and rock garden cultivation. Perfect for garden enthusiasts and plant lovers.
A8x67_2023_alfaromeo_milano_alphard_20230427.jpg.
Lush garden pathway bordered by diverse alpine plants and vibrant autumn foliage, showcasing the beauty of alpine gardening and garden landscapes.
Vivid autumn foliage with yellow leaves and blue spruce trees in a scenic garden setting.
Golden autumn tree with vibrant yellow leaves in a well-maintained garden park, perfect for Alpine plant enthusiasts and garden lovers.
Vibrant autumn foliage surrounding a tranquil garden pond with colourful leaves floating on the water, perfect for alpine garden enthusiasts and landscape lovers.

The white trunks of these birches were placed artfully against a dark wall.

Lush garden scene with white-barked trees and vibrant greenery, showcasing Alpine plants and garden design.

Annual Meadow

At the east end of the garden, beyond the Queen Mother’s Lake, a small annual meadow offered a few late jewels.  I always love these annual plantings, even in their autumn decline.

Wildflower meadow showcasing diverse alpine plants in a tranquil garden setting with a traditional pagoda in the background.
Wildflower meadow of alpine garden plants with colorful blooms and lush greenery, showcasing stunning native alpine flora for cultivation and conservation.
Vibrant wildflower meadow featuring yellow daisies, black-eyed Susans, and various native plants, perfect for alpine gardens and natural landscaping.
Vibrant alpine garden wildflowers including yellow, purple, white, and red blossoms, thriving in lush green foliage, perfect for alpine plant enthusiasts and garden biodiversity.
Vibrant alpine wildflower meadow featuring colourful blooms including orange pansies, purple violas, and yellow daisies, perfect for alpine garden enthusiasts and wildflower lovers.
Alpine wildflowers and native plants in a colourful garden meadow, representing the biodiversity of alpine plants supported by the Alpine Garden Society.

Lakeside Gardens

The Lakeside gardens contained some more attractive borders.

Lush alpine garden with vibrant purple flowers and tall ornamental grasses, showcasing diverse plant species at an Alpine Garden Society event, perfect for mountain gardening enthusiasts.
Wildflower and grass meadow at the Alpine Garden Society display in autumn, showcasing native plants, meadow grasses, and colourful wildflowers, perfect for alpine garden enthusiasts and native plant conservation.
Vibrant alpine garden with colourful flowering plants, manicured hedges, and a winding pathway, showcasing diverse plant species ideal for alpine gardening enthusiasts.
Mowed hedges and diverse plants in a mountainous garden scene at the Alpine Garden Society.

Lakeside benches

Overlooking the lake is a paved area lined with attractive benches, each decorated with a carving of a different plant:

Autumnal landscape with colourful deciduous trees and a pond, reflecting the natural beauty of UK gardens, ideal for Alpine Garden Society enthusiasts seeking outdoor gardening inspiration.
Wildflower carved wooden garden bench for Alpine Garden Society members in traditional outdoor setting with lush greenery.
Natural wooden garden bench with floral carving detail, outdoor setting with lush green lawn and trees. Perfect addition for alpine garden or outdoor relaxation area.
Victorian-style wooden garden bench with carved oak motif, set in a lush alpine garden landscape, ideal for garden seating and outdoor relaxation.
Handcrafted wooden garden bench with floral carving detail, ideal for outdoor gardens and relaxing in nature. Perfect for garden decor and outdoor seating at the Alpine Garden Society.
Natural wooden garden bench with floral carving, perfect for alpine garden seating areas. Handcrafted outdoor bench highlighting garden décor and landscape design.

Leonotis leonurus

In between the benches were huge ornamental planters.  One of the highlights of these was the orange spires of the South African shrub, Leonotis leonurus. 

Orange alpine flowers in a garden setting with autumnal trees in the background.
Bright orange flowering plants at the Alpine Garden Society, showcasing vibrant alpine flora and garden hospitality for outdoor gardening enthusiasts.
Striking alpine flower with vibrant orange blooms, part of alpine garden collection. Perfect for rock gardens or alpine plant enthusiasts seeking hardy, colourful plants.
Colourful alpine garden flowers in bloom during autumn at the Alpine Garden Society with lush foliage and scenic park background, highlighting gardening and plant enthusiast activities.

Turning back towards the entrance, we passed a mobile sculpture of thistledown, stirring and whirling in the breeze.

Alpine garden society metal bird sculpture outdoor garden decor botanical art.
Steel garden sculptures inspired by dandelions and floral forms, modern outdoor art for alpine and botanical garden landscapes, durable stainless steel design, eye-catching statement pieces, AGS New decorative garden sculptures.

By now, the sun had gone and it was starting to drizzle.  As the drizzle grew heavier, we took a few hasty glances at more borders in the Teaching Garden, and around the Bramall Learning Centre.

Wild alpine and rock garden plants in autumn at the Alpine Garden Society garden, showcasing hardy plants suitable for alpine gardening.
An alpine garden with ornamental grasses and purple coneflowers in autumn, vibrant foliage and diverse plant species in a tranquil outdoor setting.
Bright colourful perennial garden with purple, yellow, and white flowering plants, including Black-eyed Susans, ornamental grasses, and purple asters, creating a vibrant outdoor floral display.
Vibrant mixed border garden with colourful roses, purple asters, red spirea, and autumn foliage, showcasing diverse plants in a garden setting for alpine and ornamental gardening.
Bright wildflower garden with purple Coneflowers, yellow Rudbeckia, and ornamental grasses in front of a greenhouse, showcasing alpine gardening and landscape design.
Vibrant alpine garden with colourful flowering plants, shrubs, and ornamental grasses, showcasing diverse plant species suitable for alpine gardening enthusiasts.
Vibrant alpine garden with colourful foliage, ornamental grass, and garden sculpture in front of traditional stone and slate roofs in a rural village setting.
Vibrant alpine garden with artistic sculpture, colourful flowering plants, and lush foliage surrounding charming residential houses in a scenic setting, perfect for gardening enthusiasts.
Bright alpine garden with colourful autumn foliage, ornamental grasses, and decorative garden sculpture inspired by Alpine Garden Society themes, perfect for mountain plants and hardy flora enthusiasts.

Rudbeckia fulgida Little Goldstar

This little Rudbeckia stood out, even in the rain.

Vibrant alpine garden with colourful flowering plants and lush foliage, showcasing the beauty of rock garden designs and plants suitable for alpine gardening. Ideal for Alpine Garden Society enthusiasts.
Bright yellow and black Rudbeckia flowers in a lush garden display at Alpine Garden Society, showcasing vibrant native and alpine plants for garden enthusiasts.

The autumn colour here was fantastic, enhanced by the increasing damp.

Vibrant red autumn foliage bush in a garden setting, showcasing seasonal garden plants and colourful horticultural displays for alpine gardeners.
Vibrant pink flowering shrub in a botanical garden, emphasising the beauty of alpine garden plants. Perfect for garden enthusiasts and plantscape design lovers.
Vibrant alpine garden with colourful shrubs and plants, showcasing the beauty of mountain flora and the diverse plant species cultivated by the Alpine Garden Society.
Autumn foliage at Alpine Garden Society gardens with vibrant trees and visitors enjoying a peaceful day in a botanical setting.
Vibrant red autumn foliage of a shrub with dry ornamental grasses in the foreground, showcasing colourful garden plants and natural landscape, perfect for an alpine garden setting.
Vibrant red alpines and colourful garden plants at an Alpine Garden Society garden display in autumn, showcasing hardy plants suitable for alpine gardening, rock gardens, and UK garden landscaping.
Lush garden pathway with colourful autumn foliage, landscaped with rocks and diverse plants, ideal for alpine and garden enthusiasts.

Perhaps the rain curtailed our visit a little, but we saw nearly everything we wished to see, and thoroughly enjoyed the garden, mostly in beautiful autumn sunshine.  We had walked further than we expected, and needed a thorough rest before the show the following day.  Check back here in a couple of days to see my account of the show.

Read previous entries at the Photographers Diary

All news