On
the outside of the walls, between them and the
moat, are long beds with different planting schemes.
Running along the entire length of the southern
wall is the Spring Border, the main interest of
which occurs before the herbaceous borders are
in full colour. Groups of tulips are followed
shortly by different species of iris. Peonies,
which love this position, flower from May to June.
Nigella damascena seed themselves to provide extra
flowering time. The seed heads are attractive
in themselves. Here also are roses - the crimson
hybrid perpetual ‘Captain Hayward’,
‘Boule de Neige’, ‘Desprez 'leurs
Jaunes’, ‘Gloire de Dijon’,
‘Stanwell Perpetual’, ‘Kitchener
of Khartoum’, ‘Morletti’, ‘John
Hopper’ and R. multiflora cathayensis. Also
up the walls are honeysuckles, ceanothus and myrtle. |