Darley Abbey - National Plant Collection
w/e 11 September 2016
All of this week's pictures were
taken with a Kodak DX6490
It's over two years since we finished the Village Trail around Darley Abbey and almost
three since we passed the National Plant Collection in Darley
Park but that was in December which was not the best time of
year to be viewing the plants. Now following the recommendation
of a friend we have returned to see the flowers in September
at their very best.
Darley Park is the "Home of The Plant Heritage National
Collection of Hydrangea Paniculata" and the difficulty was
in choosing which images to use for this page from the many and
varied hydrangeas on display so I've created the composite image
above of close up views of some of the different varieties set
against a backdrop of a signpost pointing to the collection.
This was the view that greeted us as we entered the garden with
paths leading left and right up the slope and between the plants.
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We turned left and followed the winding path between the many
and varied varieties of hydrangeas.
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A few steps took us higher up the slope towards the high wall
at the back of the garden but our attention was drawn to the
many different hues of the plants rather than the brick wall.
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The plants were all shapes and sizes and one of the smaller ones
was coloured a vivid pink. The label informed it was the Hydrangea
Macrophylla variety and was named Amor Toujours. It was certainly
one you could always love.
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From the higher part of the garden as we looked back over the
pinks, whites and purples of the plants I was reminded of a similar garden
at Lea but the plants there are rhododendrons rather than
hydrangeas.
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At the high point of the garden we passed through a gate in the
wall to enter the walled garden where there were many more varieties
of hydrangea. The first part of the collection is open all year
round but this part in the walled garden forms about two thirds
of the collection and is only open to the public between July
and October.
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The walled garden is more formal in its layout and many of the
plants have identification labels.
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The colours are no less vivid here though in what is the largest
collection of hydrangeas in Britain.
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There are over 480 different cultivars in the collection and
some really unusual ones like this Hydrangea Paniculata that
with it's unusual flowers goes by the name of Pinky Winky.
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Guided tours are held in August each year when there is an Open
Day but at other times the pubic are allowed to wander around
and enjoy this magnificent collection.
And when you've had your fill of hydrangeas there's always the
adjacent Butterfly Garden with plants particularly attractive
to butterflies and other insects.
For more information about the gardens see http://hydrangeaderby.co.uk/
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