Late April and early May offer some beautiful colour to visitors to Scotland. For people who love visiting gardens, now is the time to see camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas and more in full bloom. It does depend a bit on the weather, but this year, the colour has been magnificent and it looks set to continue.

Here are some beautiful gardens to visit!

It’s a long time since we visited Castle Kennedy Gardens in Dumfries and Galloway – close to Stranraer. I last visited there many years ago with a friend and her sons and we were all blown away by the magnificient rhododendrons and azales which were in bloom. According to the RHS:

“Castle Kennedy Gardens is one of Scotland’s most important historical landscaped gardens, known for its collection of rhododendrons, champion trees and rare species. Romantically situated on an isthmus, the gardens cover 75 acres of sculpted landscapes and magnificent avenues radiating from the iconic ruins of Castle Kennedy, and benefit from fantastic growing conditions due to their location on the Gulf Stream.

Originally designed in 1730 by the 2nd Earl of Stair, who was ambassador to France and greatly influenced by Versailles, the gardens owe much to his design. They have since been tended, extended and maintained by the same family. Highlights include a beautiful two-acre circular Victorian lily pond, the Monkey Puzzle Avenue and views across to Lochinch Castle.”

I wonder if they have this one?? I even wonder what it is – is it an azalea or a rhododendron??

The Japanese Garden at Cowden

‘The most important Japanese Garden in the Western World’. Professor Jijo Suzuki, Japan 1925

Upper Hillfoot Road, Dollar, Clackmannanshire, FK14 7PL

This is a garden which is on our “to do” list; we have heard tales of stunning displays of rhododendrons in an immaculate setting. Hopefully, we’ll be there soon.