A Bodnant Garden spring visit to the world famous Grade 1 garden in the mountains of North Wales. With a stunning display of rhododendrons, plus that amazing laburnum arch. Oh and interesting herbaceous plants, glowing tree peonies and … you’ll see! This is a largely pictorial blog so you can enjoy the vistas and the close-ups.
Bodnant Gardens – a brief history
The Welsh the place name Bodnant translates (somewhat roughly) as ‘a dwelling by a stream’. And there is indeed a stream, or river, running through the valley below. And the steep site makes for a dramatic garden, predominantly laid out as five huge Italianate terraces on a west facing slope.
Whilst a large number of native British tree had already been planted to fill the garden belonging to the late eighteenth century house. But it was Henry Pochin, who bought the estate in 1874 who began the transformation. Edward Milner, landscape architect and once a protégée of Joseph Paxton, was involved in creating a formal shrub garden and the Laburnum arch (of which more shortly).
But it was Pochin’s daughter Laura and her son who were to create the garden we recognise today. Laura, like her mother Agnes was a Suffragist, and she was also a horticulturist with a passion for flowers. And it was flowers and flower borders she created. But it was her son Harry who from a teenager was given free rein in the garden who came up with the idea of terraces. She obviously knew what she was doing as Harry was at one point made President of the RHS.
Bodnant Garden Spring Visit
Entering Bodnant through the gate, it is the views across to the Carneddi mountains that take your breath away, whatever the time of year.
This is the East garden, a more formal area with plenty of mixed shrub and herbaceous borders. An updated version of Laura’s plant passion, tear your eyes away from majestic vistas and admire the beauty close by.
The Laburnum Arch
This is, or so I am told, still the longest archway in Britain at 180 feet or 55 metres long, and was built and planted in 1878. There are 48 plants growing along, through and over the arch, although not the originals that gave the first display.
The arch was originally planted with Laburnum anagyroides plants. These were later replaced with the hybrid cultivar Laburnum x watereri ‘Vossii’ which has longer flower racemes and less toxic seeds.
To be in the Laburnum arch when it’s in full flower is to be in a separate world. There is a gentle curve to the design, so you cannot see both ends at once, and at one point, cannot see anything beyond a scented yellow world.
Thanks to my friends Richard and Terry for the photos of the Laburnum arch in bloom
Still More Garden Delights
Among other plants, Bodnant is famous for its Rhododendrons hybrids, created by Henry McLaren and Head Gardener, Frederick Puddle and this special group of plants was awarded National Collection status in 2015. In the gardens there are also National Plant Collections of Magnolia, Embothrium, Eucryphia and Rhododendron forrestii. And they are most of them at their best in spring.
Slowly meander through these upper levels between rhododendrons and shade loving herbaceous perennials. Be inspired by the exotic planting in ‘the Bath’, looking good even in April. One of the reasons why so many plants thrive here lies with the Gulf Stream, which nudges up against the North Wales coast.
The Bath
The contrast between the Victorian formality of the East garden shrubberies, lawns and parterre and the Bath is dramatic to say the least! A sudden drop in height, a semi-hidden swimming pool, and exotic planting transport you to a whole new world.
Pin Mill and Canal Terrace
A Bodnant Garden spring visit would not be complete without working one’s way through the five terraces, down stairs past a luscious, lightly fragrant Clematis towards more horticultural delights. The Canal Terrace is another of those well-known Bodnant vistas, with the Pin Mill situated at one end.
That often seen view is lovely, but in order to get ‘a good shot’ the surrounding floriferous and foliage delights are frequently blurred out. It may come as a pleasant surprise then to find densely planted borders, the lower rose garden, and wisteria covered pergola walks are surrounding you.
There is still much to explore, to continue down into the valley past Rhododendrons, including Bodnant hybrids, Champion trees (over 130) and more – but I’ll let you find them for yourself. A word of warning though, the paths are steep and you may need a walking stick or a friendly arm to help get you back up. But it is worth it, to come out from the cool shade and into the brilliant sunshine and to find some flowers you missed on the way down. Like these Lewisia, perhaps.
and finally, for more to look at and enjoy …
For more garden visits, gardening advice and inspiration, check out Plews Potting Shed blogs, including the selection below. The blog has been going for over 10 years, so there are plenty of gardening topics to ‘scratch your gardening itch’
More ideas and gardening advice can be found in other Plews Potting Shed blogs and our monthly Tipsheet . You could come and find us on Instagram – @plewsgd Pinterest and Facebook too.
And on that note, you can have a peek at my (new) garden at Spitfires and Slow Worms Instagram & Facebook
If you’d like some personal help, we offer a mix of practical sessions and theory in our bespoke Gardening Lessons and Courses. There’s a blog link below plus a pdf download with more info
Related Gardening articles you may enjoy from our Award Winning Blog
Garden Visits
Camellias – Cornish Gardens in the Spring
Stumpery Garden, Sizergh Castle
Garden History – Rievaulx Terrace – Garden Visits
Garden Design Inspiration
Tips for Planting a Coastal Garden
Gardening Courses and Lessons
What might a Plews Gardening Lesson be Like?
Plews Gardening Lessons Information
