Benmore Gardens 2009

[TC]

Yesterday we visited Benmore to attend a garden walk for members of the RBGE hosted by Peter Baxter, Curator.  It was like the first day of Spring, with temperatures above 10c, sunny and no wind.  We were updated on plantings and work carried out during the winter, including a look at the new fernery nearing completion.  This will be of international significance and promises to be a showpiece of its kind.  After a powerpoint display in the gallery and a substantial "rake" - ( Scottish term for a considerable amount)-  of sandwiches and soup, Cindy and I set of again to find Rhododendrons in bloom.  Even after a long cold spell, the first blooms were coming out.  What was more impressive was the huge number of buds on all the plants after a poor 2008 season.  Provided we do not get any late frosts, things are looking good.  After 4 hours of walking up and down hills, I realised that my legs had aged at a greater rate than the calendar had indicated.  They have an electric bus to take the aged and infirm up the 500 foot climb.  I used to scorn these softies using this but now I look at it wistfully!
 A Benmore house and Rh. strigilosum
 B1 Rh. Hookerii specimen
 B1A Hookerii in bud.
 B2 Large leaf Rhododendron.
 B3 New fernery
 B4 Rh.anthosphaerum
 B8 Rh. cyanocarpum flowers
 B6 Rh.oreodoxa flower.
 B7 Rh.cyanocarpum bush.

[TC]

A few more
B9 Rh. subansiriense
B10 Rh. Rh.subansiriense flowers.

[Carlo]

Thanks for this look Tom. I've never been to Benmore and it's obviously worth a visit...

[ian mcenery]

Thanks for the early season fix Tom

[Ulla Hansson]

What a beautiful house, it looks like a fairytale castle.
Thank you for showing it.
Ulla

[TC]

Thanks to Maggi for indexing the pictures - I forgot.

Carlo
Google "Washington Post+Benmore gardens" and you will see an article about the garden written in Feb. 2007 by Adrian Higgins, their staff writer.  It is interesting to read the impressions of a visitor from overseas.  I have known the gardens for so long I probably take it for granted. 

Ulla
The house was built in what they call Scottish Baronial style.  As a youngster I always imagined that Rapunzel lived in one of the turrets.  The house is now used as an outdoor adventure centre for canoeing, climbing and orienteering for schoolchildren aged from 10 to 12.

I apologise for the reproduction of some of the pictures.  On my computer they look OK but seem to be rendered overexposed when they appear on the forum.

[Carlo]

Thanks Ulla, I'll try to look it up...

[gote]

I suddenly realize that you live in the tropics.
Göte

[TC]

Göte

So true !!  In Summer we even get temperatures as high as 22ºc and humidity of 90%.

The rainfall in this area was 90 inches in the 1960's.  It is now 110 inches.

[gote]

I am just back after having tried to get the snow off my own Rhododendrons some of wich are now nearly flat to the ground. At least one big branch was broken. Also on a Tsuga and a Pseudotsuga.
Göte

[johngennard]

I came across this to-day taking me completely by surprise as I had not even noticed it opening.R.moupinense

[Maggi Young]

The very pretty  ciliatum x moupinense hybrid : R. Cilpinense is trying very hard to open here in Aberdeen. We just need a little more sun 

[Lesley Cox]

A beautiful place to visit it seems. I love the house and the FERNERY! Wow. Looks as if it's built in an old style for such things, appropriate to the garden but I bet it cost a bomb!

[TC]

No plans existed for the original fernery which was built about 1880. Because of this, Historic Scotland allowed the actual greenhouse to be rebuilt in "a sympathetic manner" to the period and remaining stonework, which consisted of the gable walls.  The structure consists of epoxy coated galvanised steel and coated aluminium which should be strong and maintenance free.  There is no heating except for hot air portable blowers which will be used in extreme cold  - if they get any.  The water will be supplied from a storage tank on the hillside above the building.  I believe the building is 50 feet, (15 metres), high and will be built in three levels, all planted in situ .  Despite my sensible suggestion, they have refused to incorporate a tea room in the design !!
The cost at present is about £500,000 but fluctuating exchange rates could increase this.

The picture shows it at a different angle and gives an idea of the height when you see the vehicles below.

I will post some pictures when the fernery is finally opened later this year.

[Maggi Young]

I did not appreciate the actual scale of the new fernery.... it is much bigger than I imagined. Very smart!