The gardens at Newby Hall

The elegant brick facade of Newby Hall from the double borders.

This afternoon I went to Newby Hall, home of the Compton family just outside Ripon, and justly famous for its 25 acres of gardens. This large expanse is maintained to a level very seldom achieved and makes for a very impressive garden indeed, around an elegant house. Highlights are shown in the photos: more information is available from the Newby Hall website.

Part of the famous double borders, whose season is still very much behind the date. 

A shimmer of primulas in the water garden.

Newby Hall holds a National Plant Collection of Cornus, currently looking magnificent.

Cornus kousa 'Miss Satomi' - a delicious soft pink

Cornus kousa 'John Slocock' is an outstanding newer selection: we gave it the AGM last year.

This was labelled Cornus multinervosa but there is no such plant... the creamy bracts are attractive.

Alangium platanifolium was not a tree I expected to see in a North Yorkshire garden, but is apparently thriving against a warm wall.

The extraordinary development of the calyx on Rosa 'Chapeau de Napoleon'; but it isn't aromatic in the way the 'moss' of a moss rose is.

Backing the rose garden with a purple beech edge is very successful, further enhanced by the purple plum behind.

The old orchard, hedged in Philadelphus; the scent of Philadelphus filled the garden deliciously today.