RHS Garden Harlow Carr 

Harlow Carr is situated in North Yorkshire just outside Harrogate.  Originally the Northern Horticultural Society, as well as maintaining a large diverse garden, they carried out plant trials, research and education on  species and cultivars which are more suited to the northern part of England.  The gardens have now been taken under the wing of the Royal Horticultural Society, and the garden is now known as the RHS Garden Harlow Carr. The gardens extend to 68 acres and were opened in 1950.  It is situated between 150m and 180m above sea level. There is also a very pleasant restaurant, a book and gift shop, children's play area, Study centre and a plant nursery.  To link to the official Harlow Carr website click here.

As I have quite a large collection of pictures of the gardens I have divided into separate areas. To see some of the work done in the Trials area click here.  If the weather suddenly turns inclement - visit the Alpine Houses and see some of the unusual plants growing there.

The gardens often contain art, either paintings on view in the Study centre, or Sculptures within the gardens .

In 2000 the gardens were chosen by the BBC to host the finals of the BBC Gardener of the Year competition 2000.  The small gardens created by the competitors are on view - it is interesting to see how they have developed over the space of a year.

If you decide you need refreshment first before walking around the gardens, this is the view from the restaurant patio toward the trials grounds.   The bed in the foreground was damaged by floods in the autumn and winter of 2000 - 01 and has been replanted.

	There is a good range of colour provided all year round by the heather beds which can also be seen from the restaurant.
The gardens are bordered by a stream on the lower edge.  This is planted with many species of primula including the Harlow Carr Hybrids.  This picture was taken 29th April 2000 too early for these to be out.  The banks also have many other plants including ferns, Gunnera, and in this picture Skunk cabbage. (Lysichiton americanus). Compare this picture with the one that follows -

In summer, the view is very different - this was taken in August 2001.  The foliage is very lush and although the primulas are over there are other later flowering perennials and ferns.

This area - The Herb Garden - is below the Skipton Glass Conservatory.  It is planted with herbs in themed beds - culinary, medicinal, cosmetic etc.  On a sunny day like this the aromatic oils are particularly strong. The planting as you can see is relatively new - August 2001.

Here we see another area of the gardens - just below the restaurant - taken in October 2000.  The beds are planted with heathers, conifers and also maples which give the rich autumn colours.

The gardens also have themed beds this of course being the grasses border.  This forms a break between the alpine houses and the rose garden.  The grasses look particularly effective in the low autumn sunlight.  There are mainly Molinia, Stipa, Pennisteum and Miscanthus.

As well as the large area of woodland and an arboretum, there are specimen trees within the flower gardens.  This is a favourite of mine - Catalpa.  The flowers are like a cross between Horse Chestnut and Foxgloves.

If it sets seed the pods look like long runner beans - hence it's common name of Indian Bean Tree. The trees will grow to a large size, but can be pollarded, in which case they produce larger foliage, but the likelihood of flowers is less.

The border below the Museum faces almost south and is planted with sun loving species such as this Cistus (Cistus x cyprius?) and Phormiums

Amazing blue or what?  This Delphinium is called 'Centurion SkyBlue'

A beautiful Hemerocallis - sorry couldn't find the name of this one.

At the end of the gardens which leads into the arboretum is an area where plants like this Trillium erectum are naturalised under the trees.  This is obviously thriving in it's litter of  leaves and bark mulch.