May Bank Holiday 2026

May has been a mixture of weathers but as we arrive at the May bank holiday this week its full sun ahead!

Today felt like summer with hot temperatures soaring and the shade offering a welcome coolness. At last it feels like the warm weather is here.

We are open 7 days a week; 10am until 6pm daily – last garden entry at 5pm – including Bank holiday Monday and every other day this half term.

Everything has been early in the garden this season – the azaleas and rhododendrons all flowered sooner than expected and as we approach the end of May it feels more like June as I look around.

The purple irises are now blooming and a few of the later flowering azaleas are showing off their beautiful blossoms.

The Japanese maples are now growing like crazy – with so many new shoots reaching out in to available spaces. Our gardeners will be doing lots of pruning if this beautiful weather keeps up.

It’s also been a very busy time with deliveries arriving to the nursery – including a few new handmade granite pieces – which will likely be the last we can get hold of until next year. They really are stunning.

Check out my photographs from my visit today – pictured below –