Garden News | June 2025

In theory, June marks the change from spring to summer as a new season starts to show what it can do in the garden here at Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens. However, spring wasn’t quite as early this year as it was last, mostly because we had a relatively normal cold Winter, so we’re hoping that plenty of the stars of the show in May will still be strutting their stuff in June too. Either way, there will of course be plenty to catch the eye as you wander the myriad of garden paths this month.

Rhododendrons are what Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens is probably best known for and we have several specimens that flower well into June. Dotted throughout the many paths that zig-zag their way from the top western side of the garden down to the lakes you’ll find the likes of Rhododendron hemsleyanum with its fragrant white blooms for instance, the viscosum Azalea, or Swamp Honeysuckle as it is commonly known due to the unusual start-shaped flowers, and Rhododendron griersonianum with its gorgeous scarlet inflorescence. Rhododendron ‘Polar Bear’ is another unusual white flowered shrub of considerable age that can be found flowering in June near the Clocktower Kitchen. We’ve recently planted two sister plants of ‘Pink Polar Bear’ as well as R. ‘James Burchett’ along Falling Walk which will also add to the late spring, early summer Rhododendron displays. Several other June-flowering rhododendrons have just been planted in an area that is currently closed to our visitors but which we hope to have open in time for next year. Called the Hillside Garden, we plan to open it in phases and the first area we hope to allow access through will have later flowering rhododendrons such as ‘Goldika’, High Summer’ and ‘Gomer Waterer’ which we can’t wait to show you.

As some of our feature Rhododendrons start to tail off at the end of spring, our deciduous azaleas really are the gift that keeps on giving. Flowering slightly later, particularly down in the valley where the temperatures can be a degree or two cooler, some of the displays along the lakeside banks are truly a sight to behold. A complementary pallet of salmon pinks, oranges and soft yellows line your walk as you meander next to the water.

Some other fantastic June specials to look out for this year should include the likes of our Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) on the main house lawn. Planted as a replacement for a huge specimen that used to sit almost where the Faith sculpture is now but was sadly lost in the 1987 storm, this tree should be studded with pretty blooms in June, usually starting from the top down. Interestingly, it’s not called the Tulip Tree because of its flowers but actually because the leaves, which when turned upside down, resemble the classic shape of a tulip.

Our flowering dogwoods (Cornus sp.) should also be continuing their annual time in the spotlight this month. We have over 100 specimens in the garden and over 30 different types. Their delicate flowers can start in May, particularly the florida types, but June is when they really take centre stage with the large Cornus kousa ‘Miss Satomi’ down the slope from the shop building often a particular highlight for visitors. Once the flowers have finished, they’ll be followed by their unusual strawberry-like fruits so make sure you don’t miss those later in the year too. Many also have good early Autumn foliage so they really are a valuable addition to any garden.

Another exciting floral feature in the garden during June will be the explosion of Allium and Digitalis (or foxglove) flowers. Dotted around most of the beds in the upper garden areas, such as in front of the mansion for example, you’ll be able to enjoy a huge range of colours, shapes and sizes of these two plants which are both huge favourites of mine. Especially look out for some of the newer additions to the Allium collection that were planted recently including the soft pink hues of ‘Summer Drummer’, the off-white ‘Marshmallow’, the unusual wine-coloured ‘Red Mohican’ and the absolutely fascinating Allium schubertii and it’s ‘Artic Snow’ cousin which both look positively alien!

Tulip Tree at Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens

Now seems as good a time as any to draw your attention to our display in the Alpine House building. Formally a Camellia House under Sir Giles Loder and then an alpine plant display space, complete with water feature, when Robin Loder owned Leonardslee, up until a month or so ago it was the propagation area for my team. We’ve now moved that operation down to our new work compound and so this building has become an eating space, primarily aimed at people with dogs who want a covered area. We have installed a new planting scheme around the north and western edges, focussing primarily on semi-tender or half-hardy plants that might not survive outdoors all year round. We have a few rhododendrons such as ‘Logan’s Surprise’ and ‘Princess Alice’ as well as a collection of succulents such as Mammillaria hahniana and Aeonium ‘Ballerina’ and interesting specimens like Melia azedarach and Dracunculus vulgaris (or Dragon Arum). We plan to add more plants over the coming months and years but why not pop in when you’re next here and have a look for yourself.

As the temperatures rise, the garden team will be spending an increasing amount of time on presentation standards, particularly around the mansion area, as the weeds start to grow in earnest. We try not use any chemicals if at all possible so the weeds will be removed by hand with the annuals being composted and the more perennial tap root types being burnt.  The grass will really be growing as we enter June also, so the team will be getting their engines running and mowing and strimming across the site on a more regular basis now too.

Watering will also become more of a priority in June, especially if last year is anything to go by. We’ve recently planted delicate new plants in areas such as the house borders, the herbaceous beds opposite the house, the Rock Garden and in the various pots and containers that form our seasonal displays. One area which hopefully won’t need as much watering though is our Dry Garden next the visitor hub building. Designed as part of our tributes to King Charles and his coronation in 2023, this border contains drought tolerant plants that should be better able to withstand a hot summer as climate change, an issue which King Charles is very much focussed on, starts to affect the way we garden.

There a few garden tours in June that you can book onto if you haven’t already done so: on June 2nd, 18th, 23rd and 30th at 10.30am you can learn all about the history and future of the garden from one of our fantastic guides. So as usual there is plenty to see and do across the whole garden here at Leonardslee. I look forward to seeing you all here again soon.

Jamie Harris, Head Gardener