Wakehurst Place in winter

Seasons and flowering times can vary by up to three weeks so the periods below are only approximate.

There is a splendid Winter Garden at Wakehurst Place where in November and December, the viburnums and mahonias prove there's interest in the greyest months. In January, the bright stems of the dogwoods and willows, together with the flowers of heathers and cyclamens add more colour, and there are still the snowdrops, daffodils and crocuses to come, here and elsewhere in the grounds, in February.

All through winter, people who know Wakehurst Place well head for Westwood Valley for the wonderful perfume filling the air from the daphnes. It's hard to believe such a beautiful smell comes from such a small insignificant flower, but how else can it attract the few winter insects to pollinate it?

There's magnificent bark colour on the birches in Bethlehem Wood and splendid, if man-made, decoration on the huge Christmas Tree by the Mansion.