The Garden

Set amongst the beautiful Northamptonshire countryside, this 60-acre privately owned woodland garden contains a large and notable collection of plants; ranging from unusual trees and shrubs to a wide selection of lilies and other bulbs.

The garden’s unusual band of acid soil, in this otherwise predominantly alkaline area, provides the opportunity to cultivate plants such as rhododendrons, camellias, and magnolias, which would not ordinarily thrive in this location.

The wood throughout the seasons

There is interest throughout the year, with a rich diversity of tree barks, then starting with the snowdrop displays, witch hazels, lilies and climbing roses throughout summer, followed by the autumn colour display from the Japanese maples.

The year begins.

As the garden opens in February after the New Year closure, work continues to maintain and develop new areas.

Late Winter

The first event of the year features the 80 plus named varieties of snowdrops. Trails are set out to lead visitors to the best of the collection and a lot of hard work is undertaken to make sure that the different species are clearly labelled.

For the galanthophiles amongst us, this is a big attraction. For the uninitiated, galanthus is the Latin name for the snowdrop and a galanthophile is an enthusiastic collector or identified of these lovely plants. They make spectacular displays throughout the woods that are well worth a visit. The collection includes our own ‘Evenley Double’, which was raised on the site, together with swathes of ‘S. Arnott’.

Plants of the season

Crocus

Cyclamen coum

Daphnes

Galanthus

Narcissus cyclamineus (Cyclamen-flowered daffodil)

Narcissus ‘Rijnvelds Early Sensation’ (early narcissus)

Galanthus (snowdrops) named varieties –

Galanthus ‘Atkinsii’

Galanthus ‘Brenda Troyle’

Galanthus ‘Galatea’

Galanthus ‘Hippolyta’

Galanthus ‘Ophelia’

Galanthus ‘Desdemona’

Galanthus ‘Magnet’

Galanthus ‘Straffan’

Galanthus ‘S. Arnott’

Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus

Galanthus nivalis ‘Lady Elphinstone’

Galanthus nivalis ‘Viridapice’

Galanthus plicatus ‘Wendy’s Gold’

Galanthus plicatus ‘Warham’

Early spring

As the snowdrops are coming to the end of their display, the scillas begin to appear, creating a flowing blue stream.

Timmy Whiteley planted thousands of scillas, following a meandering course through the wood starting on North Ride and finishing by The Gatehouse. This is some 800 metres in length and is known as the Scilla Stream from its image of water flowing through the wood.

Plants of the season

Camellias

Erythronium (Dog Tooth Violet and Fawn Lilies)

Fritillaria

Leucojum (Snowflakes)

Helleborus (The Lenten Rose)

Magnolia

Mid-season Narcissus (Daffodils)

Narcissus pseudonarcissus (Wild daffodils)

Primula veris (Cowslip)

Prunus Sogdiana

Pyrus (Ornamental Pear)

Scilla

Late Spring

Daffodils make their bright and cheerful appearance throughout the wood. Bluebells follow the scillas mainly in Bluebell Wood, with pinkbells featuring in The Beeches.

Azaleas and rhododendrons abound in the wood and are particularly plentiful, with Azalea Glade and Rhododendron Ride giving a clue as to some of the places to look for them, although they are not just confined to these areas. Magnolias and camellias, also come into flower adding their varieties of colour and scent.

Plants of the season

Late narcissus Primula Hybrids

Trillium

Hyacinthoides non-scripta (British Bluebell)

Halesia (Snowdrop Tree)

Meconopsis (Himalayan Poppy)

Rhododendron and Azalea

Syringa (Lilac)

Viburnum

Summer

Many varieties of lilies can be found and were a particular passion of Timmy Whiteley when he developed the garden. ‘Evenley Jane’ and ‘Garden Society’, were all raised here by him. Roses abound and good use has been made of the trees to encourage them the climb, so don’t forget to look up!

Clematis, acers, crab apples, pears. The many euonymus begin fruiting.

Plants of the season

Cardiocrinum (Giant Himalayan Lily)

Clethera

Eucryphia

Hydrangea

Lilium (Lily)

Philadelphus (Mock Orange)

Stewartia

Autumn

Many spectacular vistas can be seen when the autumn colours appear as the maples, oaks, acers and more of our trees start to transform the way the wood looks.

Autumn bulbs will begin to flower.

Plants of the season

Acer (Maple)

Betula (Birch)

Colchicum (Giant Autumn Crocus)

Cyclamen hederifolia (Ivy-leaved Cyclamen)

Euonymus (Spindle)

Juglans (Ornamental Walnut)

Liquidambar (Sweet Gum)

Quercus (Oak)

Sorbus (Mountain Ash and Rowan trees)

Sternbergia (Autumn Daffodil)

The plant collection – notable trees and shrubs

Abies pinosapo Stream Garden/Snowdrop Walk

Acer circinatum Acer Glade

Acer cissifolium Azalea Glade

Acer davidii The Garden – near Pavilion

Acer negundo subsp. mexicanum Camellia Glade

Acer palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’ Rhododendron Ride

Acer palmatum ‘Osakazuki’ Rhododendron Ride

Aesculus parviflora The Garden – near Pavilion

Betula ermanii Azalea Glade

Betula utilis var. jacquemontii ‘Jermyns’ The Valley Path

Camellia lutchensis var. lutchensis Camellia Glade

Carpinus turczaninovii Azalea Glade

Euonymus grandiflorus Pond Ride

Euonymus macropteris Pond Ride

Euonymus myrianthus Azalea Glade

Euonymus tingens The Desert

Davidia involucrata var. vilmoriniana The Garden – opposite Pavilion

Fagus sylvatica var. heterophylla Pond Ride

Gymnocladus dioica The Garden – opposite Pavilion

Juglans hindsii Opposite the Pond

Lindera obtusiloba Azalea Glade

Liriodendron tulipfifera ‘Fastigiata’ The Garden – opposite Pavilion

Magnolia ‘Evenley Gift’ Bond Street Path

Magnolia ‘John Bond’ Azalea Glade

Magnolia macropylla The Desert

Magnolia sieboldii ‘Colossus’ Camellia Glade – opposite Pavilion

Metasequoia glyptosroboides The Garden – path to Rhododendron Ride

Nyssa sinensis Next to Anniversary Bridge

Parrotia persica Rhododendron Ride

Picea smithiana Azalea Glade

Pinus patula The Pines

Platanus orientalis var. insularis Stream Garden

Podocarpus salignus Rhododendron Ride

Prunus sargentii Broad Ride

Prunus sogdiana Stream Garden & North Ride

Quercus castaniefolia ‘Green Spire’ Pond Ride

Quercus ellipsoidallis Rhododendron Ride

Quercus x libanerris Azalea Glade

Quercus palustris The Valley Path

Quercus rubra ‘Evenley Gold’ Bond Street Path

Rhododendron ‘Bow Bells’ Opposite Pavilion

Rhododendron loderi ‘King George’ Azalea Glade

Rhododendron ‘Lord Roberts’ Rhododendron Ride

Rododendron ‘Susan’ Rhododendron Ride

Sequoia sempervirens Meadow Path

Sorbus wardii Stream Garden

Styrax japonica The Desert

Torreya californica Acer Glade

List of Birds

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List of Butterflies

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List of Moths

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List of Liverworths and Mosses

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