Although most of the azaleas have now been and gone, there is still much to recommend a walk up through the Azalea Garden and the Maple Grove – not least the deep green shade, so inviting as the sun beats down and temperatures soar. Whilst it tends to be the flowers that steal the show at this time of year – and understandably so – the extensive range of exotic trees are well worth a careful look. These too bear flowers, often very small, but sometimes eye-catching like the numerous varieties of Cornus near the Millenium Bench. These are floriferous at the moment, bearing stunning white flowers with some varieties gradually shading to pink with time.

Closer to the Croft, there are many further delights. You are likely to catch the delicate scent of one of the very many Philadelphus shrubs, such as Philadelphus ‘Virginal’ pictured below, which has double, very fragrant, pure white flowers. Lilies in pots on the Croquet Lawn exude a headier scent – and look out too for some unusual varieties on the Boundary Path, such as Lily martagon ‘Claude Shride’, the deep purplish-red flower pictured below.

You can practically see the fruit and vegetables growing in the Kitchen Garden: we’re in a race against the strawberries, and courgettes, spinach and mange-touts are also ready for picking. Make sure that you walk to the far end of the Kitchen Garden, past the greenhouse, to find the stunning display of old roses on your left and cutting beds on your right. Once again, the fragrance is magnificent.