The temperatures have risen across the Harrogate district this week and that summer feeling has well and truly kicked in.

And what better time than to enjoy some of the stunning flora and fauna that our area has to offer.

There are lots of gorgeous gardens to explore over the next few months as part of the National Garden Scheme.

The initiative gives visitors unique access to over 3,500 exceptional private gardens in the UK and raises impressive amounts of money for nursing and health charities. The scheme also promotes the physical and mental health benefits of gardens.

We have put together a list of the participating gardens in our district from now until August:

Birstwith Hall, Birstwith

When: Sunday, June 19, 2pm-5pm

Admission: Adults £5, children go free

About: A charming and varied four-acre garden nestling in a secluded Yorkshire dale.

A formal garden and ornamental orchard, as well as extensive lawns leading to a picturesque stream and a large pond. There is also a walled garden and Victorian greenhouse.

The gardens can also be visited by arrangement.

Yorke House and White Rose Cottage, Dacre Banks

When: Sunday, June 26, 11am-5pm

Admission: Adults £5, children go free

About: An award-winning English country garden in the heart of Nidderdale.

A series of distinct areas flowing through two acres of ornamental garden. There are also colour-themed borders, as well as a natural pond and stream with delightful waterside plantings. Secluded seating areas and attractive views.

The adjacent cottage has a recently developed garden designed for wheelchair access. There is a large collection of hostas and an orchard picnic area.

The gardens can also be visited by arrangement.

Prospect House, Burton Leonard

When: Friday, June 24, 1-.30am-2pm

Admission: Adults £35, children go free

Booking: A limited number of tickets have been made available for this special event. Tickets must be booked in advance here

About: Following a welcome by the owner, there will be talks on the development of the garden, the creation of a cutting garden and colour-themed borders plus demonstration of cut flower arrangements in the potting shed. Buffet lunch included.

Prospect House features a one-acre walled, landscaped garden with ornamental pond, pergola, large oval lawned area, cutting and vegetable beds.

There is a colour-themed herbaceous long border, ‘hot’ borders, and a physic bed. There is also mature hedging, trees and seasonal interest throughout. Additional new planting areas are being established.

A renovated outhouse has been converted into a potting area used for garden workshops.

The gardens can also be visited by arrangement.

Cobble Cottage, Whixley

When: Sunday, July 3,11pm-5pm

Admission: Adults £4, children go free

About: An imaginatively designed, constantly changing, small cottage garden full of decorative architectural plants and old family favourites.

There is an Interesting water garden, containers and use of natural materials. It also features a black and white courtyard garden and Japanese-style garden with growing willow screen.

The gardens can also be visited by arrangement.

Group openings – gardens that open on the same day

Grafton gardens, Marton-cum-Grafton

Well House.

When: Sunday, July 3,11am-5pm

Admission: Adults £6, children go free

About: These two gardens in adjacent rural villages are also connected by a public footpath.

Paddock House is on an elevated site with extensive views down a large sloping lawn to a wildlife pond. A plant lover’s garden where the house is encircled by a profusion of pots and extensive plant collections combining cottage gardening with the Mediterranean and Tropical. A curved terrace of Yorkshire stone and steps using gravel and wood sleepers leads to many seating areas culminating in a cutting garden and small greenhouse.

Well House, in Grafton, nestles under the hillside, with long views to the White Horse. This one-and-a-half acre garden was begun 40 years ago and is constantly changing.  A traditional English cottage garden with herbaceous borders, climbing roses and ornamental shrubs with a variety of interesting species. Paths meander through the borders to an orchard with ducks. Refreshments are available at The Punch Bowl pub, a five-minute walk from Well House.

Dacre Banks and Summerbridge Gardens

Woodlands Cottage.

When: Sunday, July 10,12pm-5pm

Admission: Adults £10, children go free

About: Dacre Banks and Summerbridge Gardens are situated in the beautiful countryside of Nidderdale and designed to take advantage of the scenic Dales landscape.

The gardens are linked by attractive walks along the valley, but each may be accessed individually by car.

Low Hall has a romantic walled garden set on different levels around the historic C17 family home (not open) with herbaceous borders, shrubs, climbing roses and a tranquil water garden. The gardens can also be visited by arrangement.

Riverside House is an atmospheric waterside garden on many levels, supporting shade-loving plants and features a Victorian folly, fernery, courtyard and naturalistic riverside plantings. The gardens can also be visited by arrangement.

Woodlands Cottage is a garden of many rooms, with exquisite formal and informal plantings, and an attractive wildflower meadow which harmonises with mature woodland. The gardens can also be visited by arrangement.

Yorke House has extensive colour-themed borders and water features with beautiful waterside plantings. The newly developed garden at White Rose Cottage is specifically designed for wheelchair users. The gardens can also be visited by arrangement.

Read more:

• Top gardening tips from Harrogate horticulture experts
• The £2.25m eco-house for sale that ‘blends in’ to the Nidderdale countryside

The Priory, Nun Monkton

When: Thursday, July 7,11pm-5pm

Admission: Adults £6, children go free

About: A large country garden surrounding William and Mary house (not open), at the confluence of the River Nidd and River Ouse.

It features species trees, calm swathes of lawn, clipped yew, beech and box, formal rose garden and mixed borders.

There is a new area of soft perennial planting and informal parkland. There area also kitchen gardens with a greenhouse and swimming pool where teas will be served.

The Nun Monkton Ferryboat will be running a special service on this day, connecting Nun Monkton with Beningbrough and Moor Monkton, from the riverbank next to The Priory.

Markenfield Hall, Ripon

When: Tuesday, July 12, 2pm-3pm

Admission: Adults £5, children go free

Booking: By guided tour only (max 10 people). Tickets must be booked in advance here

About: The work of the hall’s owner Lady Deirdre Curteis and gardener Giles Gilbey.

Mature planting combines with newly designed areas, where walls with espaliered apricots and figs frame a mix of hardy perennials.

In 2018 the farmhouse border was replanted to eventually blend seamlessly with the hall’s main east border.

Goldsborough Hall, Goldsborough

When: Sunday, July 24, 11pm-5pm

Admission: Adults £5, children go free

About: An historic 12-acre garden and formal landscaped grounds in parkland setting around Grade II*, 17th-century house, which was the former residence of HRH Princess Mary, daughter of George V and Queen Mary.

Goldsborough Hall boasts Gertrude Jekyll inspired 120ft double herbaceous borders, a rose garden and a woodland walk.

There is a large restored kitchen garden and glasshouse which produces fruit and vegetables for the hall’s commercial kitchens.

Greencroft, Littlethorpe, Ripon

When: Sunday, August 7, 12pm-4pm

Admission: Adults £5, children go free

About: A half-acre informal country garden created by the owners. It features long herbaceous borders packed with colourful late summer perennials, annuals and exotics culminating in a circular garden with views through to large wildlife pond and surrounding countryside.

Special ornamental features include a gazebo, temple pavilions, formal pool, stone wall with mullions and gate to pergola and cascade water feature.

The gardens can also be visited by arrangement.

In the early 20th century there was a quarry in Harrogate known as Stone Rings.

Fast forward more than a hundred years and you will now find it has been replaced by a number of stunning gardens on the steep hillside.

And this weekend, visitors will be able to visit admire six of them at an open gardens event that will raise money for charity.

Jen Dening, one of the garden owners on Stone Rings Close, which is just off Leeds Road, said:

“There will be a gentle nod towards the Platinum Jubilee.”

The event will take place on Saturday and Sunday from noon until 5pm, priced at £6 for adults. Under 12s are free.

It has been held a number of times since 2003 after a group of residents came together with the idea to raise money for charity.

In 2020 a virtual event took place as a result of the pandemic, which still managed to raise more than £1,300.

Read more:

• Top gardening tips from Harrogate horticulture experts
• The £2.25m eco-house for sale that ‘blends in’ to the Nidderdale countryside

It is hoped that thousands will be raised this year for the Harrogate Homeless Project’s 30th anniversary and Resurrected Bites, a local charity operating pay-as-you-feel cafes and community groceries.

Mrs Dening added:

“Stone Rings was a quarry, so the topography is challenging for making gardens. Four of the gardens have steep banks running down to a beck with woodland areas.

“All of the gardens open this year have had major or minor structural work done since last time. So if you have been before, you will see improvements. There are two gardens new to opening, with hard landscaping and planting done completely by the owners.”

Refreshments and other stalls will be available, along with a children’s quiz.

As temperatures finally start to reach double figures and we get a glimpse of sunny days ahead, our focus starts to turn towards the garden.

You can’t fail to be inspired by the bursts of colourful crocuses on the Stray and it won’t be long before we see Harrogate’s famous pink cherry blossoms appearing too.

This is usually the time of year I tentatively step out of the back door, have a look at the dire state of the barren landscape before me and then retreat back to the house. ‘I’ll tackle it later’, I tell myself as I metaphorically bury my head in the kids’ waterlogged sandpit.

Therapeutic

I actually really enjoy gardening once I get into the swing of things. I find it really therapeutic. But I usually have no idea where to start and can sometimes it can feel a bit overwhelming.

So I turned to the experts from two horticultural charities to get their tips on how to tackle the garden now spring has finally sprung.

Horticap

Phil Airey, manager of Harrogate gardening charity Horticap, on Otley Road, said:

“It’s March and the garden is coming alive. The bulbs are ready to shine, with snowdrops, daffodils, crocuses and tulips to follow.

“Perennials are just starting to grow, so this is your time to cut away all the old growth from winter. Before you do, just check for wildlife. They might have been using the old foliage as cover, so just check before you remove it.”

Phil said it was now time to cut down any dogwood, also known as Cornus, which are deciduous trees and shrubs.

Vibrant stems

He said:

“Cut it down to one or two buds from the ground so you will leave it stumpy. This will help it grow vigorous shoots, leaving you with the vibrant coloured stems for next winter.”

After being battered by three storms, Phil said it was worth making sure any ripped branches in damaged trees had “clean cuts”.

He said:

“Just use any saw to make a clean cut and this will help protect the tree from infections. This is for small trees, as larger ones must be carried out by a trained tree surgeon.”

I was surprised at Phil’s next tip, as I would usually wait a bit longer to start tackling the grass, but if it helps get rid of messy old leaves, I’m all for it.

He said:

“Have you had your mower serviced? Because you can start cutting your grass. Cut it at your highest setting, don’t cut it too low just yet.

“Doing this will act like a vacuum, sucking up old leaves and twigs. Leaving the lawn looking tidy and free of debris.”

Phil said it was now “all go” at Horticap, which provides training in horticulture and rural skills to adults with learning and other disabilities.

Read more:

• TV architect George Clarke will bring buildings to life at Harrogate’s Royal Hall
• Stray Gardener: March is the perfect time to start planting seedlings

No better sight

He said:

“The summer bedding is here and there is no better sight than a tiny geranium (pelargonium) starting to grow.

“The students are busy getting labels ready and clearing the beds. We are also sowing the veg in the greenhouse, but you can start sowing peas and broad beans directly into prepared beds and pots.

“It’s also time to start “chitting” your seed potatoes. It is a simple process of forcing seed potatoes into growth before they are planted out. You can place them on a window sill or glasshouse.

“It’s getting very busy at Horticap, and that means only one thing. People want to be out in the gardens so this weekend is a great time to start. Spring has definitely sprung.”

RHS Harlow Carr

Over the road at RHS Harlow Carr, which is run by the UK’s leading gardening charity, horticulturists Malcom Dewar and Philip Keesing said it was time to “sit back and enjoy the display of all the spring-flowering bulbs as they start to pop”.

RHS Garden Harlow Carr.

This is something I think most of us are particularly looking forward to after what feels like an eternal winter.

Top tips

They offered the following top tips:

• Finish cutting back grasses and perennials if you haven’t already done so, to make way for this year’s growth.
• Trim winter-flowering heathers as they finish flowering, to prevent them from becoming leggy.
• Deadhead winter pansies and violas to encourage them to keep on blooming into the spring.
• Deadhead daffodils as they finish flowering and let the foliage die back naturally.
• Sow some seeds.
• Trim up overgrown hedges and ivies before the bird nesting season.
• Carry on cutting back herbaceous perennials, weeding and tidying flower beds as you go.
• Repair any paving or hard surfaces in the garden that may have been damaged from snow and ice.

The main borders at RHS garden Harlow Carr.

The hot tub industry expects to see another boom as the national stay-at-home order is lifted, and firms in Harrogate are already getting booked up.

As of March 29, the rule of six was reintroduced, allowing two households or six people from different households to meet outdoors.

Since people have been allowed to share their gardens with friends and family once more, hot tubs have been in huge demand.

Hot tub hiring businesses have become a big part of garden entertainment.

Bubble & Chic Hot Tub Hire in Harrogate was only established last month after owner Janie Carr decided to change career due to the pandemic.

Since its first booking on March 25, inquiries have not stopped. Ms Carr said:

“I posted an advertisement on a Facebook group on Thursday and by Friday I was inundated with bookings for the next four months. I even have full bookings for August bank holiday already.”

Read more:

• Harrogate district restaurants already fully booked ahead of reopening
• Harrogate Town to open pop-up shop next week

However, starting a new business during the grip of a pandemic is not without its challenges. She added:

“Lockdown has massively impacted the garden entertainment industry as I have been unable to get stock to hire out. A particular gazebo I use to put over the hot tub has been out of stock for months and others seem to be out of stock or have long delivery times.”

Harrogate Hot Tubs has encountered the same issue, with products to clean the hot tubs increasing in price. But this hasn’t stopped the Jacuzzi boom.

Paul Underwood, owner of the business, said:

“We had around four bookings in January 2020, this January we had over 100. Lockdown has definitely increased business for us, almost six-fold.

“We’ve had to turn down over 100 bookings since January as we’re fully booked, but we are expecting to see a further increase of bookings in summer with people maybe not wanting to go on holiday.”

The North of England Horticultural Society has cancelled this years Harrogate Autumn Flower Show, set to take place from 18-20 September at Newby Hall.

The decision has been taken due to the ongoing uncertainty as to when the government will allow large public gatherings. It comes after the Harrogate Spring Flower Show at the Yorkshire Show Ground was also cancelled – both events attract up to 100,000 visitors between them.

Nick Smith, the show’s director said:

“Naturally we are very disappointed that 2020 will go down as the year there were no Harrogate Flower Shows to open and close the gardening season, but the safety of our visitors, exhibitors and the wider public must come first.

Read more: 

• Newby Hall has re-opened for visitors 
• Virtual tour of Harlow Carr 

This is the first time the autumn flower show has not taken place since during the Second World War.

The organisers have informed those who had tickets for the show that they will receive a full refund by the end of July. For more information visit the Harrogate Flower Show website – https://www.flowershow.org.uk/