Cluny House Gardens, Perthshire

[Matt T]

May is reckoned to be Cluny’s most glorious month.

http://www.clunyhousegardens.com/

I quite agree! What a treasure this garden is.
A mature garden with towering trees, shady woodland environments and so many botanical treasures squirreled away. This is a garden in which to dander, nosing about amongst the vegetation, because around the next corner is a new plant you've never seen before, or one similar to those you saw at the last bend, but subtly different and probably quite botanically significant. There is a numbered trail around the garden, but we didn't pick up the leaflet to guide us ("It's ok, I have you to tell me what the plants are", Patrick said!) so hopefully most of my IDs are ok 

We arrived late'ish in the afternoon (we had to tear ourselves away from the gourmet Highland Chocolatier at Grandtully!) but still had a good couple of hours and the whole garden to ourselves! Well, apart from the engaging John Mattingley, who was potting up young plants when we arrived and spent a good time chatting with us afterwards and was very free with helpful information and stories.

As well as selling many of the unusual plants found in the gardens there are seeds for sale at the garden too. They also produce an annual seedlist and if you are interested in raising unusual plants from seed, Primula in particular, it is probably worth your while getting onto their mailing list (email: wmattingleyATbtinternet.com, replacing the AT with @).

With so many layers of planting, with the promise of more to come throughout the season this is definitely a garden to go back to time and again. There were so many interesting plants that I can only show here a representative set of those that were looking at their best for our visit. The following pics are in (roughly) chronological order following the numbered trail.

You start the trail around the front lawn, the most open part of the garden. The surrounding beds are full of treasures before you've taken even a few steps. Alongside the likes of Meconopsis x cookei are plenty Trillium grandiflorum flore pleno (this could be 'Snowbunting'?)
In a shadier bed close by a vast swathe of Primula chungenesis draws you on, Uvularia grandiflora nestling up close.
There are many plants recurring throughout the gardens and providing unifying themes, including Trillium, Arisaema, Primula of course and Cardiocrinum giganteum in quantity!
From the lawn the trail meanders through many woodland gardens sheltered beneath high conifers and a leafy canopy of broadleaf trees, creating varying levels of shade from deep to dappled as under these Acer.

[Roma]

It is a wonderful garden.  I have been there several times and am going there on Saturday on a bus trip with The Friends of Cruickshank Botanic Garden.  The first time must have been about 35 years ago.  Showing my age now

[Matt T]

All the typical woodlanders are here, and in large swathes as well established plantings. I think this Erythronium is probably 'White Beauty'.
A path back towards the light of the front lawn, lined with more P. chungenesis draws the eye, but we forge on into the shade.
Here we find more Trillium. This time richly coloured T. erectum and what I suspect is the true T. sessile.
Some of the Arisaema clumps are very robust and extremely impressive, even though they are only just emerging.

[Matt T]

It is a wonderful garden.  I have been there several times and am going there on Saturday on a bus trip with The Friends of Cruickshank Botanic Garden.  The first time must have been about 35 years ago.  Showing my age now

Gardening keeps us young! You're in for a treat Roma, it is looking spectacular right now. Have a great time!

[Matt T]

The woodland floor is simply covered with plants - no room for weeds - but the ground cover is provided by beautiful and precious species. Here a Soldanella spreads in a broad carpet and on the corner opposite Hylomecon japonica injects a splash of brightness.
Rising through is a demure Trillium rugelii, hanging its flower below its parasol.
Another corner and another "wow" with Trillium grandiflorum roseum in a nice clean, evenly coloured form.

[Matt T]

This Mitella sp. caught my attention. Perhaps one of the least 'showy' plants in the garden, but exquisite nonetheless. I'm not sure which species this is (edit: Tellima grandiflora - fringecups?) but the flowers open creamy white and flush with pink as they age. One to look out for.
Arisaema are everywhere, some just emerging and others, such as this Arisaema griffithii in full flower.
More labour-saving ground cover in a far reach of the garden is provided by this Chrysosplenium davidianum.

And so, having wandered through so many garden areas on a very enjoyable journey of botanical discovery we finally found ourselves back at the start and depart after a natter, a plant purchase and resolution to return again when we are able.

[tonyg]

Thanks for sharing this Matt.  Over 20 years since I visited, nice to be reminded and updated.

[angie]

Lovely Pictures Matt, I am sure I have Mitella sp. Will have a look, welcome to a plant if you want.
Can't remember how long ago it was when I was there but looking forward to seeing the garden again on Saturday.  This was the garden that made me fall involve with Trilliums.

Angie 

[ichristie]

Hello Matt thanks for the picture we went over last year later so will try and go again, the Trillium is Tr. cuneatum. cheers Ian the Christie kind

[johnralphcarpenter]

We were there around four years ago. Great garden.

[ian mcenery]

Thank you Matt I agree it is a lovely garden set in a wonderful place and is a favourite of ours- a pity it is so far away. We have been a couple of times the last time a year ago and John was most welcoming he also does  most of the work himself which makes it even more amazing. Most of the plants have been raised from seed or are propagated on site and there are lots of goodies to look through including seed

Here is a picture of a Redwood which using Pam for scale just shows how magnificent it is

[Alex S.]

Thanks for sharing, Matt. I was there only once about 3 or 4 years ago. Unfortunately there was a very late start of the season so Erythroniums were only budding. Early primulas were amazing, especially P. bhutanica. And elusive red squirrels weren't too shy!
I bought there P. hoffmanniana and it didn't make it in my garden :-/

[Roma]

We (Friends of Cruickshank Botanic Garden) had a very enjoyable visit to Cluny House Gardens last Saturday after some retail therapy at Glendoick.  On the way there we were struck by the number of densely carpeted bluebell woods and the sheer spectacle of acres of bluebells.  In fact this area of Perthshire is one vast bluebell wood with areas of cultivation in between.  In some places the boundary between bluebells and cultivation is very marked.  This was very noticeable on Strathtay golf course with a definite line between the greens and the wooded rough areas carpeted with bluebells.
In Cluny Gardens there are areas where wild flowers are allowed. 
Ferns
Bluebells with Primroses
Bluebells with Red Campion
Chrysoplenium oppositifolium   

[Roma]

Giant Redwoods usually have nothing growing at their base.  John Mattingley thought that this could be because people keep walking up to them and trampling any seedlings trying to grow so he fenced off the base of this Redwood to prove the point and it now has plants right up to and even on the base of the trunk.  All are self sown.
a Pieris looking good
Kerria japonica - the not often seen single form
I really like Chrysoplenium davidianum but it is not a plant for small gardens!

More pics to follow  -  lots of trilliums and primulas