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The bluebells at Isabella Plantation reach their quiet finale

The bluebells in Richmond are at their last and best this week, tucked in the shade where spring lingers longest. At Isabella Plantation, the final blooms hold their colour under oak and beech, a purple haze softening before summer takes over. You can still catch them if you go soon.

They fade from the edges inward. The sunniest patches have already gone to seed, but the woodland corners stay loyal. The scent is faint now, almost sweet, and the ground beneath is starting to green over. This is the best moment: before they vanish entirely, when the show is just for those who notice.

The plantation is turning its attention elsewhere. Lavender is coming into full flower along the borders, and the bees are at their busiest. The air hums with them. But the bluebells still deserve a last look, especially in the deep shade near the Stilll Pond, where the light barely reaches.

They will be gone by next week. The woodland floor will close over them, and the year will move on. If you want to see them, now is the time.

Go this weekend if you can.

Have you caught the last of the bluebells this year?

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The garden in Richmond at midsummer

The garden in Richmond at midsummer

The garden in Richmond reaches its peak in July, when the air thickens with heat and the borders crowd with colour. Lavender spikes stand tall along paths, their purple blooms humming with bees. Roses sag under their own weight. The lawn, if you have kept it watered, glows a defiant green. This is the moment […]

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The lavender is out in Richmond gardens and the bees are everywhere

The lavender is out in Richmond gardens and the bees are everywhere

The lavender is out in Richmond gardens and the bees are everywhere. You can hear them before you see them: a steady hum rising from the purple spikes. They work the flowers in a kind of methodical frenzy, dusted yellow with pollen. The scent thickens in the heat. It hangs in the air around benches […]

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The shady corner in Richmond gardens where lavender meets old walls

The shady corner in Richmond gardens where lavender meets old walls

The shady corner in Richmond gardens becomes a refuge when the sun is at its worst. You find it behind the south-facing wall, where lavender spills over brick and the air smells sharp and sweet. Bees work the purple stems with a low hum. You sit on a bench that has been there longer than […]

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What survives a heatwave in Richmond gardens and what doesn't

What survives a heatwave in Richmond gardens and what doesn’t

What survives a heatwave in Richmond gardens and what doesn’t becomes obvious by mid-afternoon. Lavender stands firm, its grey leaves designed for drought, while the bees work overtime in the purple spikes. Sedums, salvias, and anything with a Mediterranean backbone keep their composure. Roses droop but recover. Hardy geraniums fade to papery wisps. Hostas give […]

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The first tomatoes in Richmond gardens

The first tomatoes in Richmond gardens

The first tomatoes in Richmond gardens are ripening now. You notice them one morning, a flush of orange breaking through the green. The smell hits you when you pinch out the side shoots: sharp, green, faintly chemical. It clings to your fingers for hours. This is the moment gardeners wait for. The fruit has been […]

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