From the Primula Garden, turn right along the lower path after viewing the immense fern-leaved beech on your left. You will pass a planting of Berberis aggregata and the great white cherry, Prunus Shirotae, on your left with the highly-scented Rosa rugosa "Blanc Double de Coubert" on the right before crossing the main drive. Follow the path under the lime trees to the pond which is notable for the skunk cabbages which line the bank and for the two mature "Young’s Weeping Birches". Another notable feature of the pond is the lack of water which I can assure you has more to do with silting than the climate.
Just above the pond, growing on the stream bank is a Japanese maple with a classic shape and pale green leaves which turn yellow in autumn. Next door is a rowan Sorbus hupehensis with blue-green leaves and pinky-white berries in autumn.
Skunk cabbage from North America has an interesting but not unpleasant scent despite it’s name. The leaves become very large and need a copious supply of water to develop fully. The plant self-seeds a bit too readily here - I have just noticed a clump by the boathouse about half a mile away. The weeping birches look good all year but best in winter when the smokey-purple twigs and silvery bark are outstanding.
If you would like to continue your virtual stroll round the garden, walk this way to the far corner. 