Festival focus on ‘rhoddie’

Gardens and horticultural businesses in Perthshire are taking part in a nationwide celebration of Scotland’s “second national flower” – the rhododendron.

Organised by Discover Scottish Gardens and supported for the first time this year by VisitScotland, the Scottish Rhododendron Festival began over the weekend and will run until May 31.

It incorporates a number of existing festivals and events as well as highlight other public spaces where visitors can enjoy the spectacular blooms.

Glendoick Gardens and Branklyn Gardens in Perth, Rossie Gardens in Forgandenny and Bolfracks Estate and Gardens near Aberfeldy are all taking part.

Nearly 60 Scottish sites, including public and private gardens, are participating.

Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, said: “We hope people of all ages will be inspired to get out and about to enjoy these colourful, vibrant flowers around some of Scotland’s most stunning gardens and estates.”

Kenneth Cox, gardener, plant hunter and rhododendron specialist at Glendoick Gardens, said: “This year’s rhododendron season is off to a great start with many gardens full of rhododendron colour already.

“Some might say the rhododendron is Scotland’s second national flower. Although they don’t originate in Scotland, rhododendrons are very much at home here.

“In fact Scotland is one of the places where woodland gardening with rhododendrons was invented.

“Hundreds of spectacular species thrive here and create stunning displays.”

To see the full list of participating gardens in the Scottish Rhododendron Festival, go to www. visitscotland.com/bloom