The path out of the scented garden

The path out of the scented garden turns left back through the Pinetum and emerges on The Queen's Drive under the shadow of the clock tower of Northcote House. Here one must cross diagonally right to the paved footpath leading from the bus stop to the metal sculpture outside Devonshire House. A small path to the right leads to the site which is being planted to form the National Collection of Azara by the University in co-operation with the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens. Azara is the name of a small genus of trees and shrubs which are evergreen with scented yellow flowers and are native to Chile. The collection forms part of a National Campaign by the N.C.C.P.G. in association with interested organisations to promote the conservation of wild species and garden plants.

We now proceed on round in front of the parade of shops alongside the New Library building to join with Stocker Road where the junction is flanked with more beds showing an impressive display of heaths and heathers.

Looking back towards the Great Hall one sees a solitary Cedrus deodara ‘The Indian Cedar’ (a native of the western Himalayas and introduced into England in 1831) rising above a bed of brilliant yellow dwarf yew hedging (Taxus baccata Aurea). Cedrus deodara grows up to 200 feet tall and an essential oil is distilled from its wood.

These photographs were taken during March near the Reed Hall pond

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Magnolia campbellii the Giant Himalayan Pink Tulip tree, native of Nepal, Sikkim and Butan. It was introduced into England about 1865.

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Rosa banksiae Lutea, this form of the Banksian rose was introduced from China via the Calcutta Botanic Gardens by J. D. Parks about 1824. The photograph was taken during May and shows the plant growing on the Northcote House clock tower wall.

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Clianthus puniceus ‘Parrot's Bill’ or ‘Lobster's Claw’, a native of New Zealand, introduced Into England about 1831. The photograph was taken during May and shows the plant growing on the wall of the Council Senate Chamber.

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Rhododendron Sinogrande a large leafed rhododendron with leaves of the common R. pontlcum for comparison. R. sinogrande is native to Yunnan, Upper Burma, southeastern Tibet. It was discovered and introduced by George Forrest in 1913. The photograph was taken during April in the border opposite Northcote House.

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Rhododendron Bow Bells which is the result of a cross between R. Corona and R. Williamsianum and was produced in 1934. The photograph was taken during May near the Reed Hall pond.

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Rhododendron Bric-a-Brac the product of a cross between R. leucaspis and R. moupinense raised by Lionel de Rothschild in 1934. Photograph taken during February on the Northcote house rockery.

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Azara lanceolata an evergreen shrub with scented flowers native to Chile. The photograph was taken during June.