You enter this magical place by strolling along the winding woodland path under giant rhododendrons, many of which are now over seventy years old. In the woodland as well as a wide range of rhododendrons and azaleas you will find other trees and shrubs such as the beautiful red flowered Ribes sangunium ‘King Edward', Daphne Odora and the Japanese umbrella pine. (Sciadopitys verticillata). In this naturalistic layered planting, the woodland floor features an under planting of woodland treasures emerging from a wonderful tapestry of groundcovers including Erythoniums, hardy cyclamens, primrose, pulmnarias and epimediums.
There is also a planting of the hardy impatiens (Impatiens omeiana from Japan's Mt.Omei) with its dark green velvety leaves featuring a distinctive wide white stripe.
Contrasting with the dainty foliage of the native bleeding heart are the giant glossy leaves of Cardiocrinum gigantium lilly from the Himalayas which will hold its large fragrant white trumpet flowers, followed by exotic sculpted seedpods, on stalks over six feet high.
By the Himalayan blue poppy (Meconopsis betonicifolia) and hybrid hellebores there is the golden variegated grass Molinia caerulea varigata combined with the young bronze foliage of one of the peonies. The acid yellow of Milium effusum aureum (Golden Wood Millet) contrasts with the blue-green foliage of the peony molly the witch (mlokosewitschii), which will later in the spring have single yellow blooms.
Pass through a narrow passageway by the majestic Spanish fir Abies pinsapo which seems to be embracing the rock and come unexpectedly out into a flowing lawn, defined by a swath of heathers, under the canopy of ancient Garry Oaks, leading up to a garden house. It is in this house that Prince and Princess Abkhazi found shelter when they commuted daily to develop the garden before their home was built.
Walk up the original path and look on your right at the magnificent rock outcropping with its weeping conifers that have been carefully pruned and trained over the years. There is the extensive collection of shrubs, including Japanese maples, as well as rock and alpine plants.