Winterthur is the legacy of Henry Francis du Pont, 1880-1969, American

 

 

2013-2020

 

At Winterthur deciduous azaleas are planted in their own concentration of the greatest beauty. 

 

These plantings are separated by steps from the flowering quince: among the earliest bushes to flower.

 

 

 

You feel like the ruler of this world descending these steps in May; looking to the right and left at the floral profusion and order. 

As though you had created and ordered this loveliness.

 

 

At the back and above, there are fir trees  from which a soft jigsaw of pastel colours are visible below in May.

 

 

 

A Faber fir tree grows up a short embankment behind and above these azaleas

 

 

 

On another side are white azaleas

 

 

 

at least 12 stamens so this may not be an azalea but a rhododendron

 

 

which form a ring

 

 

 

 

 

on the approach to a magnificent blue atlas cedar

 

 

 

 

 

 

some of whose giant boughs incline slightly upwards from the parallel. Some curve towards the ground.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Through the gap between these boughs in May a glimpse of an entire conclave of azaleas of the loveliest colours. 

 

 

 

 

 

Hybrid azaleas.  Considered native. (I think but am not sure.)

 

Flowers lighter on the bush and bushes lighter on the ground than Kurume azaleas.  Nothing massed about these plantings. 

 

A tenacious fragility about them because they are perennial.

 

 

 

 

 

Fortunate to come upon this conclave when you did not know of its existence makes you very fortunate! 

 

 

 

 

 

You can be happy here.

 

 

 

 

 

The upper boughs of green-blue-grey of the blue atlas cedar  point the way. 

 

 

 

a Spanish bluebell at front

Rain has been through

Spanish bluebells are planted among the azaleas