Springtime at Felley Priory Gardens

I've been to Felley a couple of times before but always at bluebell time when the wood in the distance is carpeted with their blue flowers. 

This time (using my RHS partner gardens pass) I decided to go a little earlier in Spring.

It's a remarkably peaceful oasis in an area of quite high density housing, and on such a warm Spring day it was lovely to just sit and relax, and take in the view.

The stars of the garden at this point were the magnolias, just coming into flower in every shade from white to deep pink, and looking glorious against the clear blue sky.

Wander through a gateway, and there's something new to be seen - formal beds of tulips waiting to flower, drifts of daffodils in the orchard, a mix of familiar and rarer springtime bulbs, topiary birds, scented shrubs.