The magical Citadel garden in pics

Friday 16th May 2008, 9:00AM BST.

After the long cold spring the recent warm weather has caused an explosion of growth and our gardens have been transformed into their summer mode, writes Martin Ford.

Our deciduous trees and shrubs are now clothed with delicate young leaves in so many different shades and flower buds lying dormant for months have suddenly burst into bloom.

Citadel

This is the scene at the Citadel at Weston-under-Redcastle where Beverley and Sylvia Griffiths are opening their four-acre garden this Saturday for the Shropshire Historic Churches Trust and Sunday for the National Gardens Scheme.

The garden is set in mature woodland with fine specimen trees and underplanted with mature rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and maples.

The front of the house has fine views over the historic landscape park of Hawkstone with its many follies and monument. Behind the imposing castellated house is a patio area with beds of wallflowers and tulips.