WITH CAMELLIAS, rhododendrons, magnolias and spring flowers at their best, the Cox family of Glendoick and their staff are hoping that the weekend weather is not as bad as forecast.

Glendoick Gardens is to open to the public from Monday to Friday each week until June 10.

In addition, under Scotland’s Garden Scheme, the gardens will be open on Sunday, May 1, and Sunday, May 15, with donations going to the Garden Scheme Charities and WWF.

This year’s April opening will enable the public to see some of the earlier blooming shrubs, many of which were past their best when the gardens opened only in May.

Many of these are plants collected by three generations of Coxes in botanical expeditions to the Himalayas and China, as well as other plants from as far afield as Tasmania, Chile and Tibet.

As well as some rhododendrons collected early last century and which have thrived in the Perthshire climate, numerous hybrids have developed over the years in the various gardens around the house and in the more wild setting of The Den.