I visited Harlow Carr Gardens with the family and have written a general review “here.”:http://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/review/attraction/204553-review-rhs-garden-harlow-carr
I came back with loads of pictures – too many to include in one review, so have decided to write more detailed reviews of the different parts of the garden with more pictures. This covers the wild flower meadows.
These are mainly found beyond the arboretum and the northern end of the garden . Open areas between the trees have been seeded with wild flower seeds. This includes the semi parasitic yellow rattle. As well as being an attractive plant, it attacks grass roots, weakening the grass plants and allowing the wild flowers to flourish.
The meadows are cut in August and the grass left of a few days to allow any remaining wild flower seeds to fall.
The wild flower meadows are at their best earlier in the summer. By the end of July, the yellow rattle was past its best but there were knapweeds and cranesbills still in flower.
At the opposite end of the gardens, above the lake is South Field. The soil here is poorer and slightly more acid which encourages the growth of ranker vegetation. The area has been planted to attract bees, butterflies and hovering insects along with voles and mice.
