As spring arrives PAT HOLT visits some gardens to look at the variety of colours on offer to the gardener

CARPETS of spring flowers and delicate cherry blossom will greet those who go out to visit the Hampshire gardens which are open to the public this weekend.

The pictures show the garden of Mylor Cottage in Droxford, which is opening for charity tomorrow afternoon (Sunday, April 7) through the National Gardens Scheme.

This pretty garden is already full of colour, with masses of spring bulbs and sheets of blue-mauve anemone blanda, a delicate, shade-loving plant which flourishes beneath the trees.

Mylor Cottage is the home of Dr Martin Constant and his wife Bridget, who have spent the past 31 years developing and improving both the house and the garden.

The chalky soil clearly suits bulbs, hellebores, primroses - and the anemones.

Dr Constant said: "This planting was inspired by Frederick Sterk's garden at Highdown, near Worthing. The anemones have naturalised and are spreading happily.

"There are foliage beds with pasque flowers and hellebores and some rare shrubs. A winter bed is still full of colour and apple and cherry trees should be in bloom on April 7.

"The borders will be bursting with growth and there will be cowslips in the field.

"And don't forget, there will be teas for sale, with mouthwatering cakes!"

Dr and Mrs Constant hope that visitors will also return in June (dates below), when they will be opening their grounds again in partnership with another Droxford garden, at the Walled House.

Both these gardens were once part of the old estate of Midlington House, and they are known as the Midlington Gardens.

In June, Mylor Cottage is famed for its roses and for its innumerable wild flowers, including bee and pyramid orchids.

The garden of the Walled House, which is opening for the first time in June this year, is a three-quarter- acre walled garden which has been created in the past four years.

It has roses, unusual shrubs, climbers (including clematis) and beautiful views. Opening to the public tomorrow afternoon in aid of the Red Cross are three gardens in the village of Crawley, near Winchester.

Manor Lodge, Glebe House and Paige Cottage all have lots of spring bulbs and fruit blossom - details on opposite page.

Also well worth a visit tomorrow afternoon is the garden of Abbey Cottage at Itchen Abbas, near Winchester, which is opening through the National Gardens Scheme.

This is a fascinating one-and-a-half-acre garden on a sloping site, which is maintained organically by its owner, Colonel Patrick Daniell.

Box, beech and yew have been used to create a complex of hedges which divide the garden into

various distinct areas. It has a wide range of shrubs and herbaceous plants, which provide interest every month of the year.

SPRING FLOWER GARDENS:

Mylor Cottage, Droxford is open from 2pm-5pm tomorrow. Droxford is on the A32 between Alton and Fareham. From the centre of Droxford, take the Swanmore Road and you will see the house on the left after a third of a mile. Look out for yellow National Gardens Scheme signs. Tel: 01489 877462.

The Midlington Gardens (at Mylor Cottage and the Walled House) are opening to the public through the NGS on Sunday, June 9; Monday, June 10 and Wednesday, June 12, 2pm-6pm.

Three gardens in the village of Crawley are opening to the public from 2pm-5.30pm tomorrow. The gardens of Manor Lodge, Glebe House and Paige Cottage are all near the pond in the centre of the village. Crawley is five miles north-west of Winchester and is signposted from the A272.

Abbey Cottage is at Rectory Lane, one mile east of Itchen Abbas on the B3047. The garden is open from 2pm. Look out for yellow NGS signs. Tel: 01962 779575.