A kaleidoscope of colour is set to bloom in a spectacular garden show.
Dyrham Park, the National Trust property near Bath, will once again erupt in a riot of colour for its annual Tulip Mania festival, which runs from Monday, April 13 to Monday, May 4.
Now in its third year, the spring celebration features more than 15,000 tulips planted throughout the historic gardens in the long avenue beds, courtyard pots, the parterre, and the orchard.
Rachel Beaumont, senior visitor experience officer at Dyrham Park, said: “Tulip mania will be better than ever this year, with the exciting addition of seven local artists showing their amazing creations.
“Turning into the Avenue or entering the orchard during tulip season is absolutely magical and literally takes your breath away.”
Gardener maintaining the tulip display in the garden at Dyrham Park, South Gloucestershire (Image: James Beck)
Each weekday of the festival, visitors can join guided garden walks without prior booking, take part in a watercolour workshop, or attend talks on Delftware in the house.
A plant fayre will also take place at the visitor reception from April 24 to 26.
Tulips hold special significance at Dyrham Park due to the estate’s historic links with the Netherlands.
William Blathwayt, the 17th-century civil servant who created the house, began his career in The Hague—developing a lifelong passion for Dutch art and blue-and-white Delftware.
Miss Beaumont said: “As well as the stunning displays and art, there will be walks and talks, a plant fayre and Delftware in the house, so you’ll definitely come away with a deeper knowledge of the tulip.
“Tulips have always been popular at Dyrham but this is the third year of running tulip mania to help create a really thorough and enjoyable tulip experience for our spring visitors.”
To celebrate the legacy, Dyrham’s gardeners planted more than 15,000 bulbs imported from Holland in December, carefully selecting varieties with evocative names such as ‘Yellow Pomponette’, ‘Maureen’, ‘Purple Dream’, ‘Purissima’, ‘Madame Lefeber’, ‘Ronaldo’, and ‘Queen of the Night’.
Visitors can expect to see tulips throughout the estate, including in Sphynx Court and Fountain Court, where a special timeline display will trace the flower’s journey from its origins in Asia to the modern day.
Stable Court will feature a “living library” of potted, labelled tulips.
The parterre garden will showcase a striking black-and-white tulip scheme designed to complement the formal layout.
Inside the house, fresh and fabric tulips in blue-and-white vases will be on display, alongside 17th-century varietals depicted in paintings by artists such as Cornelius de Heem.
The Great Hall will host a Delftware exhibition, with volunteers offering talks on the house’s Dutch-themed artefacts.
Elsewhere, visitors can spot embroidery, giant paper tulips, and other tulip-themed artwork.
Art is also in focus this year, with seven local artists exhibiting tulip-inspired pieces in the house’s Slop’t Parlour.
Works will include oils, watercolours, cyanotypes, prints, giclée, and textiles—all available for purchase.
Dyrham Park is currently undergoing a garden transformation to reflect a 1712 engraving by Johannes Kip, taking inspiration from sites like Versailles and Het Loo.
Tulip-themed books, postcards, plants, prints, and bespoke Dyrham Park tulip pin badges will be available at the shop.
Dyrham Park is open daily from 10am to 5pm, with last entry at 4pm.
More information can be found at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/DyrhamPark.
