Branklyn Garden putting on show for fans of the blues

The National Trust for Scotland’s Branklyn Garden in Perth will host its annual Meconopsis Day on Sunday for fans of the beautiful blue Himalayan poppy.

Branklyn Garden is famed for its collection of the exotic blooms and boasts five species and 25 cultivars on site.

Meconopsis, or blue poppies, originated in the high mountains of Tibet, south-west China, Bhutan, Sikkim, Burma, India and Nepal, and were brought back to Britain by plant hunters in the early 20th century.

Visitors to the garden on Sunday can enjoy a guided tour of the grounds with head gardener and horticultural expert Steve McNamara, beginning at 2pm.

He said, “We’ll have a great display of the ‘big blues’ on show on Meconopsis Day, as well as some interesting purple hues and white varieties too.

“This year, we have something additional to celebrate as it’s recently been confirmed that we will care for the national collection of the species a big honour for Branklyn.”

Branklyn is open daily from 10am to 5pm.