In Yorkshire we are lucky to have several gardens designed using the theme of a Himalayan Garden. The Hut near Ripon at Grewlthorpe is   ‘The Himalayan Garden’ with all the plants you would expect in such a setting including

Rhododendrons both Hybrid and Species over 50 varieties
Evergreen and Deciduous Azaleas
Eucryphia varieties growing 10′ – 30′ as trees and large shrubs
Magnolias and Camellias
Cornus
Bamboo
Primulas and Meconopsis

Visit between April and June for the best colour display.

Harewood House near Leeds has a great deal on display through out the year including a large bird garden. Opened in 2009 by Alan Titchmarsh is The Harewood Himalayan Garden says Alan it is  ‘ a hidden gem and second to none in the UK. Tell your friends!’ With paths through a gorge and a bridge across the beck, this is somewhere for all garden-lovers to visit, with primulas, orchids, cobra lilies, blue poppies and more than 50 kinds of rhododendron. It is also home to the Harewood Stupa, a Buddhist monument built by monks from the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.

Parcevall Hall at Appletreewick has many plants and trees from the Himalayas and a new Himalayan walk is being constructed as you approach the gardens. The dales may be hilly but they aren’t quite Everest.

Tips for your Himalayan Garden at Home

• Get the right ph levels in your soil. Most Himalayan plants above need an  acid soil.
• In the mountains there must be lots of regular rain (that is true in Yorkshire) so you need  water retentive soil to help shallow rooted Rhododendrons develop buds for next year.
• Try get features in proportion, you can grow dwarf plants with  rocks in an alpine setting or slightly larger plants on as hillside. Fully grown plants may dwarf most gardens.
• You could theme your garden to another country or style. Himalayas are ‘in’ at the moment but Italian,  Japanese and Prairie gardens  have their moments.