The British Red Cross starts its open gardens season in Gloucestershire this week with The Old Rectory in Quenington.
Set on the banks of the River Coln, the garden of nearly five acres has herbaceous borders, a bog garden, sculptures and lovely views across countryside.
It is open on Sunday April 3 from 2-5pm. Admission is £4, children under 12 enter free.
Last year, the British Red Cross raised £220,000 nationally through its open gardens events and this season sees a wide range of gardens opening.
More water will feature on April 10 when Mill Dene at Blockley opens. The two-acre garden has a mill pond, herb garden and woodland.
On June 12, a collection of pretty village gardens will open in Nympsfield with cottage-style planting and vegetables.
Rockcliffe, Upper Slaughter, which opens on June 15, has colour-themed borders, a rose terrace, walled kitchen garden and an orchard.
June 26 sees two events for the British Red Cross open gardens scheme. Ashley and Culkerton Village Gardens has four varied plots: Ashley Grange, with peonies and iris borders a particular feature; Ashley Manor Barn, where the garden is divided by pleached hedges with mixed borders; The Ox Barn, Culkerton, which includes an orchard and traditional vegetable garden; and Dillycot, Culkerton, a wildlife friendly plot with roses and flowers grown for cutting.
Also opening on June 26 is Sezincote, near Moreton-in-March. The gardens, which surround an Indian-style house, include stream-side planting and a Persian garden of paradise.
The final event of the season in Gloucestershire is on July 24 when Hilles House near Painswick opens. An Arts and Crafts garden, it has memorable views across the Severn Vale.
• For more information and details of other UK gardens open for the British Red Cross, visit http://www.redcross.org.uk/OpenGardens