the gardens at Highgrove were wonderful. All sorts of different rooms, full of trees and flowers in blossom. We didn't see all of them - apparently the Islamic garden doesn't open till after Chelsea.There was one called the stumpery, full of arches and arbours made from dead wood. Lots with angular topiary (one yew looking like Chrsitmas pudding with holly on top). . Some others very natural, full of winding paths and wildflowers. Lots of food growing - apparently he gave Zara and her man three trays of cauliflowers for their wedding. And lots of heritage apples growing, though they're not quite sure what they all are as nobody every wrote it down properly. He's doing a great job with it all.
Only 6 of us on our tour. The guide said they don't fill up until May; the usual is 20 people or so. It was a nice warm day, some sun, so good for walking round gardens.
Apparently it's not all plain sailing. The ground elder drives them nuts and every so often they have to dig up whole gardens and start again, but it never goes away. Tulips won't grow, the southern hemisphere tree ferns have mostly been killed off by frosty winters, and bunnies keep eating everything.