In sympathy with the past and in a spirit of simplicity, William Christie has deliberately chosen to limit the palette of plant species, principally using those known to 17th century European gardeners - box, yew, hornbeam and lime being the main elements. A beautiful collection of citrus in pots augments these plants. In summer, exotics known and admired by Europeans, are also grown in pots. In the main these are succulents, agaves, etc., from the New World. Flowers play an important part but the choice is always informed by the gardens architecture. In spring, dozens of pots of tulips are placed throughout the garden. Thousands of white narcissi and tulips are planted at the foot of the trees in the Italian garden, in the 'boschetto', and in the new orchard. An impressive nut walk is carpeted in spring by anemones and several varieties of miniature daffodils. These spring bulbs give way in summer to pots of pelargoniums and beds of annuals. There is also a collection of old roses to admire, used mainly for clothing the walls of the central courtyard and the pergola.