Through all these cheerless covid months and ghastly weather, the snowdrops have been silently pushing up through the cold, sodden ground. Their delicate flowers, surely could not be more welcome. Restrictions have forced the abandonment of the National Garden Scheme Snowdrop Festival however, some gates of a smattering of gardens will be open across the … Continue reading Snowdrops
Garden visiting
Thralling Thenford
Last month I was delighted to be able to visit Thenford, Northamptonshire on one of its open days. A very private and expansive garden it is the stately home of Lord and Lady Heseltine who acquired it in 1976. As we swept through the imposing gates we had no idea what to expect, other than … Continue reading Thralling Thenford
Charismatic Kiftsgate Court
Kiftsgate is a garden that has been on my list for some years, and, staying in Oxfordshire recently we chanced the weather and caught one of the last days of opening for the year. Many of you may already know this famous garden and if you don't I encourage you to look at its very … Continue reading Charismatic Kiftsgate Court
Paget House, an inspired modern design, near Saxmundham, Suffolk
Last Saturday I combined calling in on my cousin with a visit to an intriguing garden open for the National Garden Scheme. Entrance was by slipping through the back gate into an informal area, and for a moment I wondered if I had come the right way. The plan eased my mind and was a … Continue reading Paget House, an inspired modern design, near Saxmundham, Suffolk
Furzelea, a fantastic fusion of flora.
It is always a delight to find a garden gate open for the National Garden Scheme on a Wednesday. So on my way to pick up some items for my own garden from Lime Avenue Antiques https://limeavenueantiques.co.uk/ I called into Furzelea at Danbury near Chelmsford in Essex. As I entered the enforced one way system … Continue reading Furzelea, a fantastic fusion of flora.
38 Chapel Street, Ely
Hurrah, the National Garden Scheme has begun to open some of its gardens. The system has changed a little and I had to go the website to pre-book my ticket online beforehand, which was perfectly easy and I found a small garden in Ely. It is such a long time since I have been anywhere … Continue reading 38 Chapel Street, Ely
The Garden Gate is Open at Tudor Lodgings.
There are an incredible 340 gardens open for the National Garden Scheme during August. Sadly I have been unable to visit any so far partly because I am busy with my own garden being one of the 340, added to which my 'under-gardener' had an unfortunate accident resulting in him being confined to crutches and … Continue reading The Garden Gate is Open at Tudor Lodgings.
Batteleys Cottage; ponds, paths and plenty of places to sit.
It is a glorious time of year for garden visiting, however I fear many of us this afternoon will be staying at home to watch the Wimbledon finals. So I am going to take you around Batteleys Cottage Garden which I very much enjoyed last Sunday when it was open for the National Garden Scheme. … Continue reading Batteleys Cottage; ponds, paths and plenty of places to sit.
The Stuart-Smith trilogy
Thursday 13th June was an exceedingly wet day. This neither deterred nor detracted from a delightful day tour of three gardens in the village of Bedmond in Hertfordshire, owned by various members of the Stuart-Smith family and organised by James Bolton of Border Lines http://border-lines.co.uk/ We began the day at The Barn, Serge Hill, the … Continue reading The Stuart-Smith trilogy
Why run a marathon when you can visit a garden?
Last Sunday the sun came out, the sky was blue, and it was a perfect day for the Halstead Marathon in Essex. No, no don't be silly I wasn't the runner, that was my daughter. I would rather visit a garden any day so I waved her off at the start and nipped off to … Continue reading Why run a marathon when you can visit a garden?
