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Where to go on a day off....?
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Message 1.Â
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Thursday, 2nd September 2010
I've got a rare day off with my OH next Friday and want to go garden visiting. I was going to go to Hidcote and Kiftsgate which are a few miles apart in Gloucestershire, and drop into Bob Brown's nursery, Cottage Garden Plants at some point too. But both Hidcote and Kiftsgate are closed on Fridays
So, any suggestions for a good garden & nursery visiting day out, no more than 3 hours from north Cheshire (M6/M56 interchange). Changing the day isn't an option, I'm afraid, but we can stay somewhere overnight on Thursday to make the most of the day. Got to be back Friday night. -
Message 2
Posted by Berghill (U2333373) on Friday, 3rd September 2010
We went to Bob Browns a few weeks back and I have to say that it has deteriorated dreadfully since last year. Poor plants, in poor condition and a much smaller selection than before.
Have you ever been to Powys Castle? then from there up to the Dingle Nursery and Garden and on to their other Garden Centre at Guilsford. I would say that was within your time scale. We used to manage it from Runcorn. If you have time you could always go home via Morrey's in Kelsall too. -
Message 3
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Friday, 3rd September 2010
Have you thought of Batsford Arboretum? It might inpsire you to adding a range of trees to your nursery....... It certainly turned me on to Japanese acers about 30 years ago.
There are more gardens in the area here -
Or how about going east and giving RHS Harlow Carr a thorough visit? The perennial beds are a joy and they have loads of new features since I visited it after seeing you at Tatton in 2007. There must be other gardens and nurseries nearby. -
Message 4
Posted by Palaisglide (U3102587) on Friday, 3rd September 2010
Trillium,
I was going to give you Harlow Carr but Obi got in first.
There are a lot of events going on there in September including "how does your garden sound" something we never think about although there is constant sound while we work in the garden.
One day will not be enough, you will need to go back season by season and a nice stay in or around Harrowgate with possibly a call into Betty's for cake and Earl Grey yum.
You will not have time for other gardens, you will not want to leave Harlow, what ever you choose to do enjoy it, I do know you work hard so relax for once and go with the flow.
Frank. -
Message 5
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Friday, 3rd September 2010
Yep! Jump on the M6 and head south, Trillium. You could do all these on the same day.
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Message 6
Posted by Pete-Free (U7363826) on Friday, 3rd September 2010
Hello Trillium
If you want to stick with the Cotswold theme there are three good gardens in close proximity near Moreton-in- Marsh:
Sezincote -
Bourton House -
Mill Dene Garden -
Batsford very close too, plus Snowshill Manor, National Trust. All open on Fridays.
Otherwise you can't beat Coton Manor which has a nursery too, just off Junction 18 of the M1 between Leicester and Northampton. A glorious place. -
Message 7
Posted by tattiebogle (U11728394) on Friday, 3rd September 2010
Have you been to the Garden Organic gardens at Ryton? Very interesting although not a whole day out.
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Message 8
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Friday, 3rd September 2010
Thanks for all your suggestions.
I'm planning to go to Harlow Carr for the Northern Boarders day on on the 25th Sep (see thread on this board - I'll ping it).
Powys + Dingle is tempting. I thought of Bodnant + Crug this afternoon which is in a similar vein.
Thanks for the Cotswold tips - not heard of any of them. Batsford sounds superb as does Coton Manor. Might go to Ryton on my own rather than drag the OH around!
I've been to Dorothy Clive, Trentham and Stapeley in recent years but will check the others.
I'll do some research over the weekend.
By way of an update, we had a lovely day out at Woolerton Old Hall this afternoon - I've had this one in my sights for a couple of years. Intensively planted, exquisitely laid out garden, full from edge to edge with colour and scent. Really lovely.
Went from there to Hillview Hardy Plants. Found some little gems, but nursery in poor order really - astonishing amounts of liverwort and weed. Interesting collection though. Don't know why they bother opening to the public - we were their only visitors all day. Best stick to mail order and shows, methinks.
By way of complete contrast we tripped over to Ashwood's Nursery south of Wolverhampton. At first sight disconcertingly garden-centre-ish. But the quality of the plants and presentation is first class and the range is just superb. Clearly a great plantsman's nursery, notwithstanding the plastic sheep and painted toadstools... -
Message 9
Posted by Paul N (U6451125) on Friday, 3rd September 2010
Yesterday we visited the Museum of Garden History in Lambeth and the Chelsea Physic Garden. Superb.
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Message 10
Posted by Berghill (U2333373) on Saturday, 4th September 2010
"Went from there to Hillview Hardy Plants. Found some little gems, but nursery in poor order really - astonishing amounts of liverwort and weed. Interesting collection though. Don't know why they bother opening to the public - we were their only visitors all day. Best stick to mail order and shows, methinks."
Check your plants for root aphids, the Auriculas we bought from them were riddled. I will never go back there as they could not even bother to answer an Email about the porblem.
We enjoyed Crug Farm, but the prices..............phew!
Shows how different opinions are. We have been to Wollerton a couple of times and while I agree about the plamting , we both (and friends) found it rather closed in and claustrophobic. Also seems odd to have a garden which one cannot see from the house.
Agree about Ashwoods, but again their prices are rather steep (to us poor pensioners at least).
If you do go to Bodnant, make sure you call in at Aberconwy Nursery (Keith Lever). Gentians to make you weep with joy. -
Message 11
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Saturday, 4th September 2010
Berghill.
Re Wollerton - I agree with you. Right now the colours and intensity of planting are stunning, but I found myself turning a corner and longing for some open space. Yes, claustrophic in places. Fortunately it was quite quiet, but the paths are narrow - tricky to pass a couple coming the other way. But so beautifully planted and so superbly well maintained that I thought I would quietly ignore my reservations.
Got some ideas for our place though - and permission/encouragement from the boss!
Will indeed check the auriculas - we bought a couple. -
Message 12
Posted by PenylanSue (U13901201) on Saturday, 4th September 2010
Hi Trillium, you may have been to Trentham recently but as an ex Stokey I can honestly say that I've never seen it looking as good as it does now that the refurbishment has matured. I've been 4 times since last October. Plenty of open spaces too.
I must also recommend Powis Castle especially at this time of the year and the nearby Dingle nursery and garden. This is a little family run place and admission to the garden is free to RHS members. They have a little room where you can look at the reference books and get a coffee for free! My car turns off to the Dingle automatically on my way home from Welshpool (so my husband says) as it's my nearest place.
The sister garden centre nearby is absolutely charming and has a cafe and farm shop too. The staff are very friendly and helpfull too. I was there on thursday and part was fenced off so I'm looking forward to the new developments.
Sue -
Message 13
Posted by little-ann (U12937473) on Saturday, 4th September 2010
hi trillium why not head north, Holehird Gardens near Windermere, Levens Hall Gardens and Holker Hall Gardens are all well worth a visit and not so far from you, the cafe at holker is V good
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Message 14
Posted by Margi (U2334861) on Thursday, 9th September 2010
And the winner is...?
Margi x -
Message 15
Posted by Twiggy (U3854938) on Thursday, 9th September 2010
Happy Birthday for tomorrow Trillium. Hope you have a good day out with OH.
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Message 16
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Friday, 10th September 2010
Powis and Dingle were the official winners, but the forecast for Wales and the borders was poor, and we sort of got delayed leaving, so we changed our minds as we left and went to Bodnant and Crug as it's just over an hour away along the coast.
Really impressed with Bodnant - superb, long established structure, rare trees/shrubs etc, but also loads of obviously fairly new, excellent perennial planting and mostly labelled. Beautiful views too. Got away without a spot of rain, though the hills looked black. Didn't see it all in three hours so we'll go back.
Over to Crug - felt quite disoriented at first as almost every plant looked a little bit familiar, but wasn't what I thought it was. But got my eye in a bit after a while. Bought a few things (treated for my birthday), notably a Hydrangea aspera 'Kawakamii' - miles better than the usual coarse thing - with huge flat lavender flower heads and soft pink bracts around it, and Beesia calthifolia - lovely glossy ground cover. Loads of plants I've never heard of or seen before. Could have spent a small fortune, but want to test things out here a couple at a time. Sue (owner) was really helpful.
So, a great day out, no rain at all, got back and the new plugs which arrived on the nursery this morning to grow on for next spring had all been potted up and put in the tunnels. (We do buy in what we can't propagate, as small as we can find) So, a good day all round.... -
Message 17
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Saturday, 11th September 2010
It sounds like an excellent day indeed. I don't suppose you have photos of Bodnant? I can't see me getting there any time soon but would love to see it one day.
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Message 18
Posted by Berghill (U2333373) on Saturday, 11th September 2010
You would have got very wet at Powys and the Dingle, it rained virtually all day Friday.
Glad you enjoyed Bodnant, We go about every month it is open and there is always something different to see. -
Message 19
Posted by jo4eyes (U13654107) on Saturday, 11th September 2010
Glad that you had a good birthday out Trillium. I too love Bodnant, but havent actually been this year! J.
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Message 20
Posted by PenylanSue (U13901201) on Saturday, 11th September 2010
Hi Trillium, glad you enjoyed your day out. I loe both the places you went to. I bought a Beesia last time too. A good friend of mine in the Hardy Plant Soc who buys a lot from Crug suggests though that instead of planting straight into the garden to wean them from the very peaty, barky, compost that Crug use by putting them into a barky, peaty nursery bed for a while first. I followed his advice last year having lost something I planted straight into the garden here which is heavy clay and the plants came through last winter really well and have increased well in size. I did this with the Beesia and it's much bigger this year and will be planted into my new shade bed next spring.
You have to be patient with gardening, don't you?
Enjoy Harlow Carr. It's too far for me for a day out.
Sue
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