If you're coming from Texas then you should make the effort to get out of London and see Great Dixter and Sissinghurst - two of the best gardens in the world at perhaps the best time of year. As @chicky says the chelsea physic garden is within walking distance of the showground. Kew is a taxi ride and you won't need a guide. Good solid advice !
If you get a pump, a pond liner and some big rocks, you can make a stream any shape you like. I think your first pic looks a bit more 'English garden' of the two.
Have a Google for the water features and streams at Chatsworth - they have all the bases covered from wild all the way to high formal and most things in between. It's not a garden you'll find it easy to get to on your trip - wrong end of the country - but it's got to be one of the most photographed gardens in the UK, so you'll find loads of pictures.
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Seems strange welcoming a fellow Texan on a British gardening forum, but nonetheless, welcome, neighbor! Lots of great gardeners and gardening experience here. I learn something new every single visit. What part of the Lone Star State are you in? I'm in Temple just north of Austin. If you're wanting to attract proven winners in Texas scorching summers you're going to want to plant some red Turk's Cap and Lantana for sure. Mind you, hummers pretty much like all red and orange blooming flowers, but in my yard, it's the Turk's Cap rule and I see hummers on it every afternoon (until October). They are both native plants that keep on giving effortless garden pleasure year after year.
Some other great butterfly and hummer attractors are Bee Balm, Butterfly Bushes and Pentas. Verbena will also do the job, but Verbena just hates me. I have failed at keeping the stuff alive in the summer heat far more times than I care to own up to. Carolina Jasmine or one of the white varieties will draw bees and butterflies.
Since you have a sprawling place there in your photos, you might also consider some type of honeysuckle around the perimeter where it's proclivity to sprawl won't get in the way of more formal beds. Quite popular with pollinators.
Stick around here and you'll see some of the loveliest, healthiest plants and British gardens I've ever seen. We did a 6-weeks driving tour of the Isles back in 1980, but I saw nothing to beat what some of the gardeners right here have posted.
Thank you for the advice. Im north of dallas near the red river. I will try planting all of those plants this spring. I hired a landscape architect but he mainly does the texas dry gardens like yucca and cactus and I haven't really followed his plans as much. I try to do cuttings and seeds as much as possible because of the cost. I planted a large area with wildflower seeds for only about 7 dollars last year. I do order trees from arborgen. They are about the size of cut roses in a box when they come in the mail. The trees are about a dollar a piece with minimum orders of about 60. I've planted about 200 so far and have about 200 on order. Ive been losing a lot of 100 year old post oaks this year. Have you lost any post oaks? I'm trying to replace them but am sad each time one of these big trees dies. I have on order maples, river birch, button Bush, bald cyprus,sycamore, and pecan. Vitex grows well hare as do figs.i planted pine trees and they are stunted. Do you have pictures?
...as you will be here for just a week.. I would advise that travelling around this country can be tedious and full of hassles... what you think might be a short journey can take all day.. and by next May we'll have more Extinction Rebellion demonstrations and anti-Brexit crowds determined to ruin everyone's daily lives as we go to and fro... ...I'm not sure if they would target the Chelsea Flower Show... but they could be nearby... ....with this in mind.. it's best to keep things simple and local... there are lots to see in London alone without going too far.. ..here are a few suggestions which I think you might like... and incidentally, those little streams running along are called Rills... I like them too.. I'm sure you could make one in your own garden.... they usually lead to a pond of some sort.. ...lots of water features here... http://chiswickhouseandgardens.org.uk/house-gardens/the-house/
...all these are easy enough if you are staying in central London... and along with Chelsea you won't have much time for anything else... but as already mentioned Kew Gardens should also be on your list as it's convenient on the tube train... ...best of luck and hope you take lots of photos of the plants.... roses especially welcome !...
Thank you for all your help! My favorite leader was Winston Churchill and he always said all will be well! Our geese are back from up north. I like having them but dont mind it when they leave either. I asked my friend if they were good to eat and he said they taste like calf liver so I guess they are safe from me.
In the words of the wartime poster "Keep calm and carry on", James All any of us can do is wait and see. I can appreciate your wife's concern, but let's be honest none of us know what will happen. I would have a look at your travel insurance and maybe contact your travel company to see what they have to say.
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Have a Google for the water features and streams at Chatsworth - they have all the bases covered from wild all the way to high formal and most things in between.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
...I'm not sure if they would target the Chelsea Flower Show... but they could be nearby...
....with this in mind.. it's best to keep things simple and local... there are lots to see in London alone without going too far..
..here are a few suggestions which I think you might like... and incidentally, those little streams running along are called Rills... I like them too.. I'm sure you could make one in your own garden.... they usually lead to a pond of some sort..
...lots of water features here...
http://chiswickhouseandgardens.org.uk/house-gardens/the-house/
...classic English gardens at Henry VIII's house... as well as the Heritage Rose Garden..
https://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace/whats-on/hampton-court-gardens/#gs.f5sy80
...Regent's Park Gardens are always worth a visit... Central London...
https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/the-regents-park/things-to-see-and-do/gardens-and-landscapes/queen-marys-gardens
..you might like this grand house and gardens too..
https://www.syonpark.co.uk/
...all these are easy enough if you are staying in central London... and along with Chelsea you won't have much time for anything else... but as already mentioned Kew Gardens should also be on your list as it's convenient on the tube train...
...best of luck and hope you take lots of photos of the plants.... roses especially welcome !...
All any of us can do is wait and see. I can appreciate your wife's concern, but let's be honest none of us know what will happen.
I would have a look at your travel insurance and maybe contact your travel company to see what they have to say.