Recommend Gooderstone Water gardens near Swaffham. A peaceful couple of hours spent there. Several small lakes, lovely planting. Also West Acre walled garden is a real hidden gem. Also a garden centre but not at all busy. Good selection of very good value plants. Photo is of water gardens
Oh, that's such a shame, we went through Swaffham recently on our Norfolk holiday but didn't know that garden existed. Actually we might not have wanted to go there again as we had to queue (very slowly!) right through it due to road works.
Love the apartment @Ben Cotto - and the views are to die for.
The Super Bloom is a great idea. I hope other sites take up the idea. Was it abuzz with insects? @BenCotto It's a great way to attract tourists to an area, if that is what they want - as with various plant mazes... A lavender maze might be an interesting idea.
Visited the National Botanic Garden in Wales a little outside Carmarthen while staying with my father in law in Cardiganshire. My photography skills are nothing to write home about ( so all i took were general shots) but I really enjoyed it. It hasn't been as warm there as London, so things looked less brown than in the parks around here. The walled gardens and the "grow your own" garden were particular favourites , and the Norman Foster glasshouse was remarkable (to me) in being able to maintain fairly diverse temperatures and humidity levels in one large open multilevel space. Interesting sculpture from a mix of organic and inorganic materials dotted around too. I also liked ( not that we were able to utilise the facility) that the ticket lets you return for no charge for the following 6 days - I would think this is useful especially for a family ticket during the summer vacations.
Walked through St John's lodge garden today ( in Regent's Park) and was really taken by this circular bed. Glorious flowers ( petunias , antirrhinums, cosmos, rudbeckia among others) and interesting foliage colours and forms.
I love that 'secret' garden in Regent's Park - I've got so many photos of that bed at different times of year. My favourite part is the path into the garden.
Good to hear a bit about the National Botanic Gardens of Wales - I hope to go there before or after visiting my daughter, one day.
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
Been looking forward to the Buxton Garden Trail event so much since last year. This is an event where residents throughout the town open up their gardens, serve tea & cake etc. all for a charitable cause (this year Dementia Carers Count). The gardens vary from Park homes, through terraced cottages and upto palatial Victorian detached houses but all take their gardens seriously and are proud to show them off.
The weather today was mixed and brollies were often required but what a really enjoyable, if tiring, day. Buxton is a hilly place but the panoramic views from some of the gardens offered plenty of reward for our efforts. One very unassuming (from the front) terraced cottage owned by an artist had been totally remodelled at the back and offered absolutely stunning views across the lovely sloping garden, across the town and to the hills miles beyond. This park home on the site of an old quarry is an absolute delight. They have created a secluded little enclave at the rear of the house set into the steep quarry face, guarded with rock-filled steel gabions. Walking around the side of the chalet-type structure you have no idea such a gorgeous garden could be behind it.
Before:
And now:
All gardens are open again tomorrow (we'll be going again to 'mop-up' the ones we missed today) but it's honestly worth the effort if you're nearby and can spare the time. Tickets are available from the tourist office opposite the newly refurbished Crescent. Make sure you see gardens 19, 21 & 28
Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
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Love the apartment @Ben Cotto - and the views are to die for.
Walked through St John's lodge garden today ( in Regent's Park) and was really taken by this circular bed. Glorious flowers ( petunias , antirrhinums, cosmos, rudbeckia among others) and interesting foliage colours and forms.
Good to hear a bit about the National Botanic Gardens of Wales - I hope to go there before or after visiting my daughter, one day.
The weather today was mixed and brollies were often required but what a really enjoyable, if tiring, day. Buxton is a hilly place but the panoramic views from some of the gardens offered plenty of reward for our efforts. One very unassuming (from the front) terraced cottage owned by an artist had been totally remodelled at the back and offered absolutely stunning views across the lovely sloping garden, across the town and to the hills miles beyond. This park home on the site of an old quarry is an absolute delight. They have created a secluded little enclave at the rear of the house set into the steep quarry face, guarded with rock-filled steel gabions. Walking around the side of the chalet-type structure you have no idea such a gorgeous garden could be behind it.
Before:
And now:
All gardens are open again tomorrow (we'll be going again to 'mop-up' the ones we missed today) but it's honestly worth the effort if you're nearby and can spare the time. Tickets are available from the tourist office opposite the newly refurbished Crescent. Make sure you see gardens 19, 21 & 28
I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful