2011 Open days at Four Seasons

Wow....I don't even have words to describe these photo's.....stunning! I wish I lived closer to the West Midlands! :-)

Your garden is well worth a visit - the pictures of it are absolutely super - I just wished I lived a bit nearer so that I could come.

I agree with Sunrose. The pictures are fantastic

and me..the colour is awesome. hope the sun shines for you..:-)

Thanks for your kind comments. This winter was particularly harsh - plants that had survived the winter of 2009/10 were cut back completely this winter. Cordylines cut back last year were making valiant efforts to reshoot from the base, but these leaves are now brown. Five Flax have also gone. Most devastating is that we think we have lost four tree ferns - one was 8 foot high - despite wrapping the tops with fleece and inverting dustbins over them. The large group of bananas has been cut to the ground, but should reshoot.

I went on the Met Office website and wasn't encouraged by their forecasts - because of a variety of factors, there is no guarantee that these winters won't continue for a while longer. The dilemma is whether to replace these key plants with similar or to be more cautious. Many of the plants were in a prime position so they will be sorely missed.

Looking on the bright side - it is a chance to review the garden. A few of the camellias have lost most of their buds so we have taken the opportunity to give them an early and significant prune since they were getting very lanky. We are usually so busy with other things when they have finished flowering that they escape for another year.

Overall, we still have lots of plants and the bamboo and conifers have been green all winter. The azaleas seem to have escaped damage and as long as we don't have severe late frosts the acers should be stunning for the open days in May.

It's also an opportunity for a bit of 'retail therapy' at the garden centres!!

Oh yes 'retail therapy' at the GC is a big bonus that comes with losing plants. Each loss is an opportunity but what a shame you've lost so many important plants. As you say, the forecast for future winters is a bit gloomy and just when we had been lulled into thinking we could grow less hardy plants. Oh well, that's gardening !
I too wish you were nearer so I could see your wonderful garden. Good luck with the Open Days.

wow wow wow ................. i wud love to visit also ........... will have to persuade the o.h stuning ............

I have to say your garden is absolutely stunning and something to really aspire to. I have only just stumbled upon the site and your blog whilst researching oriental gazebos, it turns out that it is the same one that I have recently purchased and erected but I am really disappointed with the quality of it, so much so that I am contemplating taking it down and building my own as I feel I could make a much better job of it! However I now feel that some good has come out of it as I have found your magnificent garden and will hopefully make the trek from Kent on one of your open days to visit.

Do we need to pre book or just turn up?

Thanks for providing pictures of a wonderful garden.

Alan

Alan
Thanks for your kind comments about our garden. The open days are for anyone - just turn up. Directions can be obtained from our website address, which is included in the blog above.

Sorry you haven't been satisfied with the oriental pagoda. It is an impressive structure and we use it as a focal point and also as welcome shade when the sun shines.

Arriving in 175 pieces, initially without inventory, instructions or screws, was a challenge! We put 6 coats of varnish (3 base coats and 3 top coats) whilst we waited for planning permission to be granted and the screws to arrive! We live in a conservation area and the height was half a metre too tall to erect with out planning consent!

It was a bit of a headache putting it together and we should have been more exact with positioning the floor because any small mismatch at the base was maximised when we got to the roof. However, we don't notice the imperfection now and it isn't designed to be waterproof.

If you do get to visit us - please make yourself known to us.

Regards
Marie and Tony