Spring visit to Highdown Gardens

What a beautiful place. I love the irises, lovely strong colours.

Lovely blog Shirley. The plant is Clianthus puniceus. It was so intriguing I looked for it and found it on this link https://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/our-stories-your-councils/highdown-gardens/
Your photos are never boring. Thank you for letting us join you.

Lovely blog Shirley. It always amazes me just how summery gardens look in May down south. I mean, it is still spring, and yes! My last narcissus are still flowering! I do have one or two early rose blooms. I fear the garden owners are being very short-sighted about the children playing. Have they created an area where children ‘can’ play and climb a tree? Or are they just determined to put children off visiting altogether?

I think the answer is in the notice pleading with visitors to respect the historic and rare collection in this garden. Maybe sheets of questions with tips on where to find the answers would be appropriate. There is so much to learn eg colours for the under fives to country of origin for the older ones. Africa, India or Australia come to life and jump off the page if you can see what is growing there. It is rarely possible to grow trees quickly enough to allow them to be safe climbing frames. Maybe a commercial climbing frame with a slide would work. Add some cargo nets to climb on to allow kids to let off steam without damaging the plants. Place it beside a coffee shop so the kids can be supervised while parents drink coffee and pay to put something back to help maintain the grounds.

Some gorgeous blooms here, looks like a lovely place to visit.

Thanks everyone for reading this blog. If anyone would like to see more of the gardens, I have blogged about them a couple of times over the years. Just type in Highdown in the Google Custom search box at the top right of the screen.

Scotsgran, many thanks for that link. I had no idea about the info. and the blog so am happy you found it! The Clianthus certainly is a little bit unusual.

Karen, I have to say that many, many gardens around here are looking wonderful in May, long may it continue!

We do tend to visit places during the week, leaving the weekends to those who work all week, unlike us retirees ,so it came as a surprise to hear the toddlers shouting. The gardens are usually such a peaceful place to visit, I really don't know what the answer is to this issue.

Snails absolutely love my Clianthus. They strip off all the leaves leaving a skeleton.

Lovely looking gardens, even though not too far way one I've never been to, we tend to go westwards on A27

Scotsgran, your remarks about things for the children are followed in a lot of gardens, RHS Wisely & Hilliers Arboretum are just two I know of.
It works two ways, children occupied and the parents spend money taking them there

A beautiful set of photos. I really love the iris pictures in particular.

Rosemoor has a large, natural play area in the woods (similar to Kate's! ) for the children where they can let off steam. I think this is important to make sure that families visit these lovely places but keep their children under control in the more formal places - hopefully!

Interesting, it's nice to visit local gardens. There's always so much to see in them.

Siris, they do so much damage, hateful things!

Grandad, have you visited West Dean gardens, West of Chichester and/or Denmans Gardens, East of Chichester? Both, in my opinion, worth a visit.

Chris, those Iris were just fabulous, pleased you liked them too!

Hywel, sometimes when these places are 'on your doorstep' so to speak, it's years before you visit them ... :o)

Shirley, West Dean yes, envious of the walled garden & the tomatoes. Not been yet this year, I think they have new gardener so expecting some changes

Denmans, not been, it's only recently popped up on my list since renovations

Yes I know Shirley, the Nat Botanic garden of Wales, and Aberglasney gardens are both about 12 miles from here yet I have only been to them once.

Had to smile Shirley when I read your reply to Siris. "They do so much damage, hateful things", had to check back to make sure you weren't talking about the children running riot!
The gardens look lovely and a little reminder in a friendly way shows that they care what happens to the plants and parents don't take offence, which they might if it just said 'keep the children off'!.

Grandad, the head gardener at West Dean is now Tom Brown, formerly of nearby Parham Gardens.

Denmans closed for a while but has now re-opened, must pay a visit in the Summer.

Hywel, that's exactly what I meant, strange isn't it?

Honeysuckle, your comment made me smile ... :o)

Thanks for update Shirley T. Seems a lot of HGs are moving around this year. Hillier's recently changed,as has Mottisfont Abbey

Keeps 'em on their toes!!

Beautiful Shirley, I always enjoy your days out, being so far away I've never visited the ones you visit, so I know I'm in for a treat...Lovely photographs Shirley...

Oh thanks so much Sue ... I enjoy putting a blog together ... especially when the footie is on the TV!!