Open GardensComments from our members

What a vast show! Lots of things on sale (too many vendors?) and expensive food. However, lots of interesting show gardens and a great setting. Read my full report over on my blog http://www.growsonyou.com/article/show/45

I found the trials fields at Wisley amazing... going to all that trouble to identify the finest flowers and vegetables. I am adding two photos I took at the trials field. Shame I didn't take a wide angled photo.

Amazing day!! The garden is now a year old and has developed well. The variety of plots and species is amazing. Hamish is going to add pictures for this garden and will give you the full tour. If you come to this bit of France it's a must!!!

York Gate Garden was originally owned by the Spencer family and left to the charity "Perennial" (Gardeners Royal Benevolent Society) It is run and worked by volunteers. It opens Sunday's, Thursday's and bank holiday Monday's. The garden is divided into rooms, there is a pond and a lovely kitchen garden. I visited in April and plan to go again each season to see how it changes.

It is amazing that a park like this can exist. It is even more amazing that the wildlife is not put off by the surrounding factories and overhead noisy planes from City airport. If you are in the area (maybe visiting the new dome/02) and are into bird watching or wild flowers it is worth a visit. Do so before 5pm as the access to the inner lake closes then.

Lovely gardens, I used to work in that area at one time.

A fabulous, inspirational garden (National Trust). Very famous and if you haven't been there, it's worth staying in Kent to visit. It's divided into 'rooms' each with its own atmosphere and theme, one of course being the 'White Garden'. Used to go there when stressed out, and just sit among the flowers!

The Shrewsbury Flower show 2007 is on the Friday & Saturday - 10th & 11th of August. I do intend to get some better pictures this year, and not only Begonias! I am sure that not everyone is as keen as i am on Begonias.

The Shrewsbury Flower Show, i have been entering plants that i have grown myself since 2003. Before that i helped my friend with his stand, also lent a hand as well as my own plants since 2003. Some of the pictures are not the best because i only had my digital camera a couple of years ago. At the show there is an arena where they have hose riding/jumping. Motorbike riders. Military bands.A huge fire work display, and lots more. I assume details will be on the show website. Personaly the show is one of the highlights of the year as that is what i have been working towards with my plants.

This garden's real beauty is its setting, between the Quantocks and the sea, with views all around. It has wonderful herbaceous borders and wilder areas as well as a huge Rosa Banksia Lutea. There is a woodland area (3 acres) to wander in. The house isn't open, but the garden is in the Yellow book. I wish it opened more frequently! The village is picture-postcard pretty, with a duckpond and walks to the coast.

I visited once a few years ago, excellent garden, lots of organic tips to learn, some wonderful plants
and variety of gardens, see website Organic seeds/catalogue. Intend going again soon with a gardening friend.

We are going back to this garden in the next 10 days so will get some pics to add

Eclectic, unusual garden with lovely mature plantings as well as follies, temples and various other strange buildings. Good cafe in pavilion. Definitely worth a visit!

8 acres of ponds packed full of stupendous waterlillies, shop, cafe and nursery. Some access for wheelchairs in good weather.

arrow is a bit low, parking in Pauls Street Car Park. entrance across main road. Municipal Park, interesting beds and plantings. Taunton Flower Show 1st week of August.

I love the garden at Wisley. At any time of the year there is so much to see. Beyond the fabulous mixed borders and disipline of the walled garden and so on, the wild garden and battleston hill are fantastic all year round. In both areas you can pick up ideas on what to grow in the shade, on a slope or even in a bit of a bog. Wander up to the alpine houses to get ideas for smaller gardens and rockeries - you cant fail to be impressed by the range and beauty of the specimens there. Next door to the alpines you can find the veg garden - brilliant for keeping up to speed with your own vegetables. Richard is the member of staff there and is the deepest mine of veg gardening knowledge you could hope for... look out for people waiting in line to talk to him! For those looking for long term satisfaction pop to the model fruit garden for tips on growing fruit from the smallest step-over apples to training pears over an arch to growing soft fruit. They also have a couple of composters in the corner working away at staff leftovers! The Glasshouse is the newest addition and this is set to be another brilliant area to visit. Hothouse plants that you might grow at home are taking off in this perfect environment. It is amazing to think you might have some of the plants seen here at home in a much smaller version!

The Wisley Flower show is in August and the Taste of Autumn is in... Autumn. Entrance is a little pricey so make sure you put aside enough time to make the most of it. The car park is also a bit of a problem - it is very big and very busy especially for the shows and on sunny weekends there have been rennovations in progress for months now. Try arriving at 10am when it opens or later in the afternoon - the last entry is at 5pm in the summer (4.30pm for the glasshouse). RHS members get in free + guest... The plant centre has a great range of plants but they are 'RHS prices' which makes it quite expensive. All in all, a good day out, but heavy on the wallet for popping by as a non-member.

This website has a page in English. Fantastic sensual garden, full of scent and interest. Lots of hands on for the kids to enjoy

The Chelsea show has become about people, showy gardens and selling. I didnt agree with all the gold medals either! This aside, the small gardens this year were fabulous. If you are thinking of going to one of the RHS shows in London - try Hampton Court Palace flower show - this is more for the practical gardener as you can buy plants from most of the stands.
For an inside scoop - go visit the new RHS Wisley Glasshouse as of 15th June - it looks amazing inside and it will wow even the hardened garden visitor

This is a set of 3 gardens (Bay Tree Cottage, The Kilns and and Avenue Cottage) in Bentley which I visited when they opened for The NGS. All were beautiful gardens bursting with colour and full of energy. Although they were all great, I loved the herb garden at Avenue Cottage! I've added some photos to Grows on You.

Monstrosity with a Garden

When I first went to Barbican eight years ago, it was late at night for a film. It was dark and I got lost. I remember thinking that no one could ever enjoy spending time there. The Barbican is such a huge complex that it has yellow stripes of paint on the pavement to help you find the exits. I thought it to be a monstrosity. Today, I have to admit that the Barbican is one of my favourite places in London. What made it so is a bog garden.

When I was young, I used to get into heaps of trouble for going to the creek at the back of the farm. Over and over again, I was told not to go there, because there were too many snakes. I thought it wonderful to go swimming and fishing there. What made it so was that there was no one anywhere around. In fact, there were no signs that anyone had ever been there. No houses, no cars, nothing. Just trees, sand, water, sun, shade, fish…and snakes.

One year ago, I discovered the bog garden at Barbican. Already this season, the first algae started growing, as well as the bulrushes and other flowering plants. When the water was first warming, there was frog spawn in three different places…some in the shade, some in the sun. The patch in the sun hatched faster than those in the shade and I watched the first tadpoles swimming away. Today, I noticed a Mallard drake hiding in the bulrushes…all this in an elevated, manmade housing complex. The bog garden reminds me of my trips to the creek and is always a welcome break from the office, helping me to clear my head and be creative.

In addition to the bog garden, there are numerous plant beds, which are scattered around the complex. They keep you interested and make you explore the complex. If you do, you will discover the many other treasures of the Barbican: the botanical garden, the wildlife garden, the hanging gardens, the pools and fountains…and the Barbican, which was one of the ancient gates to the wall around the City of London.

Every Sunday and on Bank Holidays, the botanical garden is open to the public. It is mostly a tropical garden. There is an arid garden, a number of fish pools and an aviary. As you would expect in the Barbican complex, the entrance is hidden. Enjoy the search.

You will never find the wildlife garden unless you are “in the know.” It is down a ramp and on a side street. Once you know where it is, you can return to the complex and view it from above. In truth, it is not much but in how many cities can you find a bit wildlife in the heart?

The hanging gardens are people’s balconies, many of which are incredibly established. On some balconies, vines hang down for thirty feet or more over the pools and fountains.

The pools and fountains surround a churchyard. There are several places to get food and drink.

Last is the Barbican itself. Much of the wall still stands and is bordered by the original moat. It is tucked away in the heart of the complex and feels forgotten. The loons found it the perfect place earlier this year for their nest.

If you have an hour to spare between City meeting one day in London, you must make a quick trip to the Barbican. It sure beats Starbucks!