In which we finally get a proper guided tour, and find some gorgeous seeds.
Finally, a decent sleep. Makes a world of difference! The internet here is marginal, though I guess most folk come here to become unplugged.
Another lovely day today – warm sun saw us quickly shedding our morning cardigans and helped with the picture taking!
The first stop today was at Great Compton, about 45″ away – down another one car wide lane but a decent coach parking area, TG, no tricky backing needed. The oncoming cars down the lane had no hope of passing our bus and would have to back up to someone’s driveway, but after letting a delivery truck out we luckily didn’t encounter anyone else on the way in (on the way out someone saw us coming and ducked into a driveway). This garden is known for its’ salvia specialist, now mostly retired, and we had an excellent tour by its’ new head gardener, Christina. Knowledgeable, super enthusiastic… it was wonderful to learn from her.
near the entrance; learning the house history (couple from London developed the garden over 10 years then left it to a charitable trust who now runs it on a shoestring with only 1.5 gardeners and a host of volunteers).
The developing Italian garden
the Italian garden – courtesy Gary Lewis
meadow near the entrance
there is no irrigation system in the garden, and the hope is to get a grant for restoration and to install one. Sounds familiar a la Earthwise society!
A very friendly garden, with layering and many benches to sit and contemplate (or forest bathe if you are so inclined!)
house is currently uninhabitable and in need of major repairs
the folly – faux ruins built by the owners from foraged materials
the rhodos were in full bloom
they also specialize in magnolias but those were mostly done. It is an all season garden so different flowerings each season.
some of the specialty salvia
They are also repository for a rosemary collection, one of which was ginger rosemary – lovely aroma
aliums of many varieties used extensively in English gardens
meadow rue against a wall in the Italian garden
Italian garden
A very pleasant ploughman’s lunch in the courtyard patio ended the tour and we were left to wander for another hour.
enjoying the view from in front of the house – courtesy Gary Lewis
Next stop was Wakehurst, the twin to Kew Gardens, a small 500 acre garden housing the millenium seed bank. It was fascinating, with a great explanation of the process involved with storing seeds.
Most of the important parts of the building were underground.
A relic from dinosaur times – Woollemia pine. Discoverd in New South Wales Australia in 1994 after a ranger abseiled down a canyon and discovered several trees. Thought to be extinct, a paleontologist eventually identified it and it has been propogated since for posterity, apparently doing well here! I LOVED that every tree had a tag with its botanical name.
Walled garden near Elizabethan manor (like Great Compton, under restoration but they are a bit further ahead of Great Compton and have received funds already!)
bluestars within the walled garden
glorious patches of colour – knapweed
Lovely scents prevailed as we walked through the walled garden
wisteria arbour
gloriously scented!
heading towards Himalayan glade
Girnormous rhodos at Himalayan glade
valley at Himalayan glade – the rhodos were tree size, as they are in Nepal and Bhutan
Wetlands section
artfully planted
candelabra primulas – courtesy Gary Lewis
others out enjoying the woodlands! There are many long walks to be taken in the park, with dog friendly areas and even an off leash park. Would definitely have a season’s pass if I lived nearby here!
other miscellaneous treasures along the way- native English bluebell, courtesy Gary Lewis
the gift shop was surprisingly underwhelming, except for the seed section which saw enthusiastic tour participants. It would be hard to leave without plants from the nurseries at every garden, if one lived locally. Photo courtesy Gary Lewis.
Back into the bus, coralling stragglers yet again, and back to the hotel for a free evening. Alison and I walked into town to see the Pantiles, which was very underwhelming, along the promenade which is now tourist mecca with upmarket wine bars. We nipped into Sainsbury’s to pick up some oatcakes (and start the chocolate collection for taking home) and tucked ourselves into a bench at the promenade like poor cousins to eat the last of our ploughman’s lunch. Into a pub to try a local beer – watery dark ale, not impressed, then a hike home through the forest, ending the day with a medicinal tot and some samples from Maison Samadi chocolates.