tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11950491443635622512024-03-18T22:42:54.184-07:00Garden Tours BlogLaurie Callawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17602915637710131865noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195049144363562251.post-66979824430105517982012-06-22T07:40:00.000-07:002012-06-23T15:11:03.393-07:00<h2>
<b>Chelsea Flower Show 2012 and the Gardens of Dorset</b></h2>
Another wonderful year at Chelsea! Below is a quick tour of some of the gardens, products and the Great Pavilion. Please join me for a quick stroll through the gardens! <br />
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Best of Show garden from Cleve West for Berwin Dolphin Company. <br />
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The garden used controlled structures including beech hedging and yew topiary to contrast with the looser layers of herbaceous planting. Alliums. Queen Anne's Lace, Geranium phaeum 'Walkure' were the dominate plantings.<br />
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Water flowed from the fountain in the back and streamed down the rills at each side of the pathway. <br />
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Nigel Nunnett's Blue Water Garden for the Royal Bank of Canada showcased inventive urban rainwater management in keeping the projects goal of a 10-year global commitment to help protect the world's most precious natural resource, water. The conical dry stone, self-supporting roof was built by master designer Mark Gregory. Each evening the BBC broadcasts an hour of Chelsea and the first night they showed Mark building this structure, stone by stone. It was amazing to see that there was no supporting structure! Again, the plantings are very loose in contrast to the hardscape.....a repeated theme this year at Chelsea.<br />
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Arne Maynard's Garden for Laurent-Perrier below. The buzz at the show was that this is the garden that should have won 'Best of Show'. <br />
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The highlight of this garden was the 'L' shaped pleached beech hedge.....plus all the special guests drinking Laurent-Perrier champagne in the garden while everyone else melted in the heat!<br />
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More topiary above with loose planting! For this garden, there was a combination of 27 perennials. Crocus Nursery again supplied the plants for Laurent-Perrier as well as many other show gardens. The colors were mauves, deep purples and dusty pinks. They beautifully complimented the copper beech hedge. You can go to www.crocus.co.uk and get the entire plant list.<br />
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Joe Swift's garden for Homebase Teenage Cancer Association below, won gold for the four bold cedar wood frames which create long views through the garden. These frames created snapshots that varied as you moved around the garden.<br />
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The iris in Joe Swift's garden was spectacular along with Chocolate Cosmos, Verbascum 'Clementine' and Rosa 'Burgandy Ice'. Each garden designer provides a schematic of the garden and the plant list. They often spend some part of the day at the garden talking to the crowds.<br />
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The M and G Garden below (M and G is Chelsea's main sponsor for the entire show) was designed by Andy Sturgeon. The show stopper was the 'Energy Wave' sculpture crafted in copper rings. A series of formal linear paths and terraces combined with a mirrored water channel to create a succession of garden rooms.<br />
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Formal topiary and lush soft plantings such as Astrantia 'Roma', Euphorbia palustris, Geranium 'Gravetye' and Geum 'Album' were mixed with common meadow plants such as Milk Parsley and Hog's Fennel for the M and G garden above.<br />
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Once again this year the garden from Australia didn't disappoint. Another Gold Medal winner from Trail Finders and Flemming's Nursery below. Phormium cookianum 'Tricolor', P. tenax 'All Black', Cordyline australis, Cycas revoluta, Dianella tasmanica 'Variegata', Woodwardia radicans and Dodonea viscosa 'Purpurea' created drama in the garden and were an interesting relief from all the 'meadow' planting in the show gardens.<br />
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These corten steel leaf sculptures accent the Phormiums and Palm trees.<br />
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Above was a real crowd pleaser. This entry by Jo Thompson for the Caravan Club, celebrated the great English tradition of 'Caravaning' These antique Caravan's are now used as garden rooms, offices and playhouses for children. Note once again, the loose, romantic plantings and the dog house on the left.<br />
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Chelsea wouldn't be complete without the fabulous selection of garden art and structures that make English gardens so remarkable. I wish we could bring many of these products to America. Chelsea has rows upon rows of everything from containers to pergolas to Gazebos. Below are examples from various vendors.<br />
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Can't you see these fish swimming through the grasses of a John Greenlee Garden?<br />
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Rachel Carter is the young artist/creator of these willow sculptures. Many were featured in the Chelsea show gardens this year. She is excited about exhibiting in the March 2013 Philadelphia Flower and Garden Show and wondering how she will ship everything to the US! <br />
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One of the many fountain vendors at Chelsea.<br />
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The Artisan Gardens</h2>
Each year, crowd favorites at Chelsea are the Artisan Gardens. These gardens are meant to show what can be achieved in a smaller space and often on a low budget. Satoyama Life sponsored a garden by the designer Ishihara Kazuyuki from Japan. The garden pays homage to the people living between the low lands and the mountains who lost their lives in the tsunami last year. The crowds were so deep at this garden that you had to wait a bit to work your way in to the front!<br />
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Long ago, Japanese daily life and nature were closely linked. Satoyama Life reflects this simple lifestyle and expresses the importance of living in harmony with nature. This wall above was built, stone by stone from rocks gathered on the beaches in Japan.<br />
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The Artisan Garden from Plankbridge Hutmaker's takes its inspiration from the beautiful Dorset countryside immortalized by the writer, Thomas Hardy. These shepherd's huts are now used as offices and garden gazebos in the city and country.<br />
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Above is the entry from the town of Yorkshire called 'The Brontes' Yorkshire Garden. The bleak garden pays homage to the 165th year anniversary of the publication of the Bronte sister's most famous works; Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and Jane Grey.</div>
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The Great Pavilion</h2>
A visit to Chelsea would be incomplete without a visit to the Great Pavilion where nurseries from all over the world are proud to display plants that have been grown on their own premises. I am just amazed by the fact that every blossom in the place is at its most perfect during the show. <br />
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This Lily vendor was the gold medal winner for Chelsea 2012. The lily in the center was as big as a dinner plate.<br />
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Clematis towers.<br />
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Tulip mania.<br />
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The Nursery entry from South Africa was spectacular. They did a mural of each region's topography and matched the plants to the region.<br />
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Even vegetables compete for the Gold!<br />
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Final notes on Chelsea 2012. Again it's just amazing how much work goes into the gardens and displays. Designers and contractors take weeks to build the gardens and this year was particularly difficult because it rained until just three days before the show. Reading the reviews of the show, it's clear that however beautiful, many people want to return to a simpler time when Chelsea gardens weren't so grand. The show gardens often cost as much as 250 pounds sterling (almost $375,000 US dollars to install). A far cry from the budgets of most attendees! <br />
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A Selection of Private Gardens in Dorset </h2>
Now for a few pictures of the gardens of Dorset. Most of the gardens our tour group visited were private homes and each homeowner feted us with tea and scones in the morning or tea and cake in the afternoon! I've never eaten so much and lost weight! It had to be all the walking we did! Our tour company was Boxwood Tours (mail@boxwoodtours.co.uk) and everything about the tour was first class!<br />
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<b>Shute House </b>- The house dates to the 15th Century and the current garden was designed by Geoffrey Jellicoe and is a complex series of garden rooms.<br />
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This inter planting on the patio is very common in England. I'd love to try it here in the states.<br />
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Jellicoe's rill at Shute House<br />
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<b>The Old Rectory at Pulham</b><br />
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Time for Tea on the kitchen patio!<br />
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<b>Cranborne Manor </b><br />
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John Tradescant laid out this garden in the 1600's.<br />
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A bucolic scene through the hedge at Cranborne Manor.<br />
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<b>Stainbridge Mill </b>- Below an Arabella Lennox-Boyd garden<br />
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Take a stroll through the Chestnut trees at Stainbridge Mill! Mowers easily cut paths through the grasses.<br />
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<b>Grange Cottage</b>. An astronomer's garden of earthly delights below. After a cool drink of Elderberry soda, the owners took us on a tour of the garden they love so much!<br />
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<b>Farr's,</b> below the garden of furniture maker John Makepeace. A modern masterpiece.<br />
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A magnificent stainless steel sculpture by the designer John Makepeace. His private garden is just past the Yew hedge.<br />
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My favorite! T<b>he Old Rectory at Netherbury </b>below<b>. </b>The Old Rectory was featured in the June issue of Traditional Home Magazine. Simone, a barrister in London and Amanda, a restorer of art on paper and the designer of the garden, lovingly tend this garden with the help of only one gentleman. <br />
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These mulch paths meandered through out the garden and were dappled with cooling shade on a very hot day!<br />
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<b>Chiff Chaffs Garden </b>- Below, Mr. Potts' Paradise. Mrs. Potts was Graham Stewart Thomas' secretary for years! My second favorite garden. Graham Stewart Thomas started the garden Monttisfont Abby where he planted all the old roses he could find that were falling out of favor due to the development of the hybrid teas in the 50's.<br />
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Our walk along the hills at Chiff Chaffs. Mr. Potts created a wonderful Rhododendron and Azalea dell on his hill.<br />
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A view from top of the garden. Nothing like the English Countryside.</div>
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<b>Pen Mill Farm</b></div>
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Penn Mill Farm garden getting ready to bloom!</div>
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The Foley at Penn Mill Farm looking back to the house.<br />
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The lake at Pen Mill Farm</div>
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Saying good bye to our hosts at Pen Mill and the Dorset countryside after tea, egg salad sandwiches and cake!</div>
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Our hotel in Dorset, the Plumber Manor...soft beds and good food! </div>
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The best traveling companions a girl could have! </div>
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Our Last Days in Kent and Sissinghurst </h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsccVDf6aGURPpcMR-_i0i3VXumEOj-L6DBjoa3mBPyaa_Vd00mHUma761Lt4UmVAszpjaoqRio0oDzVEkihl4yCEfkU_ngB52mRgpbDXLbkUKWup4ognKv-F2SQXDkCPDS6lw-EDhssKy/s1600/P1019140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsccVDf6aGURPpcMR-_i0i3VXumEOj-L6DBjoa3mBPyaa_Vd00mHUma761Lt4UmVAszpjaoqRio0oDzVEkihl4yCEfkU_ngB52mRgpbDXLbkUKWup4ognKv-F2SQXDkCPDS6lw-EDhssKy/s320/P1019140.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Our wonderful host, Rosemary Alexander's home and garden.</div>
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The Dove Cote at Nyman's</div>
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Sissinghurst's Hot Garden </div>
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Christopher Lloyd's Great Dixter below</div>
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Our farewell breakfast at the Delightful Sissinghurst Castle Farm House. A must stay if you ever visit the garden. Sue Thompson is hotelier extraordinaire!</div>
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(sue@sissinghurstcastlefarmhouse.com)</div>
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<br /></div>Laurie Callawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17602915637710131865noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195049144363562251.post-18693600784056689562011-07-07T07:08:00.000-07:002011-07-14T08:33:10.194-07:00English Garden Tour May, 2011<ul id="recently" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1.5em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><a href="http://callawaygardentours.blogspot.com/2011/07/chelsea-2011-and-english-garden-tour.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration: underline;">English Garden Tour May, 2011</a></li>
<li style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><a href="http://callawaygardentours.blogspot.com/2011/07/chelsea-flower-and-garden-show-london.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration: underline;">Chelsea Flower and Garden Show - London May 2011</a></li>
</ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>English Garden Tour May, 2011</b></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfA7fkUivUq4vWzPkJ0td_nP8tjXmT7cxCffJ5h2fx_2limUHQF-po2TmXXkg2scKCSdApk_4VueTCBWE_0ic-gOSHoXv4tHcg8HibzjyYVCcIwWb5vJuvfvFedsdi1f_gw7Gzkcol_wkp/s1600/P1015905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfA7fkUivUq4vWzPkJ0td_nP8tjXmT7cxCffJ5h2fx_2limUHQF-po2TmXXkg2scKCSdApk_4VueTCBWE_0ic-gOSHoXv4tHcg8HibzjyYVCcIwWb5vJuvfvFedsdi1f_gw7Gzkcol_wkp/s320/P1015905.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I recently spent time visiting gardens around England and had a marvelous time with my 14 traveling companions. Travel back with me as I review some of the highlights of the tour. I've provided links to many of the gardens for you and please click on the photos to enlarge them. Once you've finished, be sure to view the Chelsea Flower and Garden Show Post.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>May 18 <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">- Windsor</place></city> Castle</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">After I spent a few days on my own in <city w:st="on">London researching hotels for 2012</city>, our tour group convened in the beautiful <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">Village</placetype> of <placename w:st="on">Windsor</placename></place>. After years of take offs and landings over this Castle, I finally got the opportunity to see Windsor in person. I was able to tour the<place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on"></placename> <placetype w:st="on">Castle</placetype></place> and take a few photos of the gardens before we all met for dinner. The Castle's art collection is extensive and well worth the time. </div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrhtH8FYrqXb5eT_ln_jLcJJbrLpprJ8KYbkmNDjywAJKYDfoGr4FHrGAqUMfoiHjVyZ_zPB3DpSg-AVIKo7EI0GURE10UAgSLKolGJtngwqTm28cATmBPbTI2x2mQlajOjsHMtsvsSVP/s1600/P1015685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrhtH8FYrqXb5eT_ln_jLcJJbrLpprJ8KYbkmNDjywAJKYDfoGr4FHrGAqUMfoiHjVyZ_zPB3DpSg-AVIKo7EI0GURE10UAgSLKolGJtngwqTm28cATmBPbTI2x2mQlajOjsHMtsvsSVP/s320/P1015685.JPG" width="240" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>May 19 - RHS Wisley</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">If you only had a couple of hours during a stay in <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">London</city></place> and wanted to see one garden, make it Wisley. This large <placename w:st="on">Royal</placename> <placename w:st="on">Horticulture</placename> <placename w:st="on">Society</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Garden</placetype>, an hour train ride from <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">London</place></city>, will give you everything from cutting edge Piet Oudolf perennial gardens to the latest horticulture trials of drought tolerant plants. In all the years I've visited Wisley, I've never been disappointed in its beauty and variety. Spread across acres and acres, the garden has something for everyone. Each year, many of gardens from the Chelsea Flower show are installed at Wisley.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.rhs.org.uk/wisley">www.rhs.org.uk/wisley</a> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FDI_zHlfs2Sy2pUH7Mu8olWkI9dJfnISubt_m0VJtkMP8thjrTciyTKNwxicJEWngHyLWdxBR5ZbD7HqobLy-XTjHA1naVwFDgA-DToZM3BWel2P79LEB8sNKGXGV2TZNeJ4SVSuJNlm/s1600/P1015703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FDI_zHlfs2Sy2pUH7Mu8olWkI9dJfnISubt_m0VJtkMP8thjrTciyTKNwxicJEWngHyLWdxBR5ZbD7HqobLy-XTjHA1naVwFDgA-DToZM3BWel2P79LEB8sNKGXGV2TZNeJ4SVSuJNlm/s320/P1015703.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">Designer Penelope Hobhouse designed this rose garden for Wisley in 2005. </div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtlvn265DIn0nQvEQO4d73v7TQkBCBYzqDKmRagx2eJ8e3CyIpDsbLp_As2elV8Qsu9jdJwH9x1slV62l48ll-_88ikaxgL4KmPl44N10ArROTIrLiXxcfNamjDoJyj_780jo0rhfcguQ/s1600/P1015695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtlvn265DIn0nQvEQO4d73v7TQkBCBYzqDKmRagx2eJ8e3CyIpDsbLp_As2elV8Qsu9jdJwH9x1slV62l48ll-_88ikaxgL4KmPl44N10ArROTIrLiXxcfNamjDoJyj_780jo0rhfcguQ/s320/P1015695.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The rock garden and Alpine Meadow celebrated its 100<sup>th</sup> anniversary this year and looks so natural you’d never know it was man-made. </div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_coEI7dIRs3vZ0OsTTfbrM8rMlTC1Gsz2QMIyBnx-TikhORMRoFYck_PxQ6SFsQ3SBC8G0bc_rVe66byMIuC6Cm6R5tYx7RBjS9dwLOiFwWpqgoqY1wU5wNzUUse3WHCHhNHHsXxDXorM/s1600/P1015726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_coEI7dIRs3vZ0OsTTfbrM8rMlTC1Gsz2QMIyBnx-TikhORMRoFYck_PxQ6SFsQ3SBC8G0bc_rVe66byMIuC6Cm6R5tYx7RBjS9dwLOiFwWpqgoqY1wU5wNzUUse3WHCHhNHHsXxDXorM/s320/P1015726.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">Tucked into this massive garden are many intimate spaces for rest and reflection. </div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdhbyMgIRhCmx4SpCJdSA5Hb564IWRMRSOW0B-Zueq-OVvflbZkmPFy5MV_JzZMqHzeq7BBL38hWwjyyXag9I25jfQuWcs2WybJ4XpTClKeV00kSITQPyjm2YVX4iJ7K5gHAUj_iIzA9c/s1600/P1015739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdhbyMgIRhCmx4SpCJdSA5Hb564IWRMRSOW0B-Zueq-OVvflbZkmPFy5MV_JzZMqHzeq7BBL38hWwjyyXag9I25jfQuWcs2WybJ4XpTClKeV00kSITQPyjm2YVX4iJ7K5gHAUj_iIzA9c/s320/P1015739.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">A path through the large collection of Azaleas and Rhododendrons on Battleston Hill. </div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSF1CzESAiwA-HEhbDtRbg4AUD-zSfopbqmN7NyzGOV3L4oOqqVrfNymNRGrd1xW3BN1kCwDahq5NxcnpbpBMXZ4LFGirdi2burQOY65DMQnoiNlSsMXI-p7afaoRIaVc-W6qDwVkO7LD4/s1600/P1015735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSF1CzESAiwA-HEhbDtRbg4AUD-zSfopbqmN7NyzGOV3L4oOqqVrfNymNRGrd1xW3BN1kCwDahq5NxcnpbpBMXZ4LFGirdi2burQOY65DMQnoiNlSsMXI-p7afaoRIaVc-W6qDwVkO7LD4/s320/P1015735.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Danish designer Piet Oudolf designed these perennial borders leading to the new Glasshouse Arboretum dedicated in 2007. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfqczwX1K9Fw1uN0gnI0wuHwrrfn3NjsNsZYf01r4T0dO50AsHXzzz_-8pRDHuvMkcdvsqk0JqXtLt9X5ufUXjLvSL0156jkZ438XqhGb0jQfJAMDUsAB0nTRRU3fHt47pDqQU_n777KVC/s1600/P1015736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfqczwX1K9Fw1uN0gnI0wuHwrrfn3NjsNsZYf01r4T0dO50AsHXzzz_-8pRDHuvMkcdvsqk0JqXtLt9X5ufUXjLvSL0156jkZ438XqhGb0jQfJAMDUsAB0nTRRU3fHt47pDqQU_n777KVC/s320/P1015736.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Detail of the Piet Oudolf borders. These few plants are repeated down the long border for dramatic effect. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqP4h4X4KYNUZ6lGI9b_EbKhG_BJNcaNfDrrb6iXVBRxYNL445UPrDB6LbS1UqweOZ2a1FTW0-uHtBsO6RWmaq4CCRPtWk0uy7wn13RHRv_tauDNpNF2h3xa-dWdB7V3oeEcC3V8ZvYeA/s1600/P1015700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqP4h4X4KYNUZ6lGI9b_EbKhG_BJNcaNfDrrb6iXVBRxYNL445UPrDB6LbS1UqweOZ2a1FTW0-uHtBsO6RWmaq4CCRPtWk0uy7wn13RHRv_tauDNpNF2h3xa-dWdB7V3oeEcC3V8ZvYeA/s320/P1015700.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Off to work we go!<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Vann House Garden</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSwhmSOHU-vLlIq9CieP5hXDKAfAmoDnb-aXzhzV8Qq7ehtNgYyoQdsBQ1RTj6RQc2BDEnsf9EL_KXmq6aFVVpTP6OwkH17fg8GrifCRLky0h9sM2Q48gUvoBKu86imnpLKSo1pPNACoH/s1600/P1015806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSwhmSOHU-vLlIq9CieP5hXDKAfAmoDnb-aXzhzV8Qq7ehtNgYyoQdsBQ1RTj6RQc2BDEnsf9EL_KXmq6aFVVpTP6OwkH17fg8GrifCRLky0h9sM2Q48gUvoBKu86imnpLKSo1pPNACoH/s320/P1015806.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>After a short drive through the <place w:st="on">Surrey</place> country side, we visited Vann House, a 15<sup>th</sup> century Tudor home and garden. This garden was part of the Open Days Scheme which holds open days at private gardens for charity during the summer. The English are proud of their historical homes and this one was a beauty. It’s amazing to think that King Henry VIII was alive when this house was built. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2kCq2KOkmgFpTzT0lEcW929m1EatcugcCgXVYdA_SI3XqRVfnfCakQ2mehKWZRx69tvkW4ZpnSGRJsoGZBQdKvqJpxuSsZxChE-Rj1y21MC8KNtEbykZaCO1-s4n-O8lYUASxOGeWOdR/s1600/P1015787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2kCq2KOkmgFpTzT0lEcW929m1EatcugcCgXVYdA_SI3XqRVfnfCakQ2mehKWZRx69tvkW4ZpnSGRJsoGZBQdKvqJpxuSsZxChE-Rj1y21MC8KNtEbykZaCO1-s4n-O8lYUASxOGeWOdR/s320/P1015787.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Barn at Vann House.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvjY4goZqXrfGg3mSQVkymVUY2ELCxCzRs_Q2WE3twZLbTMsqwMLh1zjAyT3q04ms2XL733AbIFxnEAeBFnieCyznR2kn4IrmpoyZ_R4zFN63ApTxoeNSYOrGJatyW5tOZIxowcrTYjbg/s1600/P1015775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvjY4goZqXrfGg3mSQVkymVUY2ELCxCzRs_Q2WE3twZLbTMsqwMLh1zjAyT3q04ms2XL733AbIFxnEAeBFnieCyznR2kn4IrmpoyZ_R4zFN63ApTxoeNSYOrGJatyW5tOZIxowcrTYjbg/s320/P1015775.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">The pond. </div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZ6nzuGIVHxAB2FNbDmD0bK4QwqS76YuxvfYPtr6eZdhg7xhdijuhBo5m2GYWPHVCyprppf7wgyzcrPb_WZfXhp222YA3IdX7KFcM2UjXVGWuzyR3B6YW6ZBeDK82m2OW2PJ4gD55_19C/s1600/P1015778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZ6nzuGIVHxAB2FNbDmD0bK4QwqS76YuxvfYPtr6eZdhg7xhdijuhBo5m2GYWPHVCyprppf7wgyzcrPb_WZfXhp222YA3IdX7KFcM2UjXVGWuzyR3B6YW6ZBeDK82m2OW2PJ4gD55_19C/s320/P1015778.JPG" width="240" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">Gertrude Jekyll designed this rill and perennial border in the early 1900s. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTJAis9E9ngTsl5OwBLjlB9yLhd299S9Ud855tguC8ejpJYm7fFEJtxFQTarRbCRDnTIN0uGRsqdC1tW28KFCZHpmtLgsCk1AUHXdWYAWyjh0MTmDYRwScxVqLVnskh017b67OCXfe8MO/s1600/P1015793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTJAis9E9ngTsl5OwBLjlB9yLhd299S9Ud855tguC8ejpJYm7fFEJtxFQTarRbCRDnTIN0uGRsqdC1tW28KFCZHpmtLgsCk1AUHXdWYAWyjh0MTmDYRwScxVqLVnskh017b67OCXfe8MO/s320/P1015793.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Normally, June 15 is the height of the rose season but due to the unseasonably warm weather in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">England</place></country-region>, Roses and Peonies were in full bloom everywhere! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24L2nS1rWw0iGkNDMeOEGI9ziQlHfYi0uYmPcYQuTU887I31fy7dh0MuzESVyC06_lON2stOmAUE9Yc1ondSPCES6FBTgxj3T3BA_Q2w-91-oG-fHH3ZJbi2xWGSPNUvPvAv4BMradDNE/s1600/P1015789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24L2nS1rWw0iGkNDMeOEGI9ziQlHfYi0uYmPcYQuTU887I31fy7dh0MuzESVyC06_lON2stOmAUE9Yc1ondSPCES6FBTgxj3T3BA_Q2w-91-oG-fHH3ZJbi2xWGSPNUvPvAv4BMradDNE/s320/P1015789.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Farm equipment or work of art?<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>May 20 - <placename w:st="on">Exbury</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Gardens</placetype> and <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Edmondsham</placename> <placename w:st="on">House</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Garden</placetype></place></b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Today we traveled southwest to <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Exbury</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Gardens</placetype></place>, home to the 200 acre Rothschild collection of Azaleas and Rhododendrons. You might think such a collection would not be that interesting but I was pleasantly surprised by its beauty. We were lucky to catch Exbury at the height of its blooming season. Walking the many paths along streams, ponds and the River Beaulieu was magical. Everywhere we turned was a picture perfect moment.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The lake at Exbury.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXe3Ielt61khkA8LFxV6QByeMqXWJ2vz5dArfn_wdxjhd9EhbFIXXu014vNVbzBTIXsjqsVm2OmfPiejDQl9HjFR1PgMrVYjhtoUEkY8qBSzEEcFCf1m-z9Z-g0pgMXPwBOfaKa_tlrIQ/s1600/P1015831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXe3Ielt61khkA8LFxV6QByeMqXWJ2vz5dArfn_wdxjhd9EhbFIXXu014vNVbzBTIXsjqsVm2OmfPiejDQl9HjFR1PgMrVYjhtoUEkY8qBSzEEcFCf1m-z9Z-g0pgMXPwBOfaKa_tlrIQ/s320/P1015831.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.exbury.co.uk/">www.exbury.co.uk<br />
</a></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFMaGxsAFEhDS0vHreyrjoZwuZ2zvdwnqTVuvxJweeBcd2vLz0tszwbpzzeZlG15KcFWP_nKWWcl6Y7b7_oMR9s7OYdxsIVdi4YborHttVcRTSt6TZax3iOWdKmd7jZAxzCyi0kp58Jcq/s1600/P1015836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFMaGxsAFEhDS0vHreyrjoZwuZ2zvdwnqTVuvxJweeBcd2vLz0tszwbpzzeZlG15KcFWP_nKWWcl6Y7b7_oMR9s7OYdxsIVdi4YborHttVcRTSt6TZax3iOWdKmd7jZAxzCyi0kp58Jcq/s320/P1015836.JPG" width="240" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="text-align: center;">One of the many ponds and small waterfalls winding through Exbury. </div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQJYicrJXvfKdKPdW2-698Xqgot-au9u4kcG7RVFaMd5HiJg3J7AqyecSC9Q3knSnNit6bE4vXd89kPo8uqAWm-Pf74tH0Lxl519kXVg-E9kEPZed1l1oCstV4IUW1IcGfyjmctsyoxAU/s1600/P1015823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQJYicrJXvfKdKPdW2-698Xqgot-au9u4kcG7RVFaMd5HiJg3J7AqyecSC9Q3knSnNit6bE4vXd89kPo8uqAWm-Pf74tH0Lxl519kXVg-E9kEPZed1l1oCstV4IUW1IcGfyjmctsyoxAU/s320/P1015823.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="text-align: center;">The Primulas were blooming along the streams.</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLf4OAAD_ioPdbhgeF3DHlBm6lAihRfo4oTBiOfulde3LGVs2vuT_EzVoN84FW9gYrNStkhhdjH_dw1PT86U2iL9cXvk_w5s9aJNlVBQV6UXH6LhgAQIQ0G4NsHyj8QC-7L9J7RZm5ggf/s1600/P1015820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLf4OAAD_ioPdbhgeF3DHlBm6lAihRfo4oTBiOfulde3LGVs2vuT_EzVoN84FW9gYrNStkhhdjH_dw1PT86U2iL9cXvk_w5s9aJNlVBQV6UXH6LhgAQIQ0G4NsHyj8QC-7L9J7RZm5ggf/s320/P1015820.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="text-align: center;">The border garden at Exbury with the estate in the background. </div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Edmondsham House Garden</span></b><br />
After Exbury, we visited another private garden as we traveled to our hotel in the Cotswold’s. Edmondsham, House is also a Tudor manor with a wonderful walled garden and a most charming head gardener named Andrew. He gave us a tour of the garden and its beautiful perennial borders and vegetable garden. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdV-XArNAjqV0P7aVlqRWFBpqjOF1n4ID7hOh2Tru7zQd5J4P7R9Yz3ZIVpG9KLCr9aGIxH4nOx2is4omf_xUzScL_3OioQSzhbLjBnqucxzqFduunlMQLT4Se6JgI4NFFpD1zRN-ErXsh/s1600/P1015856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdV-XArNAjqV0P7aVlqRWFBpqjOF1n4ID7hOh2Tru7zQd5J4P7R9Yz3ZIVpG9KLCr9aGIxH4nOx2is4omf_xUzScL_3OioQSzhbLjBnqucxzqFduunlMQLT4Se6JgI4NFFpD1zRN-ErXsh/s320/P1015856.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Entrance to the walled garden.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUKDOHz41N_-w9OGbAiRvbZYM2z3PKlSMEFA1okGaKrYdjN6nO3QoNPB4UYzG_fURSKvhP8Gvu2G5CUwHiFOo7GexQ3AuXaLdG7R1bMqDJ7La9VvFdl7wuBjGNeZP4ySoUNY8eaE__Jw1/s1600/P1015857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUKDOHz41N_-w9OGbAiRvbZYM2z3PKlSMEFA1okGaKrYdjN6nO3QoNPB4UYzG_fURSKvhP8Gvu2G5CUwHiFOo7GexQ3AuXaLdG7R1bMqDJ7La9VvFdl7wuBjGNeZP4ySoUNY8eaE__Jw1/s320/P1015857.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">Peonies in the walled garden.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywVtdwTIjq883njJLVdH30DaxivDQ_o9Fovc_4CyvyA9JzWOqjLOsz7lDjgXHueDhQERn5o36DVerUD_qf6LN2SwblcP6-0ziJLGhyphenhyphenbMVXxmWDt043YYWujgsXFjtA9Hzsci_wtXCuW3V/s1600/P1015865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywVtdwTIjq883njJLVdH30DaxivDQ_o9Fovc_4CyvyA9JzWOqjLOsz7lDjgXHueDhQERn5o36DVerUD_qf6LN2SwblcP6-0ziJLGhyphenhyphenbMVXxmWDt043YYWujgsXFjtA9Hzsci_wtXCuW3V/s320/P1015865.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">One of the borders in the garden.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqUt4HqLL8qxe8PsLBn-Ie8uVqZF-FCPc2tnZVl_6mH7eccCEaqG0nIKVRDdQRixlY-WXnxxgwHla1ctafXeLoKrphRq62s8_vthQTtpPgulJGOeL_xzsHwYo4avnGEA9jwkUE-ci8nsn/s1600/P1015867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqUt4HqLL8qxe8PsLBn-Ie8uVqZF-FCPc2tnZVl_6mH7eccCEaqG0nIKVRDdQRixlY-WXnxxgwHla1ctafXeLoKrphRq62s8_vthQTtpPgulJGOeL_xzsHwYo4avnGEA9jwkUE-ci8nsn/s320/P1015867.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Path through the borders at Edmondsham. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvx3sRUD_UljPT5J6vmkpTSmt9z6HgOqRY4i600pxm4OM851aTNi_WzAJcqj0a2mHklvliwSGNoDlwxkvSjHODLn7Pyo0xIIA5DOTMOinin19bbwTgEYL6tvw-zJZtxWB9tuodH05D63Xy/s1600/P1015877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvx3sRUD_UljPT5J6vmkpTSmt9z6HgOqRY4i600pxm4OM851aTNi_WzAJcqj0a2mHklvliwSGNoDlwxkvSjHODLn7Pyo0xIIA5DOTMOinin19bbwTgEYL6tvw-zJZtxWB9tuodH05D63Xy/s320/P1015877.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">These ancient Staddle stones were used to raise granaries off the ground to keep them dry and vermin free. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>May 21 - Stonehenge, Stourhead and <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Bath</place></city></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Rarely have I been touched so emotionally by a tourist attraction as I was at <place w:st="on">Stonehenge</place>, our first stop this morning. This tumble of monolithic stones took my breath away and gave me a profound realization of man’s deep, visceral attraction to stone. In our gardens today, we use the same construction principles that were used to build <place w:st="on">Stonehenge</place>. Everywhere in <country-region w:st="on">England</country-region> you see the results of Stonehenge from the stacked walls in the Cotswolds, to Andrew Goldsworthy’s work, to the stone work and garden designs at <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Chelsea</place></city>. At home, I’m constantly amazed at the stone masons on many of my jobs. These men have little education or formal training, but put stone in their hands and they become artists. I’m convinced it’s because working with stone is in our DNA! <a href="http://www.englis-heritage.org.uk/stonehenge">www.English-heritage.org.uk/stonehenge</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0SzhbWBYNCIQl_pdEyAbtu0baO6iZ3Nhm3v8sOkAfFSecyDdFrzEYDB_sfuDgHXUpF6KFLDEAeEtAYbICT6hxRLX-wSQMBC3Ay6bPyMCq8le6501_VmjDbbri4gIaUgyCpVOcO-hsrgSw/s1600/P1015901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0SzhbWBYNCIQl_pdEyAbtu0baO6iZ3Nhm3v8sOkAfFSecyDdFrzEYDB_sfuDgHXUpF6KFLDEAeEtAYbICT6hxRLX-wSQMBC3Ay6bPyMCq8le6501_VmjDbbri4gIaUgyCpVOcO-hsrgSw/s320/P1015901.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Mystical Stonehenge.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Stourhead Garden </b></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfA7fkUivUq4vWzPkJ0td_nP8tjXmT7cxCffJ5h2fx_2limUHQF-po2TmXXkg2scKCSdApk_4VueTCBWE_0ic-gOSHoXv4tHcg8HibzjyYVCcIwWb5vJuvfvFedsdi1f_gw7Gzkcol_wkp/s1600/P1015905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfA7fkUivUq4vWzPkJ0td_nP8tjXmT7cxCffJ5h2fx_2limUHQF-po2TmXXkg2scKCSdApk_4VueTCBWE_0ic-gOSHoXv4tHcg8HibzjyYVCcIwWb5vJuvfvFedsdi1f_gw7Gzkcol_wkp/s320/P1015905.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The park-like garden of Stourhead was next on our tour. A beautiful garden built in the early 1700’s by the Hoare family, boasts a shimmering lake, classical temples and exotic plants and trees. Most notable to me because this is where the recent movie Pride and Prejudice was filmed. On a rainy overcast day, Elizabeth (Kiera Knightly) refuses Darcy’s (Matthew Macfadyen) wedding proposal in this <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">Temple</placetype> of <placename w:st="on">Apollo</placename></place>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFfxIe29V2W72_glBtWJXyxd1Pfm-I4so4Mgzlrzrz0tXPp9keXGBtqdbdduNdbiZSVJA0s0QEdzVHMFR02WxB-tKJSr32snTz13T-7FdNTfPT71IID-DJqK2V5bw3uWgZ4su0NCztN9S/s1600/P1015919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFfxIe29V2W72_glBtWJXyxd1Pfm-I4so4Mgzlrzrz0tXPp9keXGBtqdbdduNdbiZSVJA0s0QEdzVHMFR02WxB-tKJSr32snTz13T-7FdNTfPT71IID-DJqK2V5bw3uWgZ4su0NCztN9S/s320/P1015919.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Apollo's Temple, scene of the 'brush off' in Pride and Prejudice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_h0BovSp61m6Bg2uNNJFI2NrdCKJ4gGgozCc9naUOGzT5MsKLcjIWGR-sYhPG0UW2aVSRCbG0QHsD8GaQG5y7B2iWOwSU0h1hzCncqqY5_UXKtG2LiShctjHEzOtCoR0vcOqz9b1fbwm/s1600/P1015926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_h0BovSp61m6Bg2uNNJFI2NrdCKJ4gGgozCc9naUOGzT5MsKLcjIWGR-sYhPG0UW2aVSRCbG0QHsD8GaQG5y7B2iWOwSU0h1hzCncqqY5_UXKtG2LiShctjHEzOtCoR0vcOqz9b1fbwm/s320/P1015926.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Gothic Cottage where a family of 9 lived in the 1700's. This space was no more than 15'x15'.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRtMX8H0l6Vxa0hT_c-7yNy33975mzHW3pj_hDqMqE6egnlASiwGD76W4Bnhu4sdwryyDVtk9QpWqjeUyJcDWoxQwfG-oGalimD92irNeC800NvdsZ6DqEyucawrS36Lwn1w7zwcB1tP6f/s1600/P1015939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRtMX8H0l6Vxa0hT_c-7yNy33975mzHW3pj_hDqMqE6egnlASiwGD76W4Bnhu4sdwryyDVtk9QpWqjeUyJcDWoxQwfG-oGalimD92irNeC800NvdsZ6DqEyucawrS36Lwn1w7zwcB1tP6f/s320/P1015939.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Village Chapel at Stourhead.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After a leisurely walk around the lake, we had Asparagus soup and warm bread at the Stourhead village pub. One thing I've noticed is that the English are not only great gardeners, but frequent garden visitors. Stourhead was full of families just enjoying a walk on a sunny day.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Roman Baths and Tea in the Pump Room</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><city w:st="on">Bath</city> was a <city w:st="on">new city</city> to me and although a bit touristy, one of the most magical I've visited<place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on"></country-region></place>. Nestled in a small valley on each side of the River Avon, this is Jane Austen country. The Roman baths were fascinating. Although the spring was first discovered in 836 BC, the Romans built this <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Temple</place></city> there in 60-70AD. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEbSqVdrUIhqLYdmDm25l0liJA2-fP9xQGvOoG-6P39bMEcKdq6ic9nQ3WyJ_Scu77xJv_OAP7UElN84o7Zjg6IqfwOw8ExzdA6zKAS0OoSVPbwdWW5WykLgi8F0AddQMmCJLu7eYSJin0/s1600/P1015943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEbSqVdrUIhqLYdmDm25l0liJA2-fP9xQGvOoG-6P39bMEcKdq6ic9nQ3WyJ_Scu77xJv_OAP7UElN84o7Zjg6IqfwOw8ExzdA6zKAS0OoSVPbwdWW5WykLgi8F0AddQMmCJLu7eYSJin0/s320/P1015943.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The original Sacred Spring from Roman times is still gurgling from the earth at between 64 and 98 degrees Fahrenheit. My real treat was the adjoining Pump Room where we had tea…the works, scones, tiny sandwiches and sweets. As I closed my eyes, I could see Jane Austen’s characters taking the waters at the Pump Room fountain as they did in her novel Persuasion.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>May 22 - The Cotswolds</b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">After breakfast we visited the private estate of the author Jilly Cooper, best known for her ‘bodice ripping’ romantic novels. A charity plant sale was held on her estate in the Cotswolds. This is horse country and tourist buses are strongly encouraged not to travel on these roads and are frequently reported and turned back. Our coach driver Mick, with the help of his GPS, took the most obscure back roads possible and got us to our destination. The house, grounds and gardens were immense and lovely. I’ve never seen so many Land Rovers and riding boots in my life!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidc9JYuDB-1WjEHLh29xYAUh-UGc5PuG-4j9Q4w4Dw0R03SLE4V8gOdqbTqtKniujhNJijg085QQFH_wBFsB6TdQ39RsDoDphAxM4Q_mODzUrlwZEDv5K5Ii5LlbzngeqctB66eM7UrgdB/s1600/P1015973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidc9JYuDB-1WjEHLh29xYAUh-UGc5PuG-4j9Q4w4Dw0R03SLE4V8gOdqbTqtKniujhNJijg085QQFH_wBFsB6TdQ39RsDoDphAxM4Q_mODzUrlwZEDv5K5Ii5LlbzngeqctB66eM7UrgdB/s320/P1015973.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">The Cooper home.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWz5FQ3UJ4HuX0JCUrw0N6MuS2Y1UqMhUK8i49Q6q7uckeKCI5gwd_7vWPpCPqApDyRH_egqVQFg2dKWz4tf7ogUxoOe-yP_cLOqyA-9HUkATFOiMMgKFVZsXKHDsYoNKduVXCYQ93wk-/s1600/P1015978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWz5FQ3UJ4HuX0JCUrw0N6MuS2Y1UqMhUK8i49Q6q7uckeKCI5gwd_7vWPpCPqApDyRH_egqVQFg2dKWz4tf7ogUxoOe-yP_cLOqyA-9HUkATFOiMMgKFVZsXKHDsYoNKduVXCYQ93wk-/s320/P1015978.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">Plants and people galore. There were no commercial nurseries here. Most of these plants were propagated by each seller. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcWRModMxC1S_NkY0W1jMyjfAjBkc8DOubLOF4AvF33Rh350A9VPlXzn5SsyyenmGZMOQWlHwYvzYfvaufd8AvFcnWlJyUGjF1o5X2xqlnedqk6SA8BPqNXCWEuP4Qlq0snJgQxQRAYcf/s1600/P1015980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcWRModMxC1S_NkY0W1jMyjfAjBkc8DOubLOF4AvF33Rh350A9VPlXzn5SsyyenmGZMOQWlHwYvzYfvaufd8AvFcnWlJyUGjF1o5X2xqlnedqk6SA8BPqNXCWEuP4Qlq0snJgQxQRAYcf/s320/P1015980.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">Entering the plant sale from the Car Park.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1TrPo4UOpuD8UKHl-pZTJS5aGIvMYotgrE7SCakCll0AbDzuWMCdQoeI-VsJwtRsGISdi8k3Z1y12f764tnyfXvxSA6GR2qFuXP2MCXBM705S9eA688CshQkopU6FSmEWqrUe61HWRoH/s1600/P1015953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1TrPo4UOpuD8UKHl-pZTJS5aGIvMYotgrE7SCakCll0AbDzuWMCdQoeI-VsJwtRsGISdi8k3Z1y12f764tnyfXvxSA6GR2qFuXP2MCXBM705S9eA688CshQkopU6FSmEWqrUe61HWRoH/s320/P1015953.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">A folly from Jilly Cooper’s walled garden.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxpwzbGBR_cJzUs33BDIcx-VxRb_5lu64uC5Q7aMJvPzQ8OvoobK0o6t8l6-Qcy4e_UxtAjEUX1C1ISETPncEk-0kxwWija3pnniuJga1MO394MoD1HmYXL4OkMQ05dR2n_qgSHgpHMha/s320/P1015955.JPG" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The walled garden borders with house in the background. </div></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Hidcote Manor Garden</span></b><br />
After lunch at a pub in a beautiful village near Chipping Campden, we arrived at one of England’s most iconic gardens, Hidcote. The designer, an American named Lawrence Johnson, was the first person to perfect the concept of garden rooms . I’ve been to Hidcote many times since the 80’s and unfortunately the garden was not at its best. We had just had a horrific windstorm the day before so some of the unsightliness could have been from the wind damage. The famous red border looked unkempt and the rose gardens were empty and unattended. I ended up exploring some parts of the rose and woodland gardens which are less traveled and I was happy to see these areas were looking well.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5g8KMNcgxxLZePedRSZDO0qwbPwKY8gNbnJRs8At0UrnenRohuCUDAX-yOAJJzgyrX4QO0rrvVSOCz9P-yTBwOpB8NR7wyByG5DBGlaqoo-XTTsyzwf92OQH4Njzf9Z7lowroKDGQkR6/s1600/P1016010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5g8KMNcgxxLZePedRSZDO0qwbPwKY8gNbnJRs8At0UrnenRohuCUDAX-yOAJJzgyrX4QO0rrvVSOCz9P-yTBwOpB8NR7wyByG5DBGlaqoo-XTTsyzwf92OQH4Njzf9Z7lowroKDGQkR6/s320/P1016010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Lupine in the rose garden. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsNKChSwnuiqlYEY4Nj2Yhyphenhyphenf8saIasQeyZf57AFTccaWapsp3LzfdLt9UpPnjXiGkV6T6limDDMVolrCwsEXMv2AA9c_GOt-7kFACnTc7evY8QJ33wDMpvoJFMU1yPdeNNL29OQT5wtRl/s1600/P1016018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsNKChSwnuiqlYEY4Nj2Yhyphenhyphenf8saIasQeyZf57AFTccaWapsp3LzfdLt9UpPnjXiGkV6T6limDDMVolrCwsEXMv2AA9c_GOt-7kFACnTc7evY8QJ33wDMpvoJFMU1yPdeNNL29OQT5wtRl/s320/P1016018.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
Day Lilies bordering a woodland path. <br />
<a href="http://hidcote@nationaltrust.org.uk/">hidcote@nationaltrust.org.uk</a><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Kiftsgate Court Gardens</span></b><br />
After Hidcote, our next garden completely enchanted me. I’ve never seen Kiftsgate looking so wonderful. Since my last visit, they had expanded the perennial borders and because of the warm weather, the rose garden was in full bloom. The descendants of the original owner, Heather Muir, still live at Kiftsgate and it’s charming to see them taking tickets and selling plants as you enter the garden. So many of the National Trust gardens now have a commercial feeling so it’s always nice to feel you are experiencing someone’s private garden.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucFClN4-uvbV_Amj-FylC-xaxAJl0-IcUiwaGmRClD5_4jdbPwvxrAHn3SY_2f458JpHpYYEElnrTdBfin9yhBHxMWxytDkM2zhNEjcmfDKzSxRH0RNEGhz9XJwszGJgpRkx1sRO6ppIn/s1600/P1016037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucFClN4-uvbV_Amj-FylC-xaxAJl0-IcUiwaGmRClD5_4jdbPwvxrAHn3SY_2f458JpHpYYEElnrTdBfin9yhBHxMWxytDkM2zhNEjcmfDKzSxRH0RNEGhz9XJwszGJgpRkx1sRO6ppIn/s320/P1016037.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> The rose garden at Kitfsgate. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoUzqZ9ucdjymw5Aq4gxgRfR0ovKddt7jrzw-JiGtgyW20He3QHTOjMKYETt_NOYaNjufROLJCXhjyz8neF6CwwpADackLTV6oVhM119Xz6NROMt3Acn73s1GyX9q1h2Myji8Adze0DFM/s1600/P1016050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoUzqZ9ucdjymw5Aq4gxgRfR0ovKddt7jrzw-JiGtgyW20He3QHTOjMKYETt_NOYaNjufROLJCXhjyz8neF6CwwpADackLTV6oVhM119Xz6NROMt3Acn73s1GyX9q1h2Myji8Adze0DFM/s320/P1016050.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>The borders were magnificent here in the fountain garden. The Hosta leaves were the size of dinner plates and not a snail in sight! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAp3H9aNJkO-TK9WJ1v4bKqhjjRDqIUzBLa5LAvVR3VeJjCbuJ_DHeHcHr4cdyJ-ld2y2TQuNYMhdP-JxAKeKomYSMxn3aXdwGHEu29jFSADf0hmOqCCUv14SbzxpEDV00glNUutAWfGf/s1600/P1016055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAp3H9aNJkO-TK9WJ1v4bKqhjjRDqIUzBLa5LAvVR3VeJjCbuJ_DHeHcHr4cdyJ-ld2y2TQuNYMhdP-JxAKeKomYSMxn3aXdwGHEu29jFSADf0hmOqCCUv14SbzxpEDV00glNUutAWfGf/s320/P1016055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">The long border was filled with Astrantia, Meadow Rue, Geranium ‘Rozanne’, Penstemon, Anemone, and Salvia. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisV0gYVGhGfIAsZkk7UdsMNVIUDTICP80DFSBS7Ci5h6S96r-fakyF2QN7tecBnAXNLKgIMBMsZzv3Gqu0sjBHOPetuyHDQJOkKoULVJbhlVcH20EGab4Lgc0sm4IyvkU2esNJ0AobVmXr/s1600/P1016048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisV0gYVGhGfIAsZkk7UdsMNVIUDTICP80DFSBS7Ci5h6S96r-fakyF2QN7tecBnAXNLKgIMBMsZzv3Gqu0sjBHOPetuyHDQJOkKoULVJbhlVcH20EGab4Lgc0sm4IyvkU2esNJ0AobVmXr/s320/P1016048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The blue on the chairs is a signature color at Kiftsgate. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWHzO3P__3l1hyiZ0HvJsrYJOaYxreRYbk9X1sZNOOICkg8WBhzYIicI5X8IOjDbydL3uF-mNb99NnFJ1rQwLx1lj7HJAEWvlhvcTla2fJRjBvo6Ed3unD9x76J5CscvvFuCj9JFyVg-t/s1600/P1016059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWHzO3P__3l1hyiZ0HvJsrYJOaYxreRYbk9X1sZNOOICkg8WBhzYIicI5X8IOjDbydL3uF-mNb99NnFJ1rQwLx1lj7HJAEWvlhvcTla2fJRjBvo6Ed3unD9x76J5CscvvFuCj9JFyVg-t/s320/P1016059.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The house at Kiftsgate as seen from the border garden. </div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>May 23 - Mill Dene Garden and Lady Livinia Barring’s Garden</b></span><br />
Mill Dene Garden was our first stop this morning. Wendy Dare, one of the editors of The English Garden Magazine, gave us a tour of her garden built around an old mill in yet another picturesque village in the Cotswolds. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX43TqFgKjV0_-4MrpGYgMcwUGRBgbUz00QeidwCBf9pryRTlxNYZuMWr8UuFvm7KmFyic1NNZ78JJ1MQbidrunL34PKHY4DoIqzHYVGLYUXLc8Zj5CkcjR4gpizzJKQxdOsDcHD1KpNPP/s1600/P1016124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX43TqFgKjV0_-4MrpGYgMcwUGRBgbUz00QeidwCBf9pryRTlxNYZuMWr8UuFvm7KmFyic1NNZ78JJ1MQbidrunL34PKHY4DoIqzHYVGLYUXLc8Zj5CkcjR4gpizzJKQxdOsDcHD1KpNPP/s320/P1016124.JPG" width="320" /></a>Borders at the Mill Pond.<br />
<a href="http://www.milldenegarden.co.uk/">www.milldenegarden.co.uk</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbGCteI2RUrMZHHS-Mg4eTNUQbJ2EOw84EormgcDmZegsxF8zn60Cbh8TxSPG1ZUKuR6a1r7vUZ9ZI5bhwzxpeN_utieqdfglvG4GlMEybWNJCMQnevqeRRlL-xiDO8iTCFOHbJlw2wqA/s1600/P1016087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbGCteI2RUrMZHHS-Mg4eTNUQbJ2EOw84EormgcDmZegsxF8zn60Cbh8TxSPG1ZUKuR6a1r7vUZ9ZI5bhwzxpeN_utieqdfglvG4GlMEybWNJCMQnevqeRRlL-xiDO8iTCFOHbJlw2wqA/s320/P1016087.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> A secret path to the Old Mill.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35upGWX0vlA1HgMusB5aIRo1zNZ7-wYRC8EafTvGMBAnaAeswGPv5KFS96D1bZ3nIllr3vlKsP_4kab0D0nHTIxDvao2B5M68VurGffn9l2MkJMcS975snWpjxfqvoeoOiGcueud6lA4K/s1600/P1016104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35upGWX0vlA1HgMusB5aIRo1zNZ7-wYRC8EafTvGMBAnaAeswGPv5KFS96D1bZ3nIllr3vlKsP_4kab0D0nHTIxDvao2B5M68VurGffn9l2MkJMcS975snWpjxfqvoeoOiGcueud6lA4K/s320/P1016104.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>English gardens are often full of mystery and around every corner you are likely to find something wonderful like this stone folly at Mill Dene built with the honey-colored stone quarried in the Cotswolds. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9-pscokMSR5nvZWTY2xIg4Vu_2SobLKC8DMfWnmygicNra4JcWaYChKvmtlyXx8z39VellXrtX1XRebuu4tIJMR1rZxbPsYoJU9kicGPys1YXLLkBWlf6Ge1Db_5QJgdu53Cc_G2TcRG/s1600/P1016100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9-pscokMSR5nvZWTY2xIg4Vu_2SobLKC8DMfWnmygicNra4JcWaYChKvmtlyXx8z39VellXrtX1XRebuu4tIJMR1rZxbPsYoJU9kicGPys1YXLLkBWlf6Ge1Db_5QJgdu53Cc_G2TcRG/s320/P1016100.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">The vegetable garden at Mill Dene. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUJgGFn42XDS8_NgHI12hSPDIkH8y1u6f3C9xOVAENZckkQLoSXx7qZtZz4A-X__LBVIc6P7DDFy9Z9eWzXpq3v8KlsCOg7wYfFTE_KWQGZaJNPOOmDXoWRJxoNw8tIpvZEgMQF7sf5fD/s1600/P1016131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUJgGFn42XDS8_NgHI12hSPDIkH8y1u6f3C9xOVAENZckkQLoSXx7qZtZz4A-X__LBVIc6P7DDFy9Z9eWzXpq3v8KlsCOg7wYfFTE_KWQGZaJNPOOmDXoWRJxoNw8tIpvZEgMQF7sf5fD/s320/P1016131.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>I had to include this sign from Mill Dene. Priceless. </div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Lady Lavinia Barring</b></span><br />
After another wonderful lunch in the village of Lower Slaughter, we visited the garden of Lady Lavinia Barring. This garden is a show stopper and we were so privileged to see it since she does not open it to the public. Lavinia, the former Lady in Waiting to Lady Diana Spencer, proved to be very beautiful, down to earth and had baked us brownies and set out tea which she served in the pool house. This garden was full of wonderful elements and completely designed by Lavinia and her gardener. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzyFtuI7DUsKwrvAeXk8jsSMcwKNf4jq7E-GAGCOT-bgcTC1D3vi3nwoQCo_GdTRk94PudMsQ3UpqXJtG8d3gOXIgdCPmQDkDl0mJLxaktDAqGk5LtgjKhWpllpOPoDxHhuZO0IR6xnRl/s1600/P1016144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzyFtuI7DUsKwrvAeXk8jsSMcwKNf4jq7E-GAGCOT-bgcTC1D3vi3nwoQCo_GdTRk94PudMsQ3UpqXJtG8d3gOXIgdCPmQDkDl0mJLxaktDAqGk5LtgjKhWpllpOPoDxHhuZO0IR6xnRl/s320/P1016144.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The rose and perennial garden with the house in the background. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOV2doq0maNgEdN9r-Km69-qly1TLzIpQr4NJXtKWqHCmD995iFYMtO-DQiGDpoMoE7dTjPCpOE8tzE0cA8V6WmEU5kIRh7f0jDEZWdjGPkH_A-gpSuEgu3g7djB_cZemvwcFB-tiyQXK/s1600/P1016137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOV2doq0maNgEdN9r-Km69-qly1TLzIpQr4NJXtKWqHCmD995iFYMtO-DQiGDpoMoE7dTjPCpOE8tzE0cA8V6WmEU5kIRh7f0jDEZWdjGPkH_A-gpSuEgu3g7djB_cZemvwcFB-tiyQXK/s320/P1016137.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This raised boarder is a great example of ‘simplify and repeat’ with the purple Lupine, Yew and Chartreuse Acacia. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7WbkkEc-tJBWSRyhouBb4Y3orz9XXnQ_94mtCZMPu-oaixp063s5i4g7aEHbSE5DnqODTzadAkX_be_MScKimKhE4LATtjvDRiVNjTTHIsJ0KRW2-9x3f6RugOn83_-xwaIYbPXC25TO8/s1600/P1016146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7WbkkEc-tJBWSRyhouBb4Y3orz9XXnQ_94mtCZMPu-oaixp063s5i4g7aEHbSE5DnqODTzadAkX_be_MScKimKhE4LATtjvDRiVNjTTHIsJ0KRW2-9x3f6RugOn83_-xwaIYbPXC25TO8/s320/P1016146.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Steps to the pool and vegetable garden. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkYYh5ffeCPJtCDUgFGt3DlF8Exg4UpOfh31GsRjN-eAjByC2igk6WPRVepRLSfVtU7yqPirkjZP7lXu57F_ezmYVwprVUntGgwwqLijPwuKceD6SSgEFqPtr4cGvbgBZmUDUCU_kaav5/s1600/P1016161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkYYh5ffeCPJtCDUgFGt3DlF8Exg4UpOfh31GsRjN-eAjByC2igk6WPRVepRLSfVtU7yqPirkjZP7lXu57F_ezmYVwprVUntGgwwqLijPwuKceD6SSgEFqPtr4cGvbgBZmUDUCU_kaav5/s320/P1016161.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pool and pool house above left in the background. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJzBsvzfl5PmJAZglc6ZBy8_0wHIJ1qgFNq-7zy3UY1LT5_apYQP9Efx58__7EeH-qbDh4yqF_bQhU1t-nsbbfKuylYsy2SLTyVIOFwcntyP4XPoQk0k7OVOJiB5VfwcpT3K_N4KZPMqa/s1600/P1016167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJzBsvzfl5PmJAZglc6ZBy8_0wHIJ1qgFNq-7zy3UY1LT5_apYQP9Efx58__7EeH-qbDh4yqF_bQhU1t-nsbbfKuylYsy2SLTyVIOFwcntyP4XPoQk0k7OVOJiB5VfwcpT3K_N4KZPMqa/s320/P1016167.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Entrance to the vegetable garden. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVScliYllEtSsZicKB41qsX_T38IG2utZTHStTC5mEF30SyKTeGmIY3sIbbXiCDMi1NeG1fQpRREHsMj3xc5OSI0kHew9d6csEbQKWFEwq7KfqjaEXBKdZiCzSRLBr9Jb76DpwSwU6W6-y/s1600/P1016172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVScliYllEtSsZicKB41qsX_T38IG2utZTHStTC5mEF30SyKTeGmIY3sIbbXiCDMi1NeG1fQpRREHsMj3xc5OSI0kHew9d6csEbQKWFEwq7KfqjaEXBKdZiCzSRLBr9Jb76DpwSwU6W6-y/s320/P1016172.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">The vegetable garden was a great example of succession planting. </div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>May 24 - Sissinghurst Castle Garden and Great Dixter</b></span><br />
We started our final day of the tour in one of the world’s most celebrated gardens, Sissinghurst Castle. Created by a talented husband and wife team, authors Vita Sackville West and Harold Nicholson, Sissinghurst has much to offer in the way of design and delight. Strong access pathways crisscross the garden which is broken into many garden rooms. Vita actually consulted with Lawrence Johnson on the design of Sissinghurst's garden layout.<br />
<a href="http://www%2Esissinghurst@nationaltrust.org.uk/">www.sissinghurst@nationaltrust.org.uk</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XFrNhhPT4P8778hsdZKnMg9F4e9Xx850gSTi_prTBksdNThH3bTUwsQrrzyf0CtQmxNAHUL-pMp0WPDXrY-C9uB30h4FgBeAsClpGJOkaH_d_16IlVYjkFej0wzdTiQtlFv8Z52nwc3k/s1600/P1016197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XFrNhhPT4P8778hsdZKnMg9F4e9Xx850gSTi_prTBksdNThH3bTUwsQrrzyf0CtQmxNAHUL-pMp0WPDXrY-C9uB30h4FgBeAsClpGJOkaH_d_16IlVYjkFej0wzdTiQtlFv8Z52nwc3k/s320/P1016197.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>The Famous tower from the Rose Garden.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-9uYwOW-3yLGD9NDR45U9Q3sdk6ECEJJ-RfIpX7tklj3QwwP-nI8Oy_2lqUeAbaUDCrfJfNbif1qXi9UsH0Ti0fwpumetFvBasLCZPmINPRgXCg85OUMKCYzy2ys3ocxt9x2t32BtVo0/s1600/P1016624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-9uYwOW-3yLGD9NDR45U9Q3sdk6ECEJJ-RfIpX7tklj3QwwP-nI8Oy_2lqUeAbaUDCrfJfNbif1qXi9UsH0Ti0fwpumetFvBasLCZPmINPRgXCg85OUMKCYzy2ys3ocxt9x2t32BtVo0/s320/P1016624.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJth-ehCXJVdi953qXX6X8g0nJvknSDTs43IiYOZLerj_Z8jADFzJzF8LdRrIi8UhuEAKCIQnaaShx02I415UjyZfV3Iaer0PVJ-rigev8rlyU5dWgsWaj4nB2dBiXtu-7ZlvE9VyWbwUK/s1600/P1016658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJth-ehCXJVdi953qXX6X8g0nJvknSDTs43IiYOZLerj_Z8jADFzJzF8LdRrIi8UhuEAKCIQnaaShx02I415UjyZfV3Iaer0PVJ-rigev8rlyU5dWgsWaj4nB2dBiXtu-7ZlvE9VyWbwUK/s320/P1016658.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Two views of the White Garden.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcko4FwtmG8IjbJfODWVPfxzIJWHvOa3h5-_H1dHaVi1L1pJztM8WlaS9EYWUi5_xwrAiiOFeCr2Wmos7as1N8W-VgkAz1k5o985noFKuEphdGDh2mudObzJEaeKohIHWZqKnY2AXaSII/s1600/P1016202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcko4FwtmG8IjbJfODWVPfxzIJWHvOa3h5-_H1dHaVi1L1pJztM8WlaS9EYWUi5_xwrAiiOFeCr2Wmos7as1N8W-VgkAz1k5o985noFKuEphdGDh2mudObzJEaeKohIHWZqKnY2AXaSII/s320/P1016202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The rose garden was almost in full bloom seen here with the south cottage in the back ground<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9efnLmf_id5qR3EGaLWk63-UOWHAFFVcGjmYw9IquS8d8MMIzMEk5T1yg8x6lri7HElzvC092jFTv02aE99KvkZ_n_a9tbZbRhe9DWGfmO_oyqlWEdANMQGq3VHXOgACzH1n3MuCdauth/s1600/P1015718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9efnLmf_id5qR3EGaLWk63-UOWHAFFVcGjmYw9IquS8d8MMIzMEk5T1yg8x6lri7HElzvC092jFTv02aE99KvkZ_n_a9tbZbRhe9DWGfmO_oyqlWEdANMQGq3VHXOgACzH1n3MuCdauth/s320/P1015718.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Nothing is wasted in English Gardens. Tree cuttings are often used to stake plants. As the plant grows, the branches look like a natural part of the plant.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZi3yTgqAdTEZ-lfmEInuE47z5d4LySwyEju0mu-UQ8hqzn-MADHGA0DF_OPPL6Lkfl9ZJvIrGpLRVGykZT_TC99xieI7RZvn_nq8ku3t5pn2TKqzj7FsqCHywDGZEL_0KhU2joKqX5yM/s1600/P1016218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZi3yTgqAdTEZ-lfmEInuE47z5d4LySwyEju0mu-UQ8hqzn-MADHGA0DF_OPPL6Lkfl9ZJvIrGpLRVGykZT_TC99xieI7RZvn_nq8ku3t5pn2TKqzj7FsqCHywDGZEL_0KhU2joKqX5yM/s320/P1016218.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Orchard meadow.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9brqE1-Z9F83i8L_ajUXum_U6NPTtWCtFSWmnK1cmPdBoQtggD7wqmCZ8fisszQZngOX2IEwhQ4212EnI9xN7Dpgo826Chxm2Jpu38mEDeBxzBn7OgGd2LU_ue0qsFeZ3LhQZ1HSqQ5-K/s1600/P1016567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9brqE1-Z9F83i8L_ajUXum_U6NPTtWCtFSWmnK1cmPdBoQtggD7wqmCZ8fisszQZngOX2IEwhQ4212EnI9xN7Dpgo826Chxm2Jpu38mEDeBxzBn7OgGd2LU_ue0qsFeZ3LhQZ1HSqQ5-K/s320/P1016567.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>The tower where Vita did most of her writing away from children and distractions. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2y5ydTAW3Ns8v6OBgoRkbezDI4wFIu5KenmuQP2J1CRt2m3noF1ligpRfYmvZr1mwKdKxFAEuz4IN4y9iWWxD2fXAv2W9Xlr5mUBCLKqlpGx9Roe6N_1Q0DSiIO2_gzcYkSIpolR4GYk_/s1600/P1016210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2y5ydTAW3Ns8v6OBgoRkbezDI4wFIu5KenmuQP2J1CRt2m3noF1ligpRfYmvZr1mwKdKxFAEuz4IN4y9iWWxD2fXAv2W9Xlr5mUBCLKqlpGx9Roe6N_1Q0DSiIO2_gzcYkSIpolR4GYk_/s320/P1016210.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>What a surprise! Ran into my clients, Mother and Daughter, Cara Dakin and Sherry Bakun at Sissinghurst. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qWE0Z8MZmDSES_uP338MCD6Tavbj8iwPrzOEDwfPEfw4gfrRBst-13bpnP0FBWvDET47fJKIO7nQE4AssuUcE2CZ4gDZ5rG6VXcdtdTNfsbthlsls3eIf37yPQHT_wkqZXh9NgD53HGt/s1600/P1016219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qWE0Z8MZmDSES_uP338MCD6Tavbj8iwPrzOEDwfPEfw4gfrRBst-13bpnP0FBWvDET47fJKIO7nQE4AssuUcE2CZ4gDZ5rG6VXcdtdTNfsbthlsls3eIf37yPQHT_wkqZXh9NgD53HGt/s320/P1016219.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Castle Moat. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSDz0YJ1TaKz2bEyMQZ-tiU87-JcNInTkJn7XCaBMgnd7PmJVEbXPiNL8krxbpL5RIiE5d_UhyphenhyphenRn4epflGM2Gm3XwQJqUghCaji7Bl8sd8gBMBzF6D0rQiIfjFDeVZ7uRCFmQyDlMT5tM/s1600/P1016651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSDz0YJ1TaKz2bEyMQZ-tiU87-JcNInTkJn7XCaBMgnd7PmJVEbXPiNL8krxbpL5RIiE5d_UhyphenhyphenRn4epflGM2Gm3XwQJqUghCaji7Bl8sd8gBMBzF6D0rQiIfjFDeVZ7uRCFmQyDlMT5tM/s320/P1016651.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Rose garden and Rondel from the tower. </div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Great Dixter</b></span><br />
After a wonderful lunch at the Sissinghurst cafe, we headed to Great Dixter. The late Christopher Lloyd can be proud of how Great Dixter is holding up without him. Here you see the famous long perennial border with the house in the background designed by the 19th century architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigawDu726jtNscOwUz7oj9kRJ3cH454ii1BpSYpSiJisgrjYk8_ce11unzJHlMvrXOt9Qxfl-JG7VAb0CpF_AMobg_UsQGP4WIEjvtn93b0lu8ePtpR-_E4468nB4_QUrqkhMjc3QSTGC1/s1600/P1016244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigawDu726jtNscOwUz7oj9kRJ3cH454ii1BpSYpSiJisgrjYk8_ce11unzJHlMvrXOt9Qxfl-JG7VAb0CpF_AMobg_UsQGP4WIEjvtn93b0lu8ePtpR-_E4468nB4_QUrqkhMjc3QSTGC1/s320/P1016244.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Head Gardener Fergus Garrett is doing a great job maintaining Dixter's character. This garden is known for Lloyd’s vibrant and wild use of color and the gardens still reflect his philosophy. <br />
<a href="http://www.greatdixter.co.uk/">www.greatdixter.co.uk</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga49ePD3eKt8LcRIyXjO8u-UZLQ3h0pSoyrEcMXOSUb2mV6WErh_S8DRGAF7tKDxW6PZu6mzXiaB7Rgr_XimFigIw6QV-VhvoPVpe2WHO9cItR0pv83NN4n5Cda5lBZiPIw4EqLErAPGj4/s1600/P1016254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga49ePD3eKt8LcRIyXjO8u-UZLQ3h0pSoyrEcMXOSUb2mV6WErh_S8DRGAF7tKDxW6PZu6mzXiaB7Rgr_XimFigIw6QV-VhvoPVpe2WHO9cItR0pv83NN4n5Cda5lBZiPIw4EqLErAPGj4/s320/P1016254.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Oast House Barn at Dixter<br />
These Oast houses were used to smoke the Hops for brewing beer but have mostly been converted into homes and barns. Ten years ago you would see fields of Hops as you drove around Kent. Now the old Hop fields are fruit tree farms. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucJ_ILXjfEpf34zbnQrPYi_cOWwO2NhB_ABWey73ZE_QcthtmPE9ae7EOTW5JiPG9IuskRO4rAE5Zdf8p6bY3aNKrRbjC2PlfXVtVZhESfz5a4PyeW2OCaSeAu_CZMTmV94PrlXBYml5O/s1600/P1016260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucJ_ILXjfEpf34zbnQrPYi_cOWwO2NhB_ABWey73ZE_QcthtmPE9ae7EOTW5JiPG9IuskRO4rAE5Zdf8p6bY3aNKrRbjC2PlfXVtVZhESfz5a4PyeW2OCaSeAu_CZMTmV94PrlXBYml5O/s320/P1016260.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This brightly colored poppy, Papaver rhoeas, was everywhere at Great Dixter. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5dewSnftf9N4pTnLcqo-7rXRhX4l0wFK0Vk0bxfSpgugSp0wpxE8GlTHSRepUGBgXJ38HExMpfRNoTNWXB4uLd32pJP42ZOXLTw4uP4-OjjQlqp-VzvNn0o2owT3Ene2SX_gk4czXBYK/s1600/P1016282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5dewSnftf9N4pTnLcqo-7rXRhX4l0wFK0Vk0bxfSpgugSp0wpxE8GlTHSRepUGBgXJ38HExMpfRNoTNWXB4uLd32pJP42ZOXLTw4uP4-OjjQlqp-VzvNn0o2owT3Ene2SX_gk4czXBYK/s320/P1016282.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Meadows play prominently at Great Dixter and they have an extensive training program to spread the word about the importance of meadows for birds and wildlife. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_2I2NqCH9vBF2UWRS1VNrt5DFMYk9vjaAOYEqnjKLPr1y9iJOzCI5ZklYeLUNhlcCs7IVPitlnj0HBqhYBr1pCVW8XaTFhYl48E96NqAXCoe-HAKAxJIPh8SzWxKOTzcJRsnZbFr5wut/s1600/P1016266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_2I2NqCH9vBF2UWRS1VNrt5DFMYk9vjaAOYEqnjKLPr1y9iJOzCI5ZklYeLUNhlcCs7IVPitlnj0HBqhYBr1pCVW8XaTFhYl48E96NqAXCoe-HAKAxJIPh8SzWxKOTzcJRsnZbFr5wut/s320/P1016266.JPG" width="284" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">The famous topiary in the perennial garden. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrGZenaA72yCS9uxqtYGkVA-zKSP1NujK9rjhexS9jNEYtILfTnEc4VtfubXzcudOkhwgku9s0FCtmmwJdOXAMvR_atBkVo78U51ok6EbYzzuCrFXfMBgS8K657PIvfe4u3CT3zk7d_yE/s1600/P1016272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrGZenaA72yCS9uxqtYGkVA-zKSP1NujK9rjhexS9jNEYtILfTnEc4VtfubXzcudOkhwgku9s0FCtmmwJdOXAMvR_atBkVo78U51ok6EbYzzuCrFXfMBgS8K657PIvfe4u3CT3zk7d_yE/s320/P1016272.JPG" width="320" /></a> <br />
Guy Wolf pots for sale at Great Dixter's Nursery. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Reflections</b></span><br />
I saw much and learned so much on this trip that I could never set it all down in words. I decided to join this tour of the gardens of Southern England, the Cotswold and the Chelsea Flower Show to not only enhance my skills as a designer, but also to do a bit of comparison with my garden tours. I had a marvelous time and learned that I can be proud in the knowledge that my tours compare very well with the best of them. I can even say that my hotel and restaurant selections are superior. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Although the National Trust gardens like Sissinghurst and Hidcote are marvels and one should see them, combining private gardens with these iconic gardens really gives a tour depth and richness. </div><div class="MsoNormal">I hope you’ll consider joining me next year for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and Garden Tour, May 20 to June 1, 2012! Details to follow this fall.<br />
<br />
If you've enjoyed the travelog, please view the <a href="http://callawaygardentours.blogspot.com/2011/07/chelsea-flower-and-garden-show-london.html">Chelsea Flower and Garden Show Post</a>!</div>Laurie Callawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17602915637710131865noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195049144363562251.post-23156880481443267982011-07-06T17:42:00.000-07:002011-07-14T08:33:41.361-07:00Chelsea Flower and Garden Show - London May 2011<ul id="recently" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1.5em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><a href="http://callawaygardentours.blogspot.com/2011/07/chelsea-2011-and-english-garden-tour.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration: underline;">English Garden Tour May, 2011</a></li>
<li style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><a href="http://callawaygardentours.blogspot.com/2011/07/chelsea-flower-and-garden-show-london.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration: underline;">Chelsea Flower and Garden Show - London May 2011</a></li>
</ul><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>RHS Chelsea Flower and Garden Show</b></span><br />
After a wonderful tour of many of England's finest gardens, RHS Chelsea Flower Show was my last stop on my visit. Calling this incredible event a ‘Flower Show’ is like calling the Roman Coliseum a playground. I spent two days from 8:00 to 4:00 and still never saw it all. Below I've included many of the gardens featured at Wisley and other highlights of the show and I've provided links to the show gardens. Please click on the photos to enlarge them. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>RBC New Wild Garden</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATpuY4BFqA8AWAWh9HYbGtEfSe_RxhoayLLOkAsag5MutJ1LuXnh8xX9wbA9iqFN8Mr3iZSps7iLyaG-bhl_yungGIW6hNsc2Rw8O9ueecjG1__rnZK_S-J4Mcv1-rU0ju-UpIn09BG02/s1600/P1016531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATpuY4BFqA8AWAWh9HYbGtEfSe_RxhoayLLOkAsag5MutJ1LuXnh8xX9wbA9iqFN8Mr3iZSps7iLyaG-bhl_yungGIW6hNsc2Rw8O9ueecjG1__rnZK_S-J4Mcv1-rU0ju-UpIn09BG02/s320/P1016531.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This garden studio by Nigel Dunnett is made from a refurbished shipping container and had an overall theme of sustainability.<br />
<a href="http://www.rbc.com/">www.rbc.com</a><br />
<br />
Chelsea was everything I hoped it would be. The latest trends and old favorites blend beautifully in this incredible venue. Fortunately, the weather was bright and sunny….a good thing for a garden show that is held outdoors! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Chelsea's Gold Metal garden winner for best of show was Cleve West. Created for the Daily Telegraph and entitled 'Modern Classic', this entry featured a sunken garden framed by walls, trees and moving water and the garden was punctuated by monolithic columns. I thought this garden could easily be set down on any site in California! <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/chelseaflowershow">www.telegraph.co.uk/chelseaflowershow</a> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Daily Telegraph Garden</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLd9EeoeoCqad_cT0byOWWRxTLDRoimizd8e0bTAQXwKB8qbbFBh0jBE8FxNjChqspCk0JwdcY54L-JBSXDwNHXuWMj1tYazZUdRZEW8eGJCvXJok-rxXqSt3AtMzJRopQ0ZhyN-1bXeH/s1600/P1016316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLd9EeoeoCqad_cT0byOWWRxTLDRoimizd8e0bTAQXwKB8qbbFBh0jBE8FxNjChqspCk0JwdcY54L-JBSXDwNHXuWMj1tYazZUdRZEW8eGJCvXJok-rxXqSt3AtMzJRopQ0ZhyN-1bXeH/s320/P1016316.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"> Cleve West's Garden 'A Modern Classic'</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BLB_k-GExFersSDKouYKbZ-Bj6glb-vjW-Ahu-VJ4aqRsAHIIiNFrRsR7U6YBaMwfo_E7PFQKz1287bvgQYTXjOpVWEdCSH1rP5szqDSLux6T00Z89h0K-E84nyGppE8MKD0pPpoYc0l/s1600/P1016321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BLB_k-GExFersSDKouYKbZ-Bj6glb-vjW-Ahu-VJ4aqRsAHIIiNFrRsR7U6YBaMwfo_E7PFQKz1287bvgQYTXjOpVWEdCSH1rP5szqDSLux6T00Z89h0K-E84nyGppE8MKD0pPpoYc0l/s320/P1016321.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">Stone foot bridge and rill. </div></div><div class="MsoNormal">The Crocus Nursery installed this garden and many of the other Chelsea show gardens. Check out Crocus at <a href="http://www.crocus.co.uk/">www.crocus.co.uk</a>. I’ve used many of their planting schemes which are found online. Most of the plant schemes for the show gardens are also listed on their web page. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbsfASayZ5bTx5u56w1AxolMaBDdmI6Ze9u2vWZ7nS1UtljdNhwZZsImC_IBrCU2Jzlx2_JM8QBbHNgAYKgfh1JKO5wDwjuZUUq25AuT4AuhHb-5g9IqMZYS0aYZju6HWdvw_bpf31vMw/s1600/P1016313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbsfASayZ5bTx5u56w1AxolMaBDdmI6Ze9u2vWZ7nS1UtljdNhwZZsImC_IBrCU2Jzlx2_JM8QBbHNgAYKgfh1JKO5wDwjuZUUq25AuT4AuhHb-5g9IqMZYS0aYZju6HWdvw_bpf31vMw/s320/P1016313.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Planting scheme for 'A Modern Classic'.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Australian Garden </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesQMReRt_DVNtyApcKO4wsDHUvTHMpX0eHkq5Z-DpzmrEgMs08C3nOggE08OEjccTbgKPlfG1GZgeKMfGZpap97hVZzWxU9Ysm4yHVzbuUrchWkyGoRytZoxdZ7x7iYl6rwS-JBvWPwZ7/s1600/P1016302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesQMReRt_DVNtyApcKO4wsDHUvTHMpX0eHkq5Z-DpzmrEgMs08C3nOggE08OEjccTbgKPlfG1GZgeKMfGZpap97hVZzWxU9Ysm4yHVzbuUrchWkyGoRytZoxdZ7x7iYl6rwS-JBvWPwZ7/s320/P1016302.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> The Australian Garden, presented by the Royal Botanical Garden in Melbourne contained every plant we use in California. The plantings were lush and dramatic. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.australiangarden.com.au/">www.australiangarden.com.au</a> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>B&Q Garden</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhec5Rap6PtzBMYKLGdedrPSU46BJkcpEF5o0vwuMYQhezgTuxYgExpCjJyZYGuye2yo4hyphenhyphenXrRRQNdMcKI_6_Pm-32W-uGCNHsmAlRz6M_1Mzmq2zm7NC7Y1q7lekQ3610PbN9sTPdHqjKW/s1600/P1016348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhec5Rap6PtzBMYKLGdedrPSU46BJkcpEF5o0vwuMYQhezgTuxYgExpCjJyZYGuye2yo4hyphenhyphenXrRRQNdMcKI_6_Pm-32W-uGCNHsmAlRz6M_1Mzmq2zm7NC7Y1q7lekQ3610PbN9sTPdHqjKW/s320/P1016348.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Vertical gardens are all the rage. The B&Q garden shows what can be done with green walls and demonstrated how rain harvesting and vegetable gardening can be incorporated in high-rise buildings. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSL_-39fZcl4ECsGDde39Z0Oiz1O1zh9QhoDuzvE9R4VhsdY6sWW5kJhOzWgP-E35W77jqs1sMIV4WstrgREw4wacSB4mSaxVgPu_cHWtwGlKnQ-e9EoKQX1vk8jq2h1y17SDOXGpVb9g4/s1600/P1016351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSL_-39fZcl4ECsGDde39Z0Oiz1O1zh9QhoDuzvE9R4VhsdY6sWW5kJhOzWgP-E35W77jqs1sMIV4WstrgREw4wacSB4mSaxVgPu_cHWtwGlKnQ-e9EoKQX1vk8jq2h1y17SDOXGpVb9g4/s320/P1016351.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">The companion planting for the B&Q garden formed a tapestry of color and texture. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Laurent-Perrier Champagne Garden</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkc3Z8WjjswJP4x7TIEWPpjSd2lkTgNET6w6IAsGJ8JaGxIyvIBSxApsvBtwvVhd77FubKVbB5bvwB8BDbGLOUAfUM5-uNccR5wsEQHCvxsgG609_P7UtKVAK6y85YRjRstczG1JZFJzz/s1600/P1016309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkc3Z8WjjswJP4x7TIEWPpjSd2lkTgNET6w6IAsGJ8JaGxIyvIBSxApsvBtwvVhd77FubKVbB5bvwB8BDbGLOUAfUM5-uNccR5wsEQHCvxsgG609_P7UtKVAK6y85YRjRstczG1JZFJzz/s320/P1016309.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Water plays prominently in most of the show gardens as shown here in the Laurent-Perrier Champagne Garden designed by Luciano Giubbilei. The lavender stones of the rill complemented the muted tones of the planting.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Daimuid Gavin's Garden</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jIt4bFXWerFmLkMung2qcY8-cQr2m8-zkZLyLqd6-pxsbA39dfCFH1vZRF2jCLTKpwXBjR-DUZl85tZs9QGTN9F5_A1cv2Hsl-vKhKmiL4EWF90ye1gCm-HNb4fb7Tf22PP1PB02y8z8/s1600/P1016360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jIt4bFXWerFmLkMung2qcY8-cQr2m8-zkZLyLqd6-pxsbA39dfCFH1vZRF2jCLTKpwXBjR-DUZl85tZs9QGTN9F5_A1cv2Hsl-vKhKmiL4EWF90ye1gCm-HNb4fb7Tf22PP1PB02y8z8/s320/P1016360.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZDsOpqPqa23TVrskZPPAhftPcOaVXBDx4X63gZG8peM_kIiEVhLVwxpFXrhyphenhyphen-UQ-PaOzt100cWG4Teya_YKL5TFp48vvApIlgSKhZpiQyBrdLnTUCZv_1mc4g1PyOUIDOrq9dw4Un3I3Q/s1600/P1016354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZDsOpqPqa23TVrskZPPAhftPcOaVXBDx4X63gZG8peM_kIiEVhLVwxpFXrhyphenhyphen-UQ-PaOzt100cWG4Teya_YKL5TFp48vvApIlgSKhZpiQyBrdLnTUCZv_1mc4g1PyOUIDOrq9dw4Un3I3Q/s320/P1016354.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Diarmuid Gavin won the People’s Choice award for his garden titled ‘Irish Sky Garden’. When the crane lowered the hanging garden, you climbed on and the crane lifted you for a bird’s eye view of the garden below. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www%2Ediarmuidgavindesigns@co.uk/">www.diarmuidgavindesigns@co.uk</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Japanese Garden</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aZV1A5p0cHiAUmKM1EuahqwzlbVWBElfSpIPf5VYcbdJ-qKGHbUsu2JWFKtDLNMJjiIs8iJBhQA7QF13UXQOUGX3bkkqWNZGLaJV5oe47aRNdiX6e4HN1wylJ-Tv2qKeI821Av-htJTM/s1600/P1016365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aZV1A5p0cHiAUmKM1EuahqwzlbVWBElfSpIPf5VYcbdJ-qKGHbUsu2JWFKtDLNMJjiIs8iJBhQA7QF13UXQOUGX3bkkqWNZGLaJV5oe47aRNdiX6e4HN1wylJ-Tv2qKeI821Av-htJTM/s320/P1016365.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> 'Beautiful Paradise' was the entry from Tokyo, Japan. Designer, Isihara Kazuyuki, created a stairway to a pergola that hopes to inspire treasured memories. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.kaza-hana.jp/">www.kaza-hana.jp</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Monaco Garden</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHxRYC7DKMjSKTqokWQfE2scXfTVdy4erUFvc8co4GhklsStQiMbLAIbTTw0DNUkANM3iWN9umpuEU-7A8Bfv8_jCmxFb6W-JWxrGdKpqTUCPjAxgJBvjySIKN_mp0dPSTobF1git3v7Y/s1600/P1016502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHxRYC7DKMjSKTqokWQfE2scXfTVdy4erUFvc8co4GhklsStQiMbLAIbTTw0DNUkANM3iWN9umpuEU-7A8Bfv8_jCmxFb6W-JWxrGdKpqTUCPjAxgJBvjySIKN_mp0dPSTobF1git3v7Y/s320/P1016502.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> The Principality of Monaco’s entry by Designer Sarah Eberle. The pool was 5' deep and 30'x10'. I love the chaise lounges. </div><div class="MsoNormal"> <a href="http://www.saraheberle.com/">www.saraheberle.com</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">M&G Investments Garden</span> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt69X7aFmlLp6unFee63vnjLZp8hSvx4kay9Oefo4yNvfMK5dUXOMPbsnjKWuk3MVaFFMBjUWO8FEGxcEa5l8g-J2ppXtzp8mMB0f1uKEI_XGVjVWCLVSiN-0S0_u5fTHYX2RpBl4MjQCT/s1600/P1016510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt69X7aFmlLp6unFee63vnjLZp8hSvx4kay9Oefo4yNvfMK5dUXOMPbsnjKWuk3MVaFFMBjUWO8FEGxcEa5l8g-J2ppXtzp8mMB0f1uKEI_XGVjVWCLVSiN-0S0_u5fTHYX2RpBl4MjQCT/s320/P1016510.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> The beautiful M&G Investments Garden, designed by Bunny Guinness, featured raised vegetable beds and was one of my favorites. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiUxVplIto1moooszjdbeDEjE3MurWMneBXDJYrL1QTh5KQi5bR4Rb726lukhL9ClNHgHpGHi_4Z6olj4mnJ1kfUcpCDV41JxogXRUWa_A8ow12dUI7dk4Gc6FOYaZ19qT9YHg3TjaETB/s1600/P1016514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiUxVplIto1moooszjdbeDEjE3MurWMneBXDJYrL1QTh5KQi5bR4Rb726lukhL9ClNHgHpGHi_4Z6olj4mnJ1kfUcpCDV41JxogXRUWa_A8ow12dUI7dk4Gc6FOYaZ19qT9YHg3TjaETB/s320/P1016514.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Another view of the Guinness garden </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdc7hH1yqT-KhXNB-Ef1G1w9etkPYPr4PjPu2qx9VKY5EstBAgCXkT56olNnIi6B-qCyZz-wosKoqoPSlzl6hsur6yICC8Vord8OtdrRAKcZQZq4SxFlwnksD2kLFkT9hlVrE-47eMQNAE/s1600/P1016508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdc7hH1yqT-KhXNB-Ef1G1w9etkPYPr4PjPu2qx9VKY5EstBAgCXkT56olNnIi6B-qCyZz-wosKoqoPSlzl6hsur6yICC8Vord8OtdrRAKcZQZq4SxFlwnksD2kLFkT9hlVrE-47eMQNAE/s320/P1016508.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Raised bed detail </div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.mandg.co.uk/chelsea">www.mandg.co.uk/chelsea</a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Many of these show gardens will be installed in client’s private gardens or installed at RHS Wisley.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Small Urban Gardens </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Another category of show gardens were the Urban Garden entries designed to replicate smaller city gardens.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjpizmc0AyJwoWWfsRDBaZI_Jwq_jRj5HttmkInZaAGO82k2XbYGxwfhFbl0UDVOHQExOg93LJCp_C8BGfkFq0Aq2LvA8liq8S0f9e6_YERFqXJKlxmxLsu8ZPH7-dkqvjRMsNMV4nCmG/s1600/P1016433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjpizmc0AyJwoWWfsRDBaZI_Jwq_jRj5HttmkInZaAGO82k2XbYGxwfhFbl0UDVOHQExOg93LJCp_C8BGfkFq0Aq2LvA8liq8S0f9e6_YERFqXJKlxmxLsu8ZPH7-dkqvjRMsNMV4nCmG/s320/P1016433.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Entry from the Doncaster Deaf Trust. Note the metal benches. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg67AOVidQbE3N3D72UGvCM6dIv78NGAtjH5sQ0d3D3Fbpc-346I-0IpEL_-K4b-UfYZHBPpIk2ctq-nYpsRqqEUvlYn4zDKKkDg0M3DasUmtzdWJSmRcoJb_MZmcKEoojwlLd5OM3PDGEL/s1600/P1016439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg67AOVidQbE3N3D72UGvCM6dIv78NGAtjH5sQ0d3D3Fbpc-346I-0IpEL_-K4b-UfYZHBPpIk2ctq-nYpsRqqEUvlYn4zDKKkDg0M3DasUmtzdWJSmRcoJb_MZmcKEoojwlLd5OM3PDGEL/s320/P1016439.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Fountain from one of the smaller Urban Gardens. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Artisan Gardens</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOLeXcJ2HTinEHm5mE-QKqRELUerg6dJe5rG0jNtMs7L28hep00jXUNrsCSIWQ0yo2v5kbFhj3SpyiFWsrCNlpR9yDTyikqqA9eJL6n6in7PnRqo62kiq5oSop9MC8eAaZB3uzcwNBtbG/s1600/P1016539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOLeXcJ2HTinEHm5mE-QKqRELUerg6dJe5rG0jNtMs7L28hep00jXUNrsCSIWQ0yo2v5kbFhj3SpyiFWsrCNlpR9yDTyikqqA9eJL6n6in7PnRqo62kiq5oSop9MC8eAaZB3uzcwNBtbG/s320/P1016539.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Still smaller, a section called ‘The Artisan Gardens’ is also included in the show gardens. These are smaller rustic country gardens and ‘A Postcard from Wales’, was designed by Kati Crome and Maggie Hughs. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5aksfnpSSqXW0raHt4TRVA36iEAtWs91qonTPdo_yh3qpmVxSW_vm8ZUwaYj3v5PibywFVckWZyc64HotF17h7Sv6_gRq-rm9Mhji_amdOHKUbW4sKemNLvcbhiyDFSKyddCrsUKOzpTt/s1600/P1016528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5aksfnpSSqXW0raHt4TRVA36iEAtWs91qonTPdo_yh3qpmVxSW_vm8ZUwaYj3v5PibywFVckWZyc64HotF17h7Sv6_gRq-rm9Mhji_amdOHKUbW4sKemNLvcbhiyDFSKyddCrsUKOzpTt/s320/P1016528.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Great Pavilion!</b></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal">Inside this football-field sized Pavilion are many of the flowers and plants of the world. </div><div class="MsoNormal"> Most of the famous plant hybridist and nurseries are competing for ‘Best of Show’ for their displays as well as their plant quality. On the last day of the show, people can come in and buy these plants at a discounted rate. Amazingly, also on the last day, you can buy plants from the show gardens. It becomes quite a frenzy. I’ve heard that many a tall Delphinium has been chopped off by closing train doors! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Uofy3opXo97eVcNo3m6i0vH7kfSznG6Ulz_d4DguZF0LOe406G69VJIcLAhSH1n4AdDORnQZ4ctAOv7ySV_QvcDTfzSyvK2R-j-egdvloXzEF32eUIoNI_cG7gwCCKbcVT4qAoYZ-Z38/s1600/P1016464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Uofy3opXo97eVcNo3m6i0vH7kfSznG6Ulz_d4DguZF0LOe406G69VJIcLAhSH1n4AdDORnQZ4ctAOv7ySV_QvcDTfzSyvK2R-j-egdvloXzEF32eUIoNI_cG7gwCCKbcVT4qAoYZ-Z38/s320/P1016464.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> A few of the show plants…Clematis </div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mwi6g2ck_FYl7JH4VYCjM-8ex2ghyfzv6e4tgxWNvg3okNeUcVCY-XZiZzxhL-6J864vmHoElv8bN_R4CtKOaJI5nYfP3NQpu0IfQUn79gC-0nBRH15iNAvdgT4ufxbEh2zManlPiig8/s1600/P1016414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mwi6g2ck_FYl7JH4VYCjM-8ex2ghyfzv6e4tgxWNvg3okNeUcVCY-XZiZzxhL-6J864vmHoElv8bN_R4CtKOaJI5nYfP3NQpu0IfQUn79gC-0nBRH15iNAvdgT4ufxbEh2zManlPiig8/s320/P1016414.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> David Austin roses </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonNM8TMvgrdNwNB9X2CKYOJlp5CNpIoygRIX-eALCMit-OPgxhXcjhtPO3VQOTGv1xIo2YWA_fBNBfihhHaF1NuqFp_FWeJyL8wmGUKEQP7hBktvqVmx796KPnyzsTXg9TE5RTVRF-bOE/s1600/P1016372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonNM8TMvgrdNwNB9X2CKYOJlp5CNpIoygRIX-eALCMit-OPgxhXcjhtPO3VQOTGv1xIo2YWA_fBNBfihhHaF1NuqFp_FWeJyL8wmGUKEQP7hBktvqVmx796KPnyzsTXg9TE5RTVRF-bOE/s320/P1016372.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Alliums Galore! I've never had success with Alliums. Any suggestions?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpy_0kcRYAFkR95CcKcSUqIj9InKQs7_odFrNeEBYJcaBo1Z-05h6GI_dTU9VBJ-mj5Yv9WdEeBPEjlvln4KW4RY2OBJGMSOuCU6L_JTAreCUB8rV32Xae37e9uwnCikpwhXMAquVo8jF/s1600/P1016381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpy_0kcRYAFkR95CcKcSUqIj9InKQs7_odFrNeEBYJcaBo1Z-05h6GI_dTU9VBJ-mj5Yv9WdEeBPEjlvln4KW4RY2OBJGMSOuCU6L_JTAreCUB8rV32Xae37e9uwnCikpwhXMAquVo8jF/s320/P1016381.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> A million petals from the Kirstenbasch South African National Biodiversity Institute </div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHCyEQoZF92UOnmRq3U-t1DbRWpFXc7iyLpRxoCVvqh-jukmU7gJSmnXXnVZagQLL53daucV-l9yeF3q03t_w-YQKUUFuxiCXnVUEKpl4D7IEmHl1KqOjnRzbtcN41UldUUEplodOS0km/s1600/P1016394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHCyEQoZF92UOnmRq3U-t1DbRWpFXc7iyLpRxoCVvqh-jukmU7gJSmnXXnVZagQLL53daucV-l9yeF3q03t_w-YQKUUFuxiCXnVUEKpl4D7IEmHl1KqOjnRzbtcN41UldUUEplodOS0km/s320/P1016394.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Jacket Made of flowers and leaves from Hillier Nurseries and Garden Centers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAj9q6NPrcqzSt6F4yscU5TaMNXujj2a_pBvJE2hdotGjmRlVOm4iVal3jVOX_qV6OekVlhH0SXAPLBhTn-xERgCwYS1DfqOgqDr0oNv8p_IZfRKkBrRReHcc0WJV14yQRxxxWlukXjwW/s1600/P1016386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAj9q6NPrcqzSt6F4yscU5TaMNXujj2a_pBvJE2hdotGjmRlVOm4iVal3jVOX_qV6OekVlhH0SXAPLBhTn-xERgCwYS1DfqOgqDr0oNv8p_IZfRKkBrRReHcc0WJV14yQRxxxWlukXjwW/s320/P1016386.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOOXbNZ3GFWAyV3Sm96XzZl2wENdeo3FGLltW_hQ_d3YsBSeFMO-Q3zNP4NZl4cZWnFkyEQBx8MUDHOgmMm-NjcipIGBaw1BSYVX1-nqYWNiykorghlE5gKl1XUmjUBcBr1GESIFHc7bG/s1600/P1016393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOOXbNZ3GFWAyV3Sm96XzZl2wENdeo3FGLltW_hQ_d3YsBSeFMO-Q3zNP4NZl4cZWnFkyEQBx8MUDHOgmMm-NjcipIGBaw1BSYVX1-nqYWNiykorghlE5gKl1XUmjUBcBr1GESIFHc7bG/s320/P1016393.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> The tool makers Bulldog Forge created this vegetable and perennial garden in the Pavilion. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.bulldogtools.co.uk/">www.Bulldogtools.co.uk</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Eastern Avenue - Product Row</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Down this lane is everything you’d ever want for yourself, your garden or your home! Each booth or product also competes for the Product of the Year and a Gold Medal. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Gpzw3_820leJsdrYsWUWwjOAWKsz2qdozBcZyShTW65aIpjhJvK8q6ubxvM3UCgQzZH99Z3D1PDcrx6kP93D2SbdqXHeXZljUd7Q6edWxUAjehSVvGNabJYM9ldqwbZLe2XeTW3BPM9F/s1600/P1016532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Gpzw3_820leJsdrYsWUWwjOAWKsz2qdozBcZyShTW65aIpjhJvK8q6ubxvM3UCgQzZH99Z3D1PDcrx6kP93D2SbdqXHeXZljUd7Q6edWxUAjehSVvGNabJYM9ldqwbZLe2XeTW3BPM9F/s320/P1016532.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7OLtXOQjB_seE2ihvBwHSjTfAbVYHPpSRaL1rVboymFZBvLnqYOXmux-_n38NGQrTcb6s7RWJr1qSPG1Q8am_XTby0imyQP6KhDPLn3vyetY_lZJm9AbFSV4IUVLmjIAs7v0gurNHhlac/s1600/P1016545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7OLtXOQjB_seE2ihvBwHSjTfAbVYHPpSRaL1rVboymFZBvLnqYOXmux-_n38NGQrTcb6s7RWJr1qSPG1Q8am_XTby0imyQP6KhDPLn3vyetY_lZJm9AbFSV4IUVLmjIAs7v0gurNHhlac/s320/P1016545.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Sophie Conran’s booth (Niece to the Conran Scion) showcased tools she had designed for Burgon and Ball. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>May 26 - Back to the Country and a visit with Rosemary Alexander</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Saying goodbye to Chelsea and London, I rented a car and drove back down to Kent to visit Merriments Nursery and Pashley Manor Garden. I stayed at the charming Sissinghurst Farm House hotel. When I arrived I was served tea and cake in the drawing room and chatted with other guests who were all there to attend Chelsea. Staying at the farmhouse allows you to visit and photograph the Sissinghurst gardens in the late afternoon when no one is there. Quite a treat.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.sissinghurstcastlefarmhouse.com/">www.sissinghurstcastlefarmhouse.com</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sissinghurst Farm House Hotel</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZaKS6pduPYLeLCsC2NwFGyVUSpkwvqzEFh9sCYOTyuNk8kTU4_7LsLDSnmEUz-Q-AY5FqTg7Ti8yRtINWkc9ykHeStTlwfhANtHvixB7k9bL8pOxY3duAVvZuU4owBK27iq6LzQIDSSIM/s1600/P1016549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZaKS6pduPYLeLCsC2NwFGyVUSpkwvqzEFh9sCYOTyuNk8kTU4_7LsLDSnmEUz-Q-AY5FqTg7Ti8yRtINWkc9ykHeStTlwfhANtHvixB7k9bL8pOxY3duAVvZuU4owBK27iq6LzQIDSSIM/s320/P1016549.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal">The next day, leaving Sissinghurst behind, I headed for Merriments Nursery, a large and beautiful retail nursery with display gardens to rival any garden in England. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Merrriments</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8dmon3RdOFcLS0izbEsOdnPJQHGhkwNIFqI548Yh7O8EeKceTwz4cmQPQAnRPNnOM2NsJVIGCO4RpiPRciXTvWXw4cAk8ZwqjPpzMTlKPlRVodMROUGZPS1Zd_esRSuxEw6FtFKszHKt/s1600/P1016693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8dmon3RdOFcLS0izbEsOdnPJQHGhkwNIFqI548Yh7O8EeKceTwz4cmQPQAnRPNnOM2NsJVIGCO4RpiPRciXTvWXw4cAk8ZwqjPpzMTlKPlRVodMROUGZPS1Zd_esRSuxEw6FtFKszHKt/s320/P1016693.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Rill garden at Merriments </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzF39JNWWq_F8T2ip31D3o34O8qD61VAVf2WE7y_Xf2TOntL4dsOcGJyriVwlglO0NWq_5b9XRsFuB4jJySuhWSPCWF5xiDH4M3pjyPHKOm7mgc4i_TJiZamYfI5839H-GUz3bCI95NkXC/s1600/P1016704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzF39JNWWq_F8T2ip31D3o34O8qD61VAVf2WE7y_Xf2TOntL4dsOcGJyriVwlglO0NWq_5b9XRsFuB4jJySuhWSPCWF5xiDH4M3pjyPHKOm7mgc4i_TJiZamYfI5839H-GUz3bCI95NkXC/s320/P1016704.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> One of the many meandering paths at Merriments </div><div class="MsoNormal">Merriments had a very special feature in the display gardens, a little shelter where you could sit and watch birds feed. Dozens of birds swarmed around a dozen feeders. I took out my bird book and identified a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chaffinch, and Yellow Finch among others. My sister Polly has turned me on to the joys of bird watching.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.merriments.co.uk/">www.merriments.co.uk</a> </div><div class="MsoNormal">Close by Merriments is Pashley Manor. In the past, Pashley has always been the favorite garden of almost every traveler who’s been on one of my tours. Privately owned, Pashley prominently displays and promotes sculpture and art throughout the garden. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.pashleymanorgarden.com/">www.pashleymanorgarden.com</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Pashley Manor Garden</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xjk1S3zPFjCbz8eKNHzDUnvkUKpjVlRiJj4p3tFC6FAlWCERZpg4msG0DZHEv5aI3C3eKevpoGUtshI_0WpP70yY0NbYyuEXLN82nYi1lGpvSUqY1Z1qZ03QQ8iNaurly4AGKhpYZMxt/s1600/P1016743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xjk1S3zPFjCbz8eKNHzDUnvkUKpjVlRiJj4p3tFC6FAlWCERZpg4msG0DZHEv5aI3C3eKevpoGUtshI_0WpP70yY0NbYyuEXLN82nYi1lGpvSUqY1Z1qZ03QQ8iNaurly4AGKhpYZMxt/s320/P1016743.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Bather near the hothouse covered in roses </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdaozBYK89Pl9bu7ScR7sLxVw65F20HG0pu1kV2gcGsUr8Dje-McXyQ-EXEbATI50TzHeiXGafYTJWtpX8sIY3TSWq2Ea3e10gqGOdnXXtKLbTezNokAkM79K9xNn3Wtn_Bu1jYQkojRsD/s1600/P1016749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdaozBYK89Pl9bu7ScR7sLxVw65F20HG0pu1kV2gcGsUr8Dje-McXyQ-EXEbATI50TzHeiXGafYTJWtpX8sIY3TSWq2Ea3e10gqGOdnXXtKLbTezNokAkM79K9xNn3Wtn_Bu1jYQkojRsD/s320/P1016749.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Looking across the lawn to the pond and fields beyond </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtFj4fR9QQtQKEz7A-Dpnf6ur5n67DV6QS44qLB6RawjZVvF1Uiz-5iuBYwlr2jAmsKbgEmVNFtd-nfP0xWNZz_OY-BLcC6j_8aHO3i7SzEIaS0qmEm4XCU-sAAHvxYa6Jo5B-0cpCoyK/s1600/P1016748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtFj4fR9QQtQKEz7A-Dpnf6ur5n67DV6QS44qLB6RawjZVvF1Uiz-5iuBYwlr2jAmsKbgEmVNFtd-nfP0xWNZz_OY-BLcC6j_8aHO3i7SzEIaS0qmEm4XCU-sAAHvxYa6Jo5B-0cpCoyK/s320/P1016748.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> One of the borders at Pashley Manor </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoUyfRsJqADhMiHp1Hx9N_1GMuVMT3PnKA9yRv3A9nI6NAiaGo8NUaO-1y_JvYFdMIdfReJ6Ex8ppOyj1koZvluDOFzXWf5LPnr0ezxMXi6UeNc8nq0o1uEU-5r33ZRlKUKoP9SqyffoP/s1600/P1016758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoUyfRsJqADhMiHp1Hx9N_1GMuVMT3PnKA9yRv3A9nI6NAiaGo8NUaO-1y_JvYFdMIdfReJ6Ex8ppOyj1koZvluDOFzXWf5LPnr0ezxMXi6UeNc8nq0o1uEU-5r33ZRlKUKoP9SqyffoP/s320/P1016758.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Berberis border leading to the Lutyens bench. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_md2lKejC83_dBEIf5jzg7GmSmzul2Z70rr47174rTqUJMC9QC9FMWUP6Jj_3IKmaZX7uB0DS-vaYlLzJ5IzwvlBRrfP5xK8m1uwh9ruUuiN8jFfIgj0H7u9Rhnz6iyiobXrmum6y5rM/s1600/P1016774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_md2lKejC83_dBEIf5jzg7GmSmzul2Z70rr47174rTqUJMC9QC9FMWUP6Jj_3IKmaZX7uB0DS-vaYlLzJ5IzwvlBRrfP5xK8m1uwh9ruUuiN8jFfIgj0H7u9Rhnz6iyiobXrmum6y5rM/s320/P1016774.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Many gardens lure visitors with their superb restaurants. Lunch under the umbrellas at Pashley is always wonderful. I had the best mushroom tart. </div><div class="MsoNormal">After Pashley Manor, I went in search of my bed and breakfast where I would stay for the next 2 nights. Search is the operative word since I got completely lost. However, thanks to some friendly villagers, I was set right and eventually on my way.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>May 27-28 Chainhurst Cottage</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">I spent two lovely nights at Chainhurst Cottage. The owner, Heather Scott, was a student at the English Gardening School years ago and her design skills were demonstrated in her beautiful garden. Heather was readying her garden for the Open Days the following weekend. Each summer, private homes offer their gardens to the Open Days Scheme which raises money for charities. Heather was expecting 200 people over the two days. I worked with Heather and her husband Richard weeding and raking up clippings from the hedges. I felt privileged for the opportunity to work with my welcoming hosts and it seemed like I was with two dear friends. I highly recommend Chainhurst Cottage. My room was large and had all the amenities of an elegant hotel.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.chainhurstcottages.co.uk/">www.chainhurstcottages.co.uk</a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcU9BEBavuT6aQO9AFpqzE2PVVBa0o6c3Cevf4BwiXBjMtVWuHanaANIrI3r9sEdMzztxV1ra7-3_EFfbbcIIk9NLU5XqquqFDdDbNGW3tJLwNEgy7iaMxbUMK_JctmSl_2p54FQmAFxdT/s1600/P1016790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcU9BEBavuT6aQO9AFpqzE2PVVBa0o6c3Cevf4BwiXBjMtVWuHanaANIrI3r9sEdMzztxV1ra7-3_EFfbbcIIk9NLU5XqquqFDdDbNGW3tJLwNEgy7iaMxbUMK_JctmSl_2p54FQmAFxdT/s320/P1016790.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Heather’s vegetable garden with Bamboo Cloches in the foreground and Oast houses in the background.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-If9BfS6RTj8SI8A6PEtoC7p4nmj03HtPxiLZvEbtfZiFdc2eued7j50JvtsY63Y7xoFt_UbyLiGqYIrLAhF8yY-iWli_rJRwRBaZRDolLtikSZ7zZ0gRoBume3WhzxdZ8WOm6S2F3QG/s1600/P1016817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-If9BfS6RTj8SI8A6PEtoC7p4nmj03HtPxiLZvEbtfZiFdc2eued7j50JvtsY63Y7xoFt_UbyLiGqYIrLAhF8yY-iWli_rJRwRBaZRDolLtikSZ7zZ0gRoBume3WhzxdZ8WOm6S2F3QG/s320/P1016817.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> The solarium where breakfast was served each morning. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqeyM9mYantRAGYj1vvtIXfA6DXTfBoNp_xfeOnBKdz99zLlTpD10hyphenhyphenSxxG4oLZg3PrZeG-zQEQlRCif0hNMz2FUgTn-o5dgxTlPQSA11hs0h4XV25d1Ue3YDNnr-Ui1G_2qCtfw8d8PV/s1600/P1016853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqeyM9mYantRAGYj1vvtIXfA6DXTfBoNp_xfeOnBKdz99zLlTpD10hyphenhyphenSxxG4oLZg3PrZeG-zQEQlRCif0hNMz2FUgTn-o5dgxTlPQSA11hs0h4XV25d1Ue3YDNnr-Ui1G_2qCtfw8d8PV/s320/P1016853.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Breakfast in the solarium </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWotR00MKCy8g48Svx0tYliRKyyoNLqfg2QxPNb04OygeDSF5-_vL3oGgmPdogY7sHFxWxHX3eULINxxlT0JyxXqwRAM0IcY-mqLFxBsx3-4RvPEHEveieeDJdZmy-QVWKnzu_8QWtYQd/s1600/P1016804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWotR00MKCy8g48Svx0tYliRKyyoNLqfg2QxPNb04OygeDSF5-_vL3oGgmPdogY7sHFxWxHX3eULINxxlT0JyxXqwRAM0IcY-mqLFxBsx3-4RvPEHEveieeDJdZmy-QVWKnzu_8QWtYQd/s320/P1016804.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The view from my room overlooking the garden and the fields beyond. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>May 29 - A Visit with Rosemary Alexander, Dean of the English Gardening School at Chelsea.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Leaving Kent early the next morning and heading for Rosemary Alexander’s home, I spotted another yellow ‘Open Days’ sign and followed a tiny winding road searching for the open garden. At one point I was so far off the main road that I thought I’d better turn back. Glad I didn’t. I found one of the most charming gardens and it was early enough for a private tour by the owner. Most of these Open Days gardens have plants for sale that the owners have propagated.<br />
The Open Days Garden. My treat at the end of the road! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsM3HF9hSxQrvJybUhIZTNqQ4UcA56_kS6m1czeswUINz5gz_7m2HKytjXyLjy9M0HOzX_STg1PxNnXeNXlZTVekNU8wjtezR-L0EU5iPFWrZs5J9dS4eU31S6D10Kc0N-Bxzz8FOfJt2/s1600/P1016856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsM3HF9hSxQrvJybUhIZTNqQ4UcA56_kS6m1czeswUINz5gz_7m2HKytjXyLjy9M0HOzX_STg1PxNnXeNXlZTVekNU8wjtezR-L0EU5iPFWrZs5J9dS4eU31S6D10Kc0N-Bxzz8FOfJt2/s320/P1016856.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEKL-0ikg8O52QQUuvsi8_9t5YifSZbKvYWK9PT7fya9rF03owUR69JUiiEeXHmWAMdO5wg80AyTVxz5KJ-b5gbC9xuS36X1uKMccK8CyAtruDIfYnhh5NTeiAmxxxhwwmmlFY_kK-FJ1Q/s1600/P1016886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEKL-0ikg8O52QQUuvsi8_9t5YifSZbKvYWK9PT7fya9rF03owUR69JUiiEeXHmWAMdO5wg80AyTVxz5KJ-b5gbC9xuS36X1uKMccK8CyAtruDIfYnhh5NTeiAmxxxhwwmmlFY_kK-FJ1Q/s320/P1016886.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Entrance to the perennial garden <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikb9ooaaGRSJcTxbycdXz-gRfVIjfueqKqLtJrmMd7RSSc-Tc9i3Zehx-OUdLYHuhP6PS4F0alpOwn2UvaX0by3HOkNB2Wabf5l4Go7MfqUSfp_x7QBvvpCOwRETA-8ItZgb0oZkDvVsPh/s1600/P1016879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikb9ooaaGRSJcTxbycdXz-gRfVIjfueqKqLtJrmMd7RSSc-Tc9i3Zehx-OUdLYHuhP6PS4F0alpOwn2UvaX0by3HOkNB2Wabf5l4Go7MfqUSfp_x7QBvvpCOwRETA-8ItZgb0oZkDvVsPh/s320/P1016879.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Looking back at the house </div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>On to Rosemary's</b><br />
After a wonderful visit at the Open Days Garden, I drove north and hopped on the M25 and headed west to my final visit with Rosemary Alexander. <a href="http://www.englishgardeningschool.co.uk/">www.englishgardeningschool.co.uk</a><br />
<b>Rosemary's Home </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBKRMVeA1hygUOngvHniKiJ6OFTK2CCSxtqhMDBT3OpXqROHTZ8-H4pUQ8oFbhX-D7anL3aWAWSwPcKyE1o29njI4Kd57IQgkjh4V0fFMuzZoHAaZcaoHPbgcK83GDW12Tb8YWSc0ev19/s1600/P1016907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBKRMVeA1hygUOngvHniKiJ6OFTK2CCSxtqhMDBT3OpXqROHTZ8-H4pUQ8oFbhX-D7anL3aWAWSwPcKyE1o29njI4Kd57IQgkjh4V0fFMuzZoHAaZcaoHPbgcK83GDW12Tb8YWSc0ev19/s320/P1016907.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKinkQzvPaj5n5ezx1CH7ZhHxTkhAlWmB3gym7JQ3qQyssmpzwvn1cpAYUceMZckHWet2Z1RKpXIMyv8oMmy5HHu7WLXbhF9FCmhyphenhyphenAL7A4CifpXGyojfavBl92h4DCFKbzSEahG_iQW-9/s1600/P1016909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKinkQzvPaj5n5ezx1CH7ZhHxTkhAlWmB3gym7JQ3qQyssmpzwvn1cpAYUceMZckHWet2Z1RKpXIMyv8oMmy5HHu7WLXbhF9FCmhyphenhyphenAL7A4CifpXGyojfavBl92h4DCFKbzSEahG_iQW-9/s320/P1016909.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The front garden<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8s6GHCQDiUrqEZWZl4hZmvc9truxiUsekb15xfkBgvwdxvMwjhp6ZQ52ei5Xm7y3oRYCR0-u-QHmX_aFZ7hPtSjNf569GriO2Mgno3VJCSSKIiHv0ZChUX0i2TvR827xoi1sCcqpG3SXK/s1600/P1016900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8s6GHCQDiUrqEZWZl4hZmvc9truxiUsekb15xfkBgvwdxvMwjhp6ZQ52ei5Xm7y3oRYCR0-u-QHmX_aFZ7hPtSjNf569GriO2Mgno3VJCSSKIiHv0ZChUX0i2TvR827xoi1sCcqpG3SXK/s320/P1016900.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>A corner of the vegetable garden<br />
Arriving late morning, I quickly changed clothes and helped her in the garden. She was also hosting an ‘Open Day’ the next weekend. I set about weeding this vegetable garden above. </div><div class="MsoNormal">We broke for a late lunch and she fixed cold artichoke soup and a salad from greens in her garden. I’m now a big fan of Rocket, a tangy green that I had never tasted before.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNxABkOviJGdjdIs_rwv3Q7jtlbWHht9SUN_Tf4dm8AyaptdPwMtFMuMEyzpTXTve9CH-CSa9HhDr2UoxQCks-bs2tudJPyldTKnY5s3qSMwGAhrp8Ta1ZiMZC29XzdCSRlm8aem-DynN/s1600/Rosemary-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNxABkOviJGdjdIs_rwv3Q7jtlbWHht9SUN_Tf4dm8AyaptdPwMtFMuMEyzpTXTve9CH-CSa9HhDr2UoxQCks-bs2tudJPyldTKnY5s3qSMwGAhrp8Ta1ZiMZC29XzdCSRlm8aem-DynN/s320/Rosemary-3.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> Rosemary gathering veggies for lunch.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjFnjjBCr7f4BYEoye5mmXmN0n_70aSVSzgGVohhCkR1xrQrEk34pXABO0YDPnvdv_fE9sMICXKdWqfu2iZ_kWiOXHOh5IjFIiOGGCt18bUDrl0u9Bxv01Int_9BookTFcvwn-d-sJx0H/s1600/P1016905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjFnjjBCr7f4BYEoye5mmXmN0n_70aSVSzgGVohhCkR1xrQrEk34pXABO0YDPnvdv_fE9sMICXKdWqfu2iZ_kWiOXHOh5IjFIiOGGCt18bUDrl0u9Bxv01Int_9BookTFcvwn-d-sJx0H/s320/P1016905.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Back out to work, I planted fifty, 4” Nicotiana plants in the front garden, deadheaded a climbing rose and cut down all the Autumn Crocus. Because there had been no rain in almost 60 days, Rosemary was watering with this sprinkler. Most gardens in England are watered by hand and sprinklers are at a premium right now. Many gardens have no form of automatic irrigation. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVMg0oTLNqIkir9lUo6lAh9z1WizCadOton9mE7vOmx9hC5jlOXFhN9ZWn1ftBw2cD9iRmjXTUfzo8kPhpJU7pz-OniJjYLL85_1eeRoHmLsm1kwv_5DaE9_Q1gYXdFUlItthj8sbWpnc/s1600/P1016897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVMg0oTLNqIkir9lUo6lAh9z1WizCadOton9mE7vOmx9hC5jlOXFhN9ZWn1ftBw2cD9iRmjXTUfzo8kPhpJU7pz-OniJjYLL85_1eeRoHmLsm1kwv_5DaE9_Q1gYXdFUlItthj8sbWpnc/s320/P1016897.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Rosemary’s guest house, back lawn and rose border. </div><div class="MsoNormal">At 4:00 Rosemary called for tea and she had baked an orange cake that we devoured. Then back out to work for a few hours before dinner at a local pub with Rosemary and her husband George. That night I crawled into bed stiff and tired!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>May 30 - Last day in the country and on to Heathrow Airport</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVd0Y7PKXfl9Ae-iacESi_XKPPXlyPrNM7gBqYV1SfS7TorygUMsiqohm5IjZzXk1Df7okR10d3EaVp2ije_JbF7yufjA-wuY_JwCtX9qk8mVpTm4YwU_NuYNrs1vLGTZNFGn3MWbtujk/s1600/P1016918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVd0Y7PKXfl9Ae-iacESi_XKPPXlyPrNM7gBqYV1SfS7TorygUMsiqohm5IjZzXk1Df7okR10d3EaVp2ije_JbF7yufjA-wuY_JwCtX9qk8mVpTm4YwU_NuYNrs1vLGTZNFGn3MWbtujk/s320/P1016918.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><b> </b>Next morning it was back out to weed the Allium border along Rosemary’s driveway. Not a fun job but I was determined to impress her with my weeding skills. Rosemary is a woman of incredible stamina! After two days of hard work we said our goodbyes and she headed for her 12:00 Pilates class and I limped off for the airport, again stiff and tired!<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Final Thoughts </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Looking back over my photos, I remember each day and all the wonderful experiences I had. This trip will be a treasured memory for years to come. I learned so much, especially about designing perennial borders. One of the tricks is succession planting! <br />
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Much of the garden design business has taken on a 'celebrity' mentality; million dollar garden shows, books, TV personalities, and magazines all promote the best of design today. But what I take away from this trip is that the only thing that really matters is each person's enjoyment of their own garden. Whether it's an allotment in an English village or an acre garden in Atherton, whether it's homegrown or designed by a professional, does the owner spend time in the garden and relish its magic? Whether a person relaxes in the garden with a glass of wine after a long day or enjoys harvesting tomatoes from a container on their balcony, what matters are the simple quite moments in the garden, not the money spent or the celebrity designer.<br />
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Join me next year for Chelsea 2012 and the gardens of Kent and the Cotswold, May 20-30. More details this fall. </div><br />
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</div>Laurie Callawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17602915637710131865noreply@blogger.com0