HELLO garden lovers and greetings from East Anglia.
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Spring is a special time of year for gardeners, and when you are visiting Britain, the 'nation of gardeners', you know you are in for something special. Mother Nature opened spring in a very patriotic mood with red rhododendrons and camellias in full bloom, white cherry and Hawthorne line the roadsides and bluebells are livening up the forest floors - Rule Britannia!
I remember last time I was in the English countryside, I commented that the prevailing colour was yellow, but this year it's pink and the stars of the show are the cherry trees.
Everywhere they are in full bloom and in every shade from the softest peachy pink through to the brightest luminous lipstick. They line the main roads, village greens and glow in gardens across the country.
But in a few weeks this eye-catching display will soon be over, for with each gentle breeze, the confetti like petals drift from the trees and are carpeting the ground below.
A great treat was a return visit to The Beth Chatto Gardens, a five acre masterpiece created over the last 55 years by one of the greatest plantswoman and inspirational gardeners of the past century. Her practice of putting the 'right plant in the right place' and her great knowledge of plants has been instrumental in creating her beautiful woodland, water garden, screen garden and dry gravel garden.
I had the great pleasure of spending time with Beth in her garden a few years back, but now in her 90s, she leaves the day-to-day running and maintenance to a dedicated team. I have drawn influence from this garden over a number of years particularly the landscaping of my lake.
East Anglia has a great array of gardens to visit including Blickling Hall, Felbrigg Hall and Sheringham Park, and the ancient Hindringham Hall, with three acres of gardens, surrounded by a 13th century moat. When I visited, the daffodils were passing their peak but the bluebell wood was coming into its own.
East Ruston Old Vicarage Garden is a simply stunning garden on all levels. Formally laid out with tall clipped hedges, the garden is divided into a series of rooms, with a surprise around every corner. Many of the avenues have strong focal points including the local church, statues and urns and a clever hole cut into the hedge giving a view of the local lighthouse some miles away. The 'wow factor' at present is the greatest display of potted tulips and other bulbs I have ever seen. It shows great skill and foresight in choosing the perfect colour combinations and organising their arrangement. This garden really is a must see!
My visit is not all about foliage and flowers, which is a good thing because not all gardens have woken from their winter slumber. I had anticipated a great day out at The Bressingham Gardens, viewing their colourful beds and borders, but alas only a few small highlights were on offer. But they did have a steam train ride, WWII and Dad's Army exhibition (part filmed in the area) and a century old carousel - all was not lost! I also spent an evening with a local garden club, which was most enjoyable but almost didn't happen - after taking a wrong turn at Little Snoring, then driving through Great Snoring? I was lost, but when I got to Pott Row, I knew I was back on track!
One of the great pleasures I look forward to when visiting the UK, apart from the beautiful gardens, is spending a few days by the seaside. There is something strangely romantic and also quite corny about English seaside towns - the fun parlours, gravel beaches, freezing temperatures and of course, everyone's favourite, fish and chips! After a hard day of visiting gardens, a few antique shops and driving around quiet country lanes, there is nothing better than to sit on the pier, parcel of greasy fish and chips in hand, noisy seagulls overhead, relax and enjoy the setting sun.
Happy gardening, George