Outings 2014
Saturday June 14th - Staffordshire
The Garth
In the morning we visit The Garth.
This was the garden we were planning to visit last year until the owner broke her leg!
It is a half-acre garden in Cannock Chase comprising a series of small gardens and water features with many rare perennials and shrubs. It even has ancient sandstone caves.
National Arboretum Memorial Centre
Over lunch we will stop at the National Arboretum Memorial Centre. It is a fascinating and very moving place. There is a small café and there is a land train, which leaves every half hour. A circuit takes an hour.
People can see as much or as little as they wish and we will stay for at least two hours.
Grafton Cottage
I make no apologies for spending the afternoon at Grafton Cottage. We have been there in the past and it is one of my favourite traditional cottage gardens - roses, sweet peas, hollyhocks, clematis – lovely.
Friday July 11th -Northamptonshire
Mill House - Ravensthorpe
In the morning we are going to the village of Ravensthorpe. The first stop will be Mill House. This is a lovely one acre garden with an orchard, pond , pergola, hot bed and shady area
The owner is Heritage Seed library Guardian. Tea and coffee will be available. We then go round the corner to Ravensthorpe Nursery and Garden.
This is a very well stocked, highly recommended nursery and many unusual shrubs and herbaceous perennials plants can be seen in the extensive garden.
Coton Manor Gardens
We then spend the afternoon at Coton Manor Gardens which is close by.
In the survey last year quite a few members recommended Coton Manor. The garden slopes down from the 17th century manor house and is landscaped on different levels with lovely views.
There are luxuriant borders and with colour and interest throughout the year. The roses and clematis should be at their best. Over 1000 varieties of plants are propagated in the nursery there.
Saturday August 9th - Warwickshire
Hill Close Gardens - Warwick
In the morning we go to Warwick to visit Hill Close Gardens, known as the Hidden Hedged Gardens. These are rare survivals of Victorian gardens once used by the townsfolk who didn’t have gardens.
There are 18 individual plots still tended by local people and a number of the original brick summer houses saved by preservation orders. Old paths link the gardens and all plots are very different.
Meadow Farm Garden and Nursery
In the afternoon we visit Meadow Farm Garden and Nursery. Diane and Rob Cole have spoken at our meetings in the past and we visited the nursery and garden 4 years ago. The garden is wonderful and the plants for sale at very reasonable prices.
Last time many members felt that we did not spend long enough there and so this time we will stay at least 2 hours.
It will be interesting to see the garden in a different month and view Rob’s Echinacea trials.
Wednesday 25th June - Evening Visit
Members' Garden - Risley
One of our members, Anne Verity, has kindly offered her garden at Risley. The garden was open in 2012 under the Yellow Book Scheme.
Anne describes it as a plant lovers garden. Troughs and pots surrounded by salvias, lavenders and cistus and further down the garden mixed borders with delphiniums, geraniums, old roses and over 50 clematis.
