On Saturday the 24th April we visited another of our favourite gardens near us, Merriments Gardens. This garden covers about 4 acres, and is always worth a visit. This visit was to see the most marvelous display of tulips of every imaginable colour, as well as many trees in full blossom. The gardeners have really laid out an incredible display. We like the way they label most of the plants in the garden so we can choose those we would like for our own garden.
The garden should be visited several times a year, as, as summer progresses, so does the garden!
Our pictures can only give you an idea of the splendor, so please try and get to the garden soon to see them for yourself.
I managed to get a picture of Prue and our dog, Lettie, enjoying the view from one of the many benches scattered around the garden:
We often sit quietly in the bird hide to see the some of the over 25 species of birds that feed right in front of you.
The site has a garden terrace restaurant, fantastic nursery and gift shop to fill your every need.
We applied on the ballot for this years Kent Big Day Out event and were fortunate to get our preferred venue, Finchcocks Musical Museum just outside Goudhurst. Due to a prior engagement for lunch we only made the second half of a most enjoyable afternoon, starting off with a cream tea in the cellar restaurant. We then spent time looking at the collection of over 100 historical keyboard instruments and some of their collection of photographs and prints.
We then assembled for a memorable musical recital by Richard Burnett, Gary and Alastair.
A selection of our photographs:
A view of the back of the Georgian house.
At last the daffodils in the lovely gardens are in bloom. Very late this year.
A view of three of the pianos on display
John Broadwood and Sons London 1845 concert grand piano in amboyna wood
We are assembling for the demonstrations and recitals.
Richard on the Adam Beyer 1777 square piano playing a sonato.
Gary and Richard - a duet
A five hand piece by Richard, Gary and Alastair
The recital concluded by Finchcocks curator Alastair Laurence entertaining us with two pieces including Springdance from Bergen.
Please include Finchcocks in your itinary when visiting Kent- opening times are on their website:
www.finchcocks.co.uk
Some of this years events:
Midsummer Music
- June 13: Baroque Music
- June 20: ‘Desert Island Songs’ with baritone Stephen Varcoe and pianist Christina Lawrie
- June 27: Clavichord Recital with Marcia Hadjimarkos
- July 4: The Regency Duo – Jane Austen programme
- July 11: Primavera
- July 18: Tallis Chamber Choir
August Bank Holiday – Pleasure Gardens Gala
- August 29 & 30: ‘Dr Arne at Vauxhall Gardens’
Autumn Festival
- Sept 10-12: The English Organ (concerts, talks & workshop)
- Sept 17-19: Chopin Anniversary Celebrations
- Sept 24: Bel Canto recital with tenor Simon Edwards
- Sept 25: A Feast of Victoriana
- Oct 2: Concert by winners of the Broadwood Competition
- Oct 3: Finals of the John Kerr Award
Christmas Concerts
- Dec 5: Young Performers’ Recital in aid of Save the Children
- Dec 12: Primavera: Country House Concerts
- Dec 19: Friends of Finchcocks Concert – The Tivoli Band
Monday 15th March
We made our first visit of the year to Sissinghurst . After the cold winter all the spring bulbs are much later than last year, but we were pleased to see the abundance of crocus, snowdrops and winter aconite in glorious bloom. It was a lovely day with plenty of sunshine.
We enjoyed seeing the garden in this early stage as we are so used to seeing the huge variety of flowers that we are used to in mid summer. We share below some of the photographs we took today.
The spring garden or the Lime Walk as it is also known.
A close up of a bee enjoying the early blooms:
A view of the Orchard where in a few days the daffodils will share this space: (we will update the picture when they are out in a new posting)
The Sissinghurst farmers market made its first appearance of the year. It will then be on the first Monday of every month. Come and buy some of the wonderful local produce.
We were also pleasantly surprised to see tables and chairs out in the open for us to enjoy lunch or tea from the Granary Restaurant, most of the vegetables and salads are grown on site during the summer. This is a recent innovation.
The winter aconite (Eranthis Hyemalis) in bloom:
Bull Farm Oast is in Cranbrook, Kent and is near Sissinghurst, Great Dixter and
Pashley Manor gardens. Other gardens to visit nearby include Merriments,
Marle Place and Hole Park. We are centrally situated for a number of National
Trust Properties in Kent and East Sussex. Please come and stay with us as a central base to explore the area.
We look forward to meeting you!
We were fortunate to be invited to join a tour of Pashley Manor Gardens
We assembled on the lawn in front of the Tudor house and were introduced to Pashley Manor Gardens by Mr James Sellick, the owner.
Tudor House built in the 1500's
The tour took us via the new visitor centre into the garden where we were fortunate to see the sculptures arranged around the garden for sculpture week which is running from the 16th to 28th May 2009. Some of the pictures we took are set out below:
One of the statues amongst the flowers.More of the garden.
Mr J Sellick, 2nd from left, explaining a point
Our cream teas, on the terrace.
The Georgian facade covered in wisteria and banksia rose
Piggy back by Mary Cox
Mr Bennet's Daughter by Philip Jackson.
Sarah by Jenny Wynne-Jones
Boy
Horse
Manta Rays by James Milborrow
Future events are :
We’ve been recommend in the guardian for a place to stay when visiting bedgebury
More ways to entice your kids outdoors
Little uns’ first adventure
Let your tinies follow the great explorers of yesteryear as they scour the land for exotic plants in the exotic setting of a Kent forest. Bedgebury’s wooded play trail includes a shipwreck, a climbing wall and giant spider web climbing frame for your budding Darwins to negotiate. They’ll just have to imagine the scurvy and boa constrictors.
• £7.50 per car; 01580 879820, tinyurl.com/dmg5wt. Stay at Bull Farm Oast, Cranbrook (01580 714140, bullfarmoast.co.uk) doubles from £67 (children’s beds can be added).
The Azaleas are at there best this time of year.
Part of the ruin at Scotney
We went to Scotney today. This is the best time of the year to see the the Azelias so go now.