Category Archives: Gardens
April 2013
We have visited two gardens during the last two weeks. Our first visit was to Pashley Manor Gardens. Our visit was just before the start of the annual Tulip Festival. Due to the long winter the tulips are late this year and will probably be their best in early May and Pashley are extending the festival due to the late flowering. This year they have planted more than 22000 tulips.
The gardens are immaculate as always and have many new Statues and sculptures for sale.
This is a view of the house from the far side of the lake with one of the black swans have a good look at us.
We then visited Sissinghurst Castle Gardens today (29 April) and were pleased with the timing of our visit as the late spring has had the effect of a profusion of spring colour in the lime walk, better than we have ever seen in all the years we have been visiting the garden.
And a view from the far end of the Lime Walk:
We then went through to the white garden and were pleased to see some early flowers in bloom:
Evan the Delos garden has benefited from the weather and is another mass of colour:
Leaving the garden one has a fabulous view of the Oast houses:
Both Knole and Sissinghust Castle are celebrating the 100 years since the marriage of Harold Nicolson and Vita Sackville-West in 1913. A new display is due to open on the 1st May:
Sissinghurst Gardens open this year.
We are fortunate to have so many National Trust Properties around us in the south east, none closer than the wonderful Sissinghurst Gardens, almost on our doorstep. We were able to visit for the final time last year, on the closing day, and were back on a beautifully sunny day last Saturday for this years reopening.
The first thing we noticed was that they have purchased a new transport buggy to take those who need it, to and from the car park to the entrance. Apparently it was part funded from the proceeds of the raffle!
Also new this year is a introductory talk given 4 times a day on the Plain, in front of the ticket office. An interesting talk called Family Ties, giving a brief history of the property and the families that have lived at Sissinghurst. Most enlightening and worth trying to catch.
Prue enjoyed taking some pictures of the garden in its early awakening stage, and look forward to seeing it soon in its full glory.
Autumn Visit to Scotney Castle
At the end of Oct 2010 we visited Scotney Castle to see the autumn colours. We were fortunate in the weather and Prue took some fabulous pictures which I set out below for you to enjoy. We look forward to May when the Azelias are at their peak.
Merriments Gardens
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.
Sissinghurst Gardens opens for the new season
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:
26th June 2009
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!
14th May visit to Pashley Manor Gardens
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.
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:
Future events are :
The Rose weekend 12-14th June
Kitchen garden weekend 3-5th July
Scotney Castle in Springtime
We went to Scotney today. This is the best time of the year to see the the Azelias so go now.