"Pam Moore"wrote
I have just returned from a week's holiday wich included visits to the
AG show at Shepton Mallet, Rosemoor and Wisley.
The show was disappointing. All the stands which did sell plants
seemed to be selliing the same, and there were too many "sundries"
stalls.
Rosemoor was partly disappointing, looking a bit jaded but maybe that
was due to lack of rain. The borders along the wall ouside the
buildings were beautiful, and there were some good crops in the veg
area. The plant centre was disappointing and pricey.
Wisley was MUCH better than when I visited about 2 years ago (same
time of year) The demo gardens were very much better tended, the
Alpine houses looking good. Very impressed by a long area of planting
at the bottom of the herbaceous borders, where beds were planted with
verbena bonariensis, white gaura, a lower groing verbena, maybe
rigida, and pink dahlias.
One of the new huge glass-houses is going up and that has ptential to
be magnificent.
Plant centre pricey as always. I wanted an aster frikartii Monch
(having lost two in the last few years!). There was one only, looking
fit for the compost heap, marked £5.49. I asked an attendant if it
might be reduced. "We never reduce, but give a 2 year guarantee."
That's OK if you live near enough to revisit, but not to me with no
car and living the best part of 100 miles away.
Any other experiences this year?

Gardens visited this year, if I can remember them all.....

Great Dixter.. Excellent and interesting garden full of different "rooms"
and the tour of the house was fascinating too. Garden is obviously very
labour/plant intensive in places, how many times a year do they replant the
tropical garden? Shame there is nowhere to eat unless you take a picnic.
Nursery attached is OK, seems to sell their spare plants.

Wisley (RHS).. No matter when you go it's just too popular, always a problem
parking as everyone leaves huge spaces between cars. Gardens are good, if
crowded, with a number of example gardens for ideas, including a veg plot.
Fruit areas are excellent (got to say that , a friend works there).
Interesting plants/varieties for the future in the Trial Fields. Cafe and
restaurant available if you can find a table, cafe nothing special (any
more!) and pricy. Plant Sales has an excellent range of plants.

The Savill Garden (Crown Estate).. The best kept and planted herbaceous
borders I've seen anywhere. Rose beds always look good too, and some
interesting plants in the cool greenhouse and the border against the wall.
Spring Rhododendrons and Azaleas are spectacular. Always virtually empty.
You are allowed to picnic but there is a cafe too, food OK but pricy, small
plant sales area.

Winkworth Arboretum (NT).. A tree garden, nice walks, interesting trees
including some old Acers, wonderful autumn colour nice views across the
Surrey Hills . Little Cafe serving good homemade food (when open).

Lost Gardens of Heligan.. Interesting project especially if you are a
gardener, read the history first. Love it and always try to visit when in
the area. OK Cafe, small plant sales area.

St.Mary's House and Garden, Bramber.. Another "Lost Garden" being brought
back into cultivation by enthusiasts, interesting. Friendly staff. Afternoon
tea a must. :-)

--
Regards
Bob
In Runnymede, 17 miles West of London