Shrubs are what I'm after really - trying to stock my borders up, so I don't
see just brown fence (or the neighbours and their cars right outside my
bedroom window, come to think of it). I've been trying to find somewhere
that has a good choice of ceanothus - everywhere I've been they had about 2
varieties, and they looked manky! Tried one up in Hook, a couple of large
ones on the road to Reading. Think Surrey will have to be my next choice,
so I'll try the ones you mention - thank you. I was obviously hoping to
find something similar to Ayletts down in Hampshire - how naive was I! I
thought if anyone knew where a decent garden centre near Basingstoke was,
it'd be Mr Titchmarsh

I've never been to Wisley, but it's on my list of places to visit. I'd
discovered The Meadows (M&S and Tesco) - a wonder to behold for us keen lady
shoppers! Thanks again for the other tips though Diane.

Pam


"flake" wrote in message
...
"mollymac" wrote in message
...
(with a snip..)
2. Does anyone know what the best garden centre near Basingstoke is?
I'm in Old Basing, have lived here just over 2 years, and have still not
discovered a really great one (for comparison, I'm thinking of Ayletts
on
the ring road nr. St. Albans, Hertfordshire, which always had a
fantastic
choice of plants).

Ayletts is hard to beat - one of the top garden centres in the country.
You've been spoilt if Ayletts is your main experience of garden centres !

For good-priced bedding and sundries, I like LongAcres on the A30 around
Bagshot way. Theres is also a Hilliers, Country Gardens and Notcutts
along
the same stretch between Sunningdale and Camberley so maybe worth taking
the
A30 for that stretch of the M3 if/when you do that journey. Hilliers &
Notcutts are better for shrubs IMO. While you're in the area, the M&S at
Camberley is second only to Marble Arch - open 7 days. For sheer choice
of
perennials & shrubs I hack down to Wisley. Bit expensive but I still love
it - I'm like the proverbial kid-in-a-candystore The bookshop is also an
expensive place for me to visit ... )

Have fun exploring ! Diane