Snippets from 2008 Garden Visits

April10th - Garden Group visit to The RHS Wisley Gardens.

 Weatherwise – a cold but sunny day following overnight frost. A very enjoyable day was spent walking in the extensive grounds viewing the rock garden,vegetable gardens, wild garden, lake and many delightfully sculptured, sheltered corners containing very imaginative seating accommodation.  The cherry trees were in full bloom together with many spring flowering shrubs and bulbs. The cafeteria provided a welcome relief with excellent cuisine. Most of us ended our day purchasing treasured plants for home planting.

May 8th – A full coach departed for Nymans Gardens, West Sussex.

On what proved to be a very hot, sunny day our first impressions of the gardens were not what we had expected, but on further exploration, rather like turning the pages of a book, the gardens gradually unfolded  their splendour.  The rhododendron and azalea borders were remarkable, the sun enhancing their colours. The day was perfect to enjoy the magnificent views across the Sussex Weald.  A fire in 1947 destroyed most of Nymans House but we were able to visit the rooms still in use.  The downside at these gardens was lack of shady seating areas on so hot a day.

July 17th – Trip to Hever Castle, Kent.   

A most rewarding day out!  The gardens can only be described as “Magnificent”.  The Italian Garden and Lake were to be noted.  The sculptures and layout of these  gardens were some of the best I have ever seen, it was really hard to stop taking photographs!

Hever Castle was of great interest, it being the childhood home of Anne Boleyn.  My gallery of photographs speak for themselves.

October 23rd - Sheffield Park Gardens, East Sussex.

Yet again we were blessed with a fine, albeit cloudy day and on arrival found the service at the Tea Room excellent. The gardens were laid out in the 18th century by Capability Brown and are renowned for their autumn colours, and we were not let down! The mature trees and shrubs stood tall and elegant in their dresses of gold or red their shadows reflected in the four lakes  linked with cascades and waterfalls.

I think all the members of the U3A Garden Group would like to express their thanks to Mary for all her hard work and committment organizing these trips without which we would not have been able to enjoy and learn about all these gardens.

Kate Harrison.   ( 04. 11. 08.)