Open GardensComments from our members

I am the owner of this yet to be develped new but old nursery.
I work full time, so at the moment I am open only on Saturdays. I hate to give a phone number out, but members showing an interest in my plants or the gardens I work for should send me a message.

I do not take in borders, as my vacumn cleaner is sometimes on the frits and I cannot assure short notice of vacuuming the sheets.

I am so glad the zoom stopped before it showed the weeds!

My address for seed exchanges is:
Skyline Nursery
1080 W. Hendrickson Rd.
Sequim, WA 98382

Please do not send Monkey puzzle or coconut pods.

Herb Senft

This is one of Florida's original attractions having been around since the 1930's. They have restructured in recent years and shifted the focus from a botanical garden to more of a theme park.

They host a botanical gardens that includes a gigantic banyan tree, and they have a glass butterfly arboretum. They used to have seasonal garden-themed displays every year. They would have topiary gardens in the spring and a garden in lights display during the Christmas holidays that covered almost the entire park. I'm not sure if they still have the seasonal themes now.

This is a nice free public garden that is maintained by the county. They have several areas to explore and are also next to the heritage village. Great place to learn about native Florida habitats and plants.

Foxhollow will be open for the weekend 5th and 6th September 2009, 10.30am - 5.30pm.

By appointment at any other times for weekends only commencing 4th and 5th July 2009.

Plant sales - propagated from our garden collections, many of which cannot be obtained anywhere else in the UK.

Website, under construction and will be available in the near future.

This is a small, but beautiful formal garden maintained by the local city. It is laid out in different themed rooms, including a tropical room, an herb room, and several others. The plants are changed out seasonally, so there are always new things to see when visiting. It is also a popular place for weddings and photo shoots. Overall a neat place to visit.

This is a wonderful place to visit for anyone who loves gardens. It is a peaceful nature sanctuary with paths that meander through the shaded woods to the different garden areas. The beautiful "Singing Tower" is fabulous! It has a carillon that is played at scheduled times of the day. The sound of the carillon music can be heard throughout the gardens. It sits atop one of the highest hills in FL. It is also one of the National Historic Landmarks. This is definitely a spot I would recommend to any nature or garden lover. They have a lot of info on their website, they even have a schedule for what plants will be in bloom at certain times of the year.

This is a beautifully kept place popular at any time of year, in the spring the woodland is covered in snowdrops, the walled Victorian garden is well kept and run with old varieties of vegetables and flowers, there is a small garden centre which sells some plants, a gift shop, stables, blacksmiths which is open on certain days, a cafe, a farming museum a park for the children, a minature steam train, a deer park, ducks on the pond, peacocks, and of course the Hall itself. They have Victorian open days where you can see how the Hall was run in those days, the staff are dressed in Victorian outfits and you can 'have a go' at washing, polishing, etc.,
Its an informative and beautiful place right on my doorstep!!

Visited about 10 yrs ago - for me the 2 most memorable bits were 1. the dephinium trial beds and 2. the impressive collection of eucalyptus trees, which were really beautiful and really opened my eyes to this group of trees, some with lovely flakey bark in shades of silky grey and cream and others with fab shapes like the ones that tapered up to the sky like ribbons. I also bought Agnus the Cactus from there. He's still going strong and recently became a mother..er...father I mean.

A hillside garden that is undergoing some restoration. There are woodland walks, a newly restored swimming pond and kitchen garden. Also an orchard, quarry garden and wildflower meadow . Or relax on the terrace and admire the views over the beautiful Sussex countryside. Volunteers in the garden and woods help James Masters (head gardener) to undertake the restoration projects on the estate.

The gardens at Felbrigge Hall are well worth a visit , lovely walks in the grounds and a walled garden with a dovecoat , apple orchard , veg, flowers , chickens freely scrapping about as well . all for you to enjoy !

The garden will be open during 2009 for The National Gardens Scheme by appointment only on the following dates:
SUNDAYS 12th,19th & 26th July from 1pm to 5pm.
Admission: Adults £3.50
Children under 16 free.
Private visits for groups and individuals at other times can also be arranged by appointment.
Please visit our website at:
www.victorianhousegarden.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk
for our contact details.

Unfortunately due to steps and decked areas wheelchairs cannot be accommodated.

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Grenville and Alan also give illustrated talks about their unique inner- city garden to gardening groups and other organisations.
Further details are also available on our garden website.

Open days in 2009:
February 22 Sunday (2 - 5pm) (National Garden Scheme)
March 22 Sunday (2 - 5pm) (National Garden Scheme)
May 9 Saturday (2 - 5.30pm) (National Garden Scheme)
May 10 Sunday (10am - 5.30pm) (Walsall Heart Care)
May 16 Saturday (2 - 5.30pm) (National Garden Scheme)
May 17 Sunday (10am 0 5.30pm) (Walsall National Trust)

July 25 Saturday (2 - 5.30pm) (National Garden Scheme)
July 26 Sunday (10am - 5.30pm) (Macmillan Support)

August 9 Saturday (2 - 5.30pm) (National Garden Scheme)
August 10 Sunday (10am - 5.30pm) (Parkinsons Disease Society)

October 25 Sunday (2 - 5pm) (National Garden Scheme)

Admission £3, children free
Tea and biscuits extra
Note: There are some steps. Toilet at garden level.

Opening date for next year will be Sunday 9th August 2009

My favourite garden (after mine of course!)

We visited Westonbirt today, September 19th. We walked along paths through wonderful towering trees of both native and foreign species. There are collections of Acers which were just beginning to change colour. Dogs are allowed in part of the Arboretum, but we were not able to enter the Old Arboretum which I gather is more formally laid out with planned vistas. If you like trees, you will love it here!

A new vegetable and fruit garden that has been built with the help of volunteers and Primary School children
It has walls that have been built out of heather bales wheich have been harvested from the New Forest

Fantastic place , It really is like a jungle , the plants are huge , Tree ferns ,cannas , Bannanas , it,s a place not to be missed for something unusuall

If anyone intends paying a visit to Exbury, you might like to take a slight detour and stop in Brookley Road, Brockenhurst. Towards the Sway Road End of the street you will find a cake shop, with cream cakes to die for. I have never seen such big cream cakes. All their pastries and sandwiches are lovely too and can be made to order. One word of warning though, if you want a choice get there before midday. After that all the locals will be buying their lunches and very little choice is left. I think the shop closes very early in the afternoon. Sorry can't remember the name of the shop, but one look in the window will tell you that you have found the right place.

A little gem of a garden.
Most in this area of Cornwall are very large and grand but this one is easily toured in an hour or two although I would recommend staying longer and just sitting by the thatched tea house drinking tea and eating delicious homemade cakes.
The gardens have been planted with a lot of thought and to cover all seasons. Their is a large wooded area to tour round that we didn't see as it started to rain heavily. That is planted up with Rhododendrons and Azaleas which look at their best in May/June. The first walled garden has two large borders running down the sides that look at their best in June/July and then the fiery prairie garden around the lower lake is just stunning in August/September.
There is also a grass maze next to the teahouse to accupy children, and the first lake with the biggest Gunnera in the middle that I have ever seen! (A clever optical illusion as Gunnera will not grow in deep water being a marginal/bog plant.) For the vegetable growers there is also the raised vegetable garden in the second walled area.
I would love to revisit this garden in the sunshine as it drizzled and then rained heavily the whole time we were there.
If you see Vicky, the main gardener there, say hello. She is a mine of information and loves to chat. She also grew the Proteas (planted around the lower lake) from seed herself!!

our next open day is on saterday 13th september 11-3ish. we will be raising funds for the british red cross. there is a £2 entry cost and there will be home-made cream scones courisy of daughters rosie and lilly with a little help from nana! if you cannot make it on this day we are open 7 days a week. the garden is also visited by gardenings groups by appointment throughout the year.
find us on www.pembrokeshiregrowers.co.uk