Open GardensComments from our members

I visited once a few years ago, excellent garden, lots of organic tips to learn, some wonderful plants
and variety of gardens, see website Organic seeds/catalogue. Intend going again soon with a gardening friend.

We are going back to this garden in the next 10 days so will get some pics to add

Eclectic, unusual garden with lovely mature plantings as well as follies, temples and various other strange buildings. Good cafe in pavilion. Definitely worth a visit!

8 acres of ponds packed full of stupendous waterlillies, shop, cafe and nursery. Some access for wheelchairs in good weather.

arrow is a bit low, parking in Pauls Street Car Park. entrance across main road. Municipal Park, interesting beds and plantings. Taunton Flower Show 1st week of August.

I love the garden at Wisley. At any time of the year there is so much to see. Beyond the fabulous mixed borders and disipline of the walled garden and so on, the wild garden and battleston hill are fantastic all year round. In both areas you can pick up ideas on what to grow in the shade, on a slope or even in a bit of a bog. Wander up to the alpine houses to get ideas for smaller gardens and rockeries - you cant fail to be impressed by the range and beauty of the specimens there. Next door to the alpines you can find the veg garden - brilliant for keeping up to speed with your own vegetables. Richard is the member of staff there and is the deepest mine of veg gardening knowledge you could hope for... look out for people waiting in line to talk to him! For those looking for long term satisfaction pop to the model fruit garden for tips on growing fruit from the smallest step-over apples to training pears over an arch to growing soft fruit. They also have a couple of composters in the corner working away at staff leftovers! The Glasshouse is the newest addition and this is set to be another brilliant area to visit. Hothouse plants that you might grow at home are taking off in this perfect environment. It is amazing to think you might have some of the plants seen here at home in a much smaller version!

The Wisley Flower show is in August and the Taste of Autumn is in... Autumn. Entrance is a little pricey so make sure you put aside enough time to make the most of it. The car park is also a bit of a problem - it is very big and very busy especially for the shows and on sunny weekends there have been rennovations in progress for months now. Try arriving at 10am when it opens or later in the afternoon - the last entry is at 5pm in the summer (4.30pm for the glasshouse). RHS members get in free + guest... The plant centre has a great range of plants but they are 'RHS prices' which makes it quite expensive. All in all, a good day out, but heavy on the wallet for popping by as a non-member.

This website has a page in English. Fantastic sensual garden, full of scent and interest. Lots of hands on for the kids to enjoy

The Chelsea show has become about people, showy gardens and selling. I didnt agree with all the gold medals either! This aside, the small gardens this year were fabulous. If you are thinking of going to one of the RHS shows in London - try Hampton Court Palace flower show - this is more for the practical gardener as you can buy plants from most of the stands.
For an inside scoop - go visit the new RHS Wisley Glasshouse as of 15th June - it looks amazing inside and it will wow even the hardened garden visitor

This is a set of 3 gardens (Bay Tree Cottage, The Kilns and and Avenue Cottage) in Bentley which I visited when they opened for The NGS. All were beautiful gardens bursting with colour and full of energy. Although they were all great, I loved the herb garden at Avenue Cottage! I've added some photos to Grows on You.

Monstrosity with a Garden

When I first went to Barbican eight years ago, it was late at night for a film. It was dark and I got lost. I remember thinking that no one could ever enjoy spending time there. The Barbican is such a huge complex that it has yellow stripes of paint on the pavement to help you find the exits. I thought it to be a monstrosity. Today, I have to admit that the Barbican is one of my favourite places in London. What made it so is a bog garden.

When I was young, I used to get into heaps of trouble for going to the creek at the back of the farm. Over and over again, I was told not to go there, because there were too many snakes. I thought it wonderful to go swimming and fishing there. What made it so was that there was no one anywhere around. In fact, there were no signs that anyone had ever been there. No houses, no cars, nothing. Just trees, sand, water, sun, shade, fish…and snakes.

One year ago, I discovered the bog garden at Barbican. Already this season, the first algae started growing, as well as the bulrushes and other flowering plants. When the water was first warming, there was frog spawn in three different places…some in the shade, some in the sun. The patch in the sun hatched faster than those in the shade and I watched the first tadpoles swimming away. Today, I noticed a Mallard drake hiding in the bulrushes…all this in an elevated, manmade housing complex. The bog garden reminds me of my trips to the creek and is always a welcome break from the office, helping me to clear my head and be creative.

In addition to the bog garden, there are numerous plant beds, which are scattered around the complex. They keep you interested and make you explore the complex. If you do, you will discover the many other treasures of the Barbican: the botanical garden, the wildlife garden, the hanging gardens, the pools and fountains…and the Barbican, which was one of the ancient gates to the wall around the City of London.

Every Sunday and on Bank Holidays, the botanical garden is open to the public. It is mostly a tropical garden. There is an arid garden, a number of fish pools and an aviary. As you would expect in the Barbican complex, the entrance is hidden. Enjoy the search.

You will never find the wildlife garden unless you are “in the know.” It is down a ramp and on a side street. Once you know where it is, you can return to the complex and view it from above. In truth, it is not much but in how many cities can you find a bit wildlife in the heart?

The hanging gardens are people’s balconies, many of which are incredibly established. On some balconies, vines hang down for thirty feet or more over the pools and fountains.

The pools and fountains surround a churchyard. There are several places to get food and drink.

Last is the Barbican itself. Much of the wall still stands and is bordered by the original moat. It is tucked away in the heart of the complex and feels forgotten. The loons found it the perfect place earlier this year for their nest.

If you have an hour to spare between City meeting one day in London, you must make a quick trip to the Barbican. It sure beats Starbucks!

Years ago, I lived in Docklands and drove past this garden. Now, there is a DLR station next to it. A month ago, I flew from City Airport and had allowed too much time for the DLR trip. I was excited to have checked in, left my luggage and headed back one stop to the garden. It was great to spend several minutes before a flight walking through tall grass relaxing. The manicured flower and herb garden was unexpected. The visit was a very welcome travel delay. From now on I will allow extra time to visit the garden whenever I fly from City.

Temperate House as seen on TV's "Mayo".

Not to mention a Temperate House. Unfortunately not really big enough to do justice, but nice none the less.

A well-loved municipal park, with formally planted ornamental annuals in the North-West section, a lake, and plenty of trees.

An amazing lake full of ducks, geese and pelicans. Yes, it is full of tourists but don't let that put you off as you can always find somewhere to sit down and enjoy the views.

A not very well known park in London. The Thames Barrier Park is great for a picnic with the dramatic backdrop of the Thames Barriers. Kids will love the fountains (currently closed) and adults will love the amazing Green Dock created by renowned international horticulturalists Alain Cousseran and Alain Provost. There is a decent cafe. Right next to Pontoon Dock DLR station.

I agree you see more on T.V. but I think this year it was overdone on T.V. and when you have commentators like Lorraine Kelly it is dumbing down a bit. I went this year for the first time and thought it was wonderful, especially as I was in early ,after 12.30 it got impossibly crowded but I will go again if I can.The show gardens were terrific even the small gardens were good unlike at Malvern where the small gardens,in my opinion were twee!! and rather silly.

This is one of the finest gardens in Herefordshire,4acres beautifully planted and containing medieval dovecote, thythe barn(good food)and mant interesting features.Old fashioned veg.garden as well.

I have spent many a Sunday walking around Hyde Park ending up in the North East (Marble Arch station) corner (Speakers' corner) just after noon to listen to the public speaking.

If it is your first visit download the map from the Garden website above otherwise you may miss things like the Diana, Princess of Wales, Memorial Fountain.

I went to Chelsea last year, I had always wanted to go. I did enjoy it but in my opinion there are much better shows. Chelsea is so small and far too crowded, also you can't purchase any plants you have to order by mail. We did also visit Wisley Gardens on the same trip, this was wonderful and I did buy some plants to bring home. I do enjoy watching Chelsea on the t.v. you seem to see far more.