Visit to Dunge Valley Garden and Lea Rhododendron Garden

[ian mcenery]

Last Thursday Pam and I went to the above gardens. The first is located near Whaley Bridge in the pennines and the second Near Matlock in Derbyshire. The gardens are different Dunge being in a secluded and small valley high up in the hills with a stream. The second is built on a SW facing hill also with wonderful views. Both are lovely gardens to visit but have different character Dunge is trying to capture a bit of the the Himalayas while Lea is on a hillside with a labrinth of paths and quite exotic in that there are so many Rhodos of all sorts growing together. It was quite overwhelming even though I have been before

[ian mcenery]

here are a few from Lea

[Hristo]

Ian, thanks for posting those pics from your outings, the Dunge Valley pics are my favourite, it's great to see the composition and structure of such mature planting.

[ian mcenery]

Ian, thanks for posting those pics from your outings, the Dunge Valley pics are my favourite, it's great to see the composition and structure of such mature planting.

Thanks Chris I agree that the garden I would most like of the two would be Dunge because it reminds me more of the how these plants grow in nature. Even more so when you visit and see how this little oasis existsin such an otherwise barren landscape. Lea is still worth a visit for the sheer volume of plant and flower power

[TC]

I have never heard of Dunge Valley but it is growing rhododendrons the way I like to see them.  To me, they should be seen in a wild setting rather than a formal one.  If I ever get down that way, I will have to give it a good look.