Suggestions on Gardens to visit in England and Ireland.

[Alan_b]

Cottesbrooke was a mud bath last year.  Maybe that has caused them to reconsider?  Pity; the content was great, just the venue less than ideal.

My favourite garden is East Ruston Old Vicarage http://www.e-ruston-oldvicaragegardens.co.uk/ but it's so far off the beaten track that I don't think it could be considered.

[fermi de Sousa]

Alan,
it's actually one that I'd wanted to visit but it maybe a bit out of the way for this trip - there's always next time!
cheers
fermi

[Brian Ellis]

Looking back at our photos, we stayed in a B&B near Marlborough when we visited Iford the first time, we also went to The Abbey Gardens at Malmesbury and a National Trust Garden, 'The Courts' at Bradford on Avon.

[Helen Johnstone]

All these recommendations make me realise how many of the fab gardens in my own country I havent visited yet.  I must rectify this. 

[Maggi Young]

I'm still not convinced it is going ahead - Cottesbrooke as they normally have a webpage and promote it and some nurserymen were quering it a while ago.

I rang 'em up -  eventually got a recorded message about opening hours which states that the Cottesbrooke Fair will NOT take place in 2013

[Helen Johnstone]

thanks - suspect the ground were so trashed with all the bad weather last year when they had the fair.  Its held on the lawn in front of the house so you wouldnt want to be looking at a cagmire!!

[Margaret]

Hope you have a good trip, Fermi.

Helen, I emailed Cottesbrooke yesterday and got this reply today:

Thank you very much for your interest in the Cottesbrooke Garden Fair. The Garden Fair in its current format will not be held in 2013, however we are working with the exhibitors to develop a new gardeners event and will be releasing details of this event in due course. We will keep a record of your contact details and will send you news of the event once the plans are complete.

[Helen Johnstone]

Hi Margaret
Something to look forward to in 2014 maybe then!
Thanks
Helen

[brianw]

If you visit the Abbey gardens in Malmesbury check the dates first or you may see more than you expected.

http://www.abbeyhousegardens.co.uk/events/clothes-optional-days

[Brian Ellis]

It would, of course, be pertinent to check all for opening dates and times, especially as it is not the height of the season.

[fermi de Sousa]

If you visit the Abbey gardens in Malmesbury check the dates first or you may see more than you expected.

http://www.abbeyhousegardens.co.uk/events/clothes-optional-days

we'll have left for the Emerald Isle by the first of those days!
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

Looking back at our photos, we stayed in a B&B near Marlborough when we visited Iford the first time, we also went to The Abbey Gardens at Malmesbury and a National Trust Garden, 'The Courts' at Bradford on Avon.

Brian,
We've been to Stourhead today - absolutely incredible! - and afterwards walked around the National Trust village of Lacock this evening before a lovely meal in the George Inn.
We found a nice B&B in Chittoe Heath near Melksham which is quick close to 'The Courts' so we'll go there tomorrow before visiting Iford tomorrow - fortunately we checked the website before heading to Iford today! That's why we went to Stourhead instead
Thanks again for the suggestions,
cheers
fermi

[arillady]

Fermi Yes Stourhead is pretty amazing. Friends I stayed with in Winchester took me there in September. The roses at Mottisfont Abbey should be flowering by now and there is quite a bit of underplanting but too late now for you.
South of Dublin at Bray a garden that I thought the best private garden I had ever seen was that of the late Rosemary Brown - Graigueconna Gardens but it has sold but I believe the new owner is maintaining the gardener and the garden which is the best of news. Helen Dillon used to organise open gardens I think too around Dublin. In Dublin check out the Glasnevin Botanic garden - they must have such a great library there -  and the cemetery next door is pretty amazing as well!

[Brian Ellis]

We've been to Stourhead today - absolutely incredible!

Glad you enjoyed it Fermi, we certainly do.  Funnily enough we were staying quite close by at the same time

[fermi de Sousa]

It's our last day in Dublin today! We set off for home tomorrow morning.
Ireland has been marvelous! We got to see wildflowers on The Burren, the Caherbridge garden, the Italianate Gardens on Garinish (Ilnacullin) Island, private gardens of forumists, the "Botanics" in Glasnevin, and today two splendid private gardens - Billy Moore's and Helen Dillon's!
Throughout our visit we've been encountered such wonderful generosity on the part of garden owners all over the UK and Ireland.
We can only hope to offer some hospitality in return if some of them ever venture down to our part of the world!
cheers
fermi and Will