On the 8th June, twenty nine Godstone Garden Club members embarked on their annual three days away visiting gardens, this time in the area round Lymington in Hants.
The weather was fine and sunny as we set off and remained so for the entire three days. Spirits were high and Jean Jones, our fantastic Tour Organiser, had hired two coaches so that we had plenty of space for all those plants we alway buy. Sustained by rhubarb and custard boiled sweets, vital to any Garden Club tour, we were soon at our first garden – Spring Pond – where we found a riot of roses, nepeta, alliums, astrantia and perennial geraniums. The Gardeners always travel on their stomachs and after coffee/cake on arrival we were then transported to the Watership Down pub in Whitchurch where we had a very impressive bar-b-que. Then on to Atheling villa where everything was very well ordered, including five of the largest compost bins I had ever seen. This garden was much smaller than the acres we had seen in the morning but there were some good ideas we could incorporate into our own gardens. There was some extremely good fruit.
We then departed for Lymington and our stay at the Stanwell House Hotel. The accommodation was very good with our President having a “room” we could all party in. The writer had a four poster bed! We then embarked on supper where the food was excellent. Some of us had eaten more in a day than we normally consume in a week,
So we walked down to the Quay, to take the air and try and walk off some of the food. Lymington has a very pretty marina and of course the Isle of Wight is just across the Solent. The postbox at the bottom end of the High Street is painted gold in honour of Sir Ben Ainslie.
We were up early(ish) on the Monday for the drive to Bere Mill. We had an introductory talk by Rupert Nabarro (son of Gerald) outlining not only the history of the mill, where the first ever bank notes were made and printed for the Bank of England. These were made by Hugenot refugees who brought this knowledge
with them. It helped that the then Governor of the Bank of England lived five miles north of the mill. This garden was of such a naturalistic setting, effortlessly merging into the surrounding countryside. Lovely flower meadows and of course the River Teste with all its’ various streams and tributaries and trout but sadly, no fishing allowed. We managed to fit in a short trip to Hardys Garden Plants, literally two minutes up the road. Just the 19 Gold Medals from Chelsea. A wide variety of plants made their way onto the coaches, some of us wondering why we had bought THAT plant. We had to find our own lunch this day – shame – but then we were off on the Puffin Billy – a converted lifeboat from the SS Canberra, and a jolly good time was had by all. There was a wide variety of sun hats on display – hope some of them are never seen again! Another fabulous supper, delightful staff and more walking round the Marina.
We departed the hotel at 10.00 am with good wishes resounding in our ears and onto Pilgrims Croft Garden and Sara Gruzelier who was a whirling dervish! Another one of those born under Aries – wind us up and let us go! She gave a great tour round her wonderful garden and has promised her family that she is going to slow down – a bit – as she has been quite ill these last few months – not that you would know it! She promised a “light lunch” and it was delightful, all home made, including the ice cream. I got one or two very good ideas from this garden – will it work with me – probably not.
We had the most wonderful time, great weather, lovely company and super gardens – how Jean finds them we shall never know. They are all private gardens, not normally open to the public – only by special arrangement. So, a BIG thank you to Jean and also to Barry and Geoff, our drivers, who often have to drive down the narrowest of lanes. I’m normally in the second coach and my instructions to Geoff are always “Follow the coach in front”.
Here’s to 2015, if Jean can find the energy/time.
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