1st May One the way up we stopped and Wakehurst Place (home of Millenium Seed Bank). Very interesting - Eileen went around the garden with Margaret & Hilda BUT at the end Alban became plant carrier as MB decided she'd buy a plant at every garden we visited!!
Q Hotel very comfy
2nd May - AM - Batemans - lovely - everyone really enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere - on a visit to the mill E bought flour (!!). PM - Knole - very grand 365 rooms but seemed very sombre - guidebook brought it into perspective but it wasn't a favourite with a lot of people. Saw the deer right up near the house - 3 of us bought an icecream before we got on the coach - lost ring from Lanzarote. Did query at Scotney - but not found - shame it had good memories.
3rd May - AM - Scotney Castle - interesting house - lovely gardens - romantic ruined castle in a lake below the 19th century rebuilt house - loved it! PM - Gt Dixter House - fabulous lived up to and exceeded expectations. After hour wandering the gardens - Tour of house at 3.00pm - started to rain during this tour. some people went back to coach early - we continued our walk and went to fetch plants so weren't popular over this BUT we were originally told 4.30pm departure and those who 'loved' the garden were peeved about earlier 'concensus' idea - say no more!!
4th May - AM - Sarah Raven's garden at Perch Hill - difficult reversing for coach. Luckily Sarah was available to do garden talk and tour - wonderful all 'loved it' - more money to spend!! PM - Sissinghurst - another lovely garden - a little early for some areas but plantings admired. Some of us climbed the tower but MB and HIlda decided they'd rather have a bowl of soup to 'warm up'.
Left Wakehurst Place with
Kew Millenium Seed Bank
Traffic problems on way home - stopped for meal - cafe totally understaffed so further delays but lovely fish&chip supper for £5 - v. good value. 5 Shepton Malleters got off at Podimore due to controversial threat of tour of Somerset before they got home!!
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| romantic ruined Scotney Castle - beautiful garden and lovely 'new' house at the top of the garden |
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Sarah Raven at Perch Hill
Note Angela & Alban at the front! |
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view from the tower Sissinghurst - can see Margaret
and Hilda near the archway. |
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| Bouchier Tower - Knole - went on Wed pm but no gardens open - rather sombre! Fascinating history |
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| Great Dixter House with plantsman's garden only afternoon it rained |
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