On Saturday 13th July we visited two wonderful gardens in Suffolk, both of which are also open for the NGS.

In the morning we were welcomed to Bays Farm, Earl Stonham.  This two-acre garden is composed of formal shady borders, themed beds, woodland and butterfly planting, kitchen garden, vegetable and cutting garden, greenhouse, herb garden, orchard and wild flower area (in a nutshell!).

The house is also run as a 5* bed and breakfast -www.baysfarmsuffolk.co.uk.

(Click pic for slide show)
photographs by Linda Hall

At lunchtime, for those of us who brought along our own picnics, we were invited to eat these in the beautiful garden of Mavis and Lawrence Smith, who are members of our group.

In the afternoon we visited Woodwards, Coddenham.  This is a year-round planted garden of one-and-a-half acres on a gentle slope, designed and maintained by the owners. Very well-stocked island beds, mature trees, shrubs, perennials, vegetable garden and many containers and hanging baskets.

(Click pic for slide show)
photographs by Linda Hall

A full coach party of our group left Norwich on June 21st 2013 on a four day trip to Cheshire organised by members John and Brenda Foster. Though the weather was dull the trip was anything but - nearly all of us came back with yet more plants after having viewed some wonderful gardens.

Felley Priory, NG16 5FJ (click pic for slide show)
A garden of 2.5 acres, tucked into the rolling hills with varied plantings among the topiary shapes.
photographs by John Metcalf

Alpine Plant Centre, S32 3ZD (click pic for slide show)
A very large collection of alpine plants in a scree setting
photographs by John Metcalf

Arley Hall, CW9 6NA  (click pic for slide show)
Double herbaceous border, a very large walled garden, large kitchen garden with wall greenhouse, plus an avenue of clipped ilex and a splendid house are just some of the pleasures. On our visit there was a large plant fair, what more could one want.
photographs by John Metcalf

Ness Botanic Garden, CH64 4AY (click pic for slide show)
Outstanding collection of Himalayan and Chinese plants as well as rhododendrons and heathers. Herbaceous borders and rose garden are just a few highlights from the very interesting botanical garden.
photographs by John Metcalf

Bluebell Cottage Garden, WA4 4HP (click pic for slide show)
A specialist plant nursery offering a wide range of perennial plants. A delightful garden well worth a visit and with a tea room
photographs by John Metcalf

Bridgmere Garden World, CW5 7QB (click pic for slide show)
a nursery growing nearly a million plants a year and six acres of themed, award-winning show gardens.
photographs by Linda Hall

Cedar Farm, NN14 2QD (click pic for slide show)
On a ten acre site, that was once a farm, a husband and wife team have made  a delight ful garden full of mysterious pathways and delightful border the whole plot well furnished with trees and shrubs.
photographs by Linda Hall

A full report will appear in our next Newletter

Tulips at Orchard House, New Buckenham, South Norfolk

It was not possible to include photographs of the tulips mentioned in my article in our Newsletter No 78 (The Twenty-fifth Anniversary Edition). As tulips are nicely in flower now and it’s almost time to think about ordering bulbs for planting later this year, here are my photographs of some of the tulips mentioned.

I planted up two tubs of tulips. ‘Princess Irene’ – a single early – to be placed either side of the front door.  Its orange petals and purple ‘flames’ are set off by the colour of the house brick. A pot of double late, raspberry-striped tulips. ‘Carnival de Nice’ was planted to act as a later infill and found a home in front of Exochorda x macrantha ‘The Bride’.  Orange tulip ‘Ballerina’ was planted to thread its way through a small sheltered border where there is little spring colour.

Pamela Clark

(Click pic for slide show)