Memories
Froggery Cottage
21st August 2024
A 3/4 acre garden developed on an old Co--op allotment with herbaceous borders, old apple trees and a National Collection of Penstemons.
Members enjoyed a guided tour by owner John Lee and his grandson, followed by homemade cakes and tea. Plants were purchased from the stall in the front garden and the proceeds donated by John to Marlow House & Desborough Town Welfare Committee
Cottesbrook Hall
18th July 2024
The 13 acres of gardens wrap around the west side of the house in a series of rooms – gardens themselves – divided by formal hedging and warm brick walls, with views and vistas punctuated by statuary.
Batsford Arboretum
19th June 2024
Members enjoyed a coach trip to this Cotswold venue for a guided tour of some of the world’s most beautiful and rare trees, shrubs and bamboos spread across 60 acres. www.batsarb.co.uk
Lamport Hall
24th May 2024
We were shown around the 10 acre gardens by the Head Gardener. Then after some time walking in the "Small Garden" and the village church we had tea and biscuits in the old stables.
136 High Street, Irchester. 16th August 2023
Members enjoyed a large garden developed by Ade & Jane Parker over the past 20 years including different planting habitats designed for shade, sun and pollinator friendly sites. A wildlife pond attracts a large range of birds, insects, and other creatures into the garden. Alpine houses, planted stone sinks and raised beds combine with seasonally planted tubs adding bold summer colour.
Tea and home made cakes were served by Jane and her family.
Holdenby HouseÂ
26th July 2023
Holdenby was once Elizabethan England’s greatest House, then a royal palace, and a prison to King Charles I.Â
Members were shown around the gardens by Head Gardener, Matt. The one hour tour included kitchen gardens, the Tou Tou garden and Rosemary Verey's Elizabethan garden planted in 1980 with plants from 1583.
photos copyright Nick Palmer
Easton Walled Garden 28 June 2023
Members enjoyed a coach outing to two gardens near Grantham. The photos, here , of Easton Walled Garden were taken by Hilary Merricks and Chris Cooke who retain copyright.
For years the gardens stood untended and impenetrable. Most saw a sprawling knot of branches and thorns too unwieldy to do battle with. Ursula Cholmeley saw an invitation. Drawing on a shared knowledge of gardening, love of a challenge, eagerness to grow, and influences near and far, Ursula and the Easton team of gardeners got stuck in. Ferocious brambles were tamed to allow for yew tunnels, rose gardens, borders, shrubberies, meadows and more. As the gardens grew, so too did the possibilities.Â
Today Easton Walled Gardens has been nurtured back to life, a place that sings with the seasons for everyone to enjoy.
Little Ponton Hall 28 June 2023
Hilary Merricks's photos show members enjoying the gardens at Little Ponton Hall. Chris Cooke's photos highlight some of the planting. Both photographers retain copyright to their work. The hall and its gardens nestle in the curve of the River Witham as it winds its way through the rolling countryside of South Lincolnshire towards Lincoln.Â
The 18th century house, home to George and Bianca McCorquodale and their three children, is surrounded by spacious lawns dominated by a 200 year old cedar tree. In the walled vegetable garden are the Victorian greenhouses and a listed dovecote. The most recent addition is the development of a herb garden. Click for more.
Burghley House 24 May 2023
Head Gardener Joe Whitehead had been the guest speaker at one of our Winter meetings and members enjoyed meeting him on his home turf for a guided tour of parts of the gardens at Burghley not normaly open to the public.
Copyright of photos in this section is held by Nick Palmer.
Quinton Old Rectory 9 August 2022
Old Rectory Quinton is an 18th century English rectory neighbouring the church in Quinton. Its three-acre garden was redesigned and recreated over an intense period in 2014-2015 into a truly special 21st century garden by Anoushka Feiler. The garden is open under The National Garden Scheme on selected dates and is available as a location for photo and film shoots. Hort. Soc members were introduced to the garden by the co-owner Emma Wise and then left to explore, before gathering under the arbour of pleached trees for cool drinks on a hot afternoon.
Copyright of photos in this section is held by Nick Palmer.
Elton Hall 13 Jul 2022
Members enjoyed a guided tour by the Head Gardener at an extraordinary, romantic, part-Gothic historic house near Peterborough, that has been in the Proby family for 400 years. Nestled in the beautiful countryside on the Cambridgeshire/Northamptonshire border, lying eight miles southwest of Peterborough. It stands proud in unspoilt landscaped parkland where a house has stood since the 12th century. Copyright of photos in this section is held by Nick Palmer.
Stanwick Lakes, June 2022
The Heritage Gardens at Stanwick Lakes have been developed and are maintained by a small, dedicated team of volunteers. The gardens showcase plants which would have been grown in this area from Neolithic times until medieval times. The volunteers have also carefully researched the different uses of the plants: whether for food & flavouring, medicine, dyeing, spiritual purposes, or just for their scent and decoration.
There are four individual but inter-linked areas:
The Heritage Garden, The Heritage Wellbeing Orchard, The Guild Garden, The Iron Age Nursery Garden.
Copyright of photos in this section is held by Barry Goodey.