Time to stand and stare....?

Time to stand and stare…

In Spring it is busy. Busy at work (for us), busy in the garden at home, busy with lighter nights and the activities that are now easier to do. So, despite having a suburban garden I find it difficult to take the time to enjoy what is available on my own doorstep. I’m needing to learn that sitting and spending time in the garden does not mean planning on what to do next. Nice though it is to be accompanied by a robin or watch the bumbles in the clematis and cotoneaster flowers - it is but a moment. Pre covid I was given some garden loungers - but then life changed and I’ve not had them out again. It may also be due to the wet summers we’ve had for the past couple of years!

This year I was given a membership to Ness Gardens, which is part of Liverpool University. I was planning to spend a little more time there enjoying the changing seasons… a little more time stopping and staring… Well, I went a couple of times earlier on in the year but now realise I haven’t visited for quite a while. I have however explored other gardens…

Visiting different gardens means I can enjoy other people’s creativity and enjoy the different vistas and scents that come with being present. Many of the UK’s gardens have developed over a long time and have evolved and continue to do so. Others display a gardening heritage that goes back centuries. There are ideas to enjoy, to inspire, to take away and try, alongside being aware that I cannot do them all - as I don’t have a team of gardeners or volunteers!

My local garden at Erddig (National Trust) has lovely roses rambling along ropes, a lovely pleached lime avenue and heritage fruit trees. The Dragon’s Den is a natural playground, an adventure for children of all ages, and the surrounding parkland and castle are accessible from the property.

A recent impromptu visit to Cholmondeley Castle and Gardens with my friend was a pleasure. These gardens are privately owned but free in May and September to RHS members and with the 2 for 1 Gardener’s World gardens ticket but do check opening days and times.

Visually enticing with several linked pools, each way we turned there seemed to be a view, whether walking up or down the slope. Many interesting trees and wider estate planting which brought the distance into the scene. The following week I took my husband whose interest is in the trees. The estate staff we met were friendly and willing to answer his questions.

At this time of year you can be spoilt with choice between National Garden Scheme Gardens (NGS).

I enjoyed the Horatios Garden Midlands at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry. The garden was designed by Bunny Guiness. It is adapted for wheelchair and bed bound users with a spacious social space, wide paths and raised planting and a raised water feature. There are bays for beds created by yew hedging which have electric points as well as colourful and scented planting. It’’s a beautiful and scented area for patients and their visitors as well as a breath of fresh air for the patients. 

Then on Sunday a friend and I visited an Open NGS private garden near Tarporley. This large garden with significant mature trees and meres was a delight. For those who like them - it was Hosta heaven. We stood awed with the extent and variety of hostas - most with no leaf damage! Water was used in a variety of ways throughout the garden and there was a good range of pollinator friendly flowers and shrubs. 

I recently took the opportunity to visit Birmingham Botanical Gardens as my son has a friend living nearby. It is a lovely oasis in the centre of Birmingham and is popular with locals. While smaller than some gardens the glasshouses for tropical, arid and mediterranean plants are extensive and interesting. There are many mature trees and several garden areas for example alpine, forest and grass. The children’s play area is interesting and well thought out, complete with a goldfish tank.

Next on the list is the Royal Edinburgh Botanical Garden, which I hope to visit this weekend. With all the rushing around I must remember to sit and stare… or even do some of my own garden!