The weather forecast was not good, but spirits were high as 43 members and guests gathered in Kendal for our annual coach trip. Our journey down to Staffordshire was uneventful except for a tremendous cloudburst as we approached Wollerton Old Hall , our first garden. Someone spotted a slither of blue in the sky and we all prayed that it was positioned over the garden.
We arrived at 11am, and were met by John Jenkins the owner who suggested that perhaps coffee would be welcome after our journey. After some delicious cakes, scones, tea and coffee, John gave us a talk on the origins of the garden.The sun came out and we were then free to explore the garden. It was gorgeous. The design was based on a series of inter-linked 'rooms'. Each room was quite individual and the planting was spectacular. Roses, clematis and stunning perennials greeted us at every turn. The delphiniums were breathtaking, with their stunning shades of blue and violet. The colour combinations were outstanding everywhere and an inspiration to us all. The rill garden offered an area of calm and greenness as a contrast. All too soon it was time to head for the Plant Sales area, and many very choice plants were purchased to remind us of the garden.
The Dorothy Clive Garden was our next garden. Lunch was the first consideration. Some ate in the cafe, and some had brought a picnic. Within 10 minutes the heavens opened again, and we were all glad we were undercover. The rain soon eased and we could soon explore the garden, sometimes with one's umbrella up, and sometimes down! The garden was quite informal with island beds and borders full of interesting plants. The pool at the bottom of the garden was very attractive and full of waterlilies.It was overlooked by a lovely scree garden full of low growing alpines and perennials, including Dierama pulcherrimum and Cynara cardunculus. Many of us discovered the gravel garden which was looking particularly good with grasses and several architectural plants (Melianthus major).
Our last garden was the garden of Diana Standeven at Mucklestone. She was due to be the speaker at our October meeting so we were looking forward to a garden full of 'curiosities'. Unfortunately she had been very ill recently and apologised for her garden which was not as she would have liked. The garden was small, and she had a good collection of plants she had grown from seed. The plantsmen and women among us were soon buying some very unusual 'curiosities' . The garden did not have the professionalism of the two other gardens we had visited earlier, but it was more like our own back gardens.
All too soon we were back on board the coach for the return journey to Kendal. We went through another tremendous cloudburst on the way up the motorway,but survived! We had all had a good day, the weather had been almost kind to us and had not preventing us from enjoying three very different gardens.
I think everyone's favourite garden was Wollerton Old Hall, and would recommend that anyone interested in gardens, plants and design should put it at the top of their garden visiting list. Marion Armstrong was inspired to write a poem about the trip and her poem follows on from this article.
Erica Clapp [Secretary]
Bags of wellies, umbrellas,
Early risers - HPS in many guises -
Gaily piling on the coach.
Storm cloud haunted, but undaunted
On our way to Wollerton.
Peter smiling, rain clouds beguiling -
As ever with his glass half-full -
Promised sun and clearing skies.
How right he was - he's very wise!
So Wollerton was glistening bright,
Freshly moist in glorious light.
Fortified by cakes and cream,
Off we went to view the scene -
Roses, delphs, achilliae, mint,
Scents (and hues of every tint)
Filled the air with perfumes heady.
Out we came with cameras ready -
Colours fiery, colours cool;
Shrubs and climbers short and tall,
Not only cats were held in thrall
To nepeta and the rest -
My friend declared it heaven's best.
All too soon it had to end
And on our way we were to wend.
So getting on the coach once more
Dorothy Clive we headed for.
The rain clouds gathered yet again
Peter's smile was on the wane.
Despite the wet, a happy bunch
Enjoyed a long and tasty lunch;
-by which time the rain did ease -
We took a stroll through dripping trees;
Gravel gardens, alpine screes,
Led at last to borders fine
Gaudy rich for summertime.
Marked contrast to our final call,
Smithy Cottage - neat and small-
Eclectic mix - a plantsman's place
Unusual things filled every space.
Brave Diana serene presided,
From garden seat advised and guided.
Our journey home was quite exciting -
Black skies, loud thunder, electric lightning!
So much so we sprung a leak
But Peter's skills were not to seek.
They came up trumps, and my last impression
Is of he and Ros both taking a session
At catching drips from above their heads
In a plant they'd bought for their flower beds!
© Marion Armstrong August 2008
At the Holker Hall Garden Festival in 2004 a Gold Medal and Best in Show was awarded. The theme for the exhibit was "All for £4.00 and a little patience". The exhibit was aimed at promoting one of the benefits of membership of the HARDY PLANT SOCIETY. Each year members may, for £4.00 order up to 20 packets of seed from an extensive list together with a packet known as "Distributor's Choice". All the plants used in the garden exhibit, except for those on the ropes, could be grown from one year's entitlement of seed - but patience would be required to get plants to the size of the those exhibited. There are more than 20 types of plant in the exhibit. This is because the packet known as Distributor's Choice contains many other types and can often produce some interesting surprises.
In 2003 our exhibit on behalf of the Hardy Plant Society at Holker was called "The Hexagonal Garden". We were delighted to be awarded a Gold Medal for our efforts.Have a look at the garden in the photo galleries below for views of our exhibits.
Our group was invited by the Hardy Plant Society to stage the HPS exhibit at the RHS Chelsea Show in May 2002. The design of our exhibit called "The World in a County" was by Mr Ray Lakeland, a member of our group. The hardworking team created an exhibit which was awarded a Bronze medal. After Chelsea the exhibit was dismantled and re-created for Holker 2002. The effort of transporting and re-creating the garden was well worthwhile. The judges awarded the exhibit a Gold Medal and Best in Show.
At the Holker Hall Garden Festival, held in June 2000, we had a show stand and won a Gold Medal. This was the first time we had staged the exhibit on behalf of the Hardy Plant Society. Our theme for the exhibit was "A Corner of Cumbria". The team effort which designed and set up this successful, award winning display came from within our group membership.