Gathering some planting ideas

I get to see a lot of gardens, usually with just the owner or head gardener for company. So, the chance to visit two with a group of fellow enthusiasts was a treat and the fact I’d been to neither before a bonus.

The trip, organised by Cheltenham Horticultural Society, took us to two Worcestershire gardens that between them covered a wide range of styles. Moreton Hall Gardens near Redditch, is eight acres of different ‘garden rooms’, while the nearby Meadow Farm Garden and Nursery, is a one-acre, sloping plot.

Moreton Hall Gardens

Our first stop was Moreton Hall Gardens, which have been designed by Charles Chesshire. The areas around the house have a classic mix of hard landscaping and formal topiary overlaid by colourful perennials and bulbs.

I particularly liked the mix of tulips near in the South Garden and the clematis-clad arch that framed a seat.

The tulips were nearing the end but these in a shadier border were still looking good.

In the Kitchen Garden, the colours were fiery with a great combination of Tulipa ‘Ballerina’ and ‘Black Hero’. Head gardener Harry Green explained that one side of this area is planted to mimic sunrise and the other sunset.

It was good to see the vegetables being given a prominent place. All too often they are tucked away in a corner. Adding flowers not only make the whole area more interesting, it will also help with pollination.

The garden is set up high and has wonderful views over the Worcestershire countryside.

In contrast to the formal gardens around the house, the Stroll Garden takes its inspiration from Japan. A small teahouse, winding paths and wonderfully reflective water make it a tranquil area.

The primulas were looking particularly good.

We were told that Moreton Hall Gardens owner Anne Olivieri wanted to buy the property when she saw the meadow and it’s easy to see why. It’s been added to over recent years and now has a display that starts with crocus and narcissi and ends with alliums and camassias, set against swathes of buttercups. The camassia and cow parsley combination (pictured top) was particularly effective.

Meadow Farm Garden and Nursery

The garden at Meadow Farm Nursery has been created by Rob and Diane Cole over the past 20 years and is really a showcase for the plants they grow at their nursery.

They specialise in herbaceous perennials but the garden has a wide range of plants from grasses and shrubs to dainty alpines.

It too has great views and the planting has been carefully chosen so that these are not obstructed.

Pieces of sculpture and pots are found throughout the garden where they are used as eye-catchers.

A scree bed is planted up with smaller plants that would be lost in the main borders.

The hosta collection was still pristine and a great way of adding interest to a corner of the garden.

Wildflowers feature at Meadow Farm too with a meadow of just over an acre. Rob believes it has been unploughed for more than 110 years and the range of wild plants and insects, particularly butterflies, was impressive. The couple have added to the primroses and cowslips, raising more from those originally in the meadow, and manage the space as a nature reserve.

With its figure of eight mown paths and tranquil atmosphere, it was the perfect place to end the day trip.