Arley Hall Gardens

A privileged evening guided tour with the head gardener of Arley Hall Gordon Baillie, prior to a planning meeting about the Cheshire Gardens Trust's stand at the Tatton Park Flower show. Gordon has done a great job, the whole garden but particularly the famous herbaceous borders. The walled kitchen gardens are looking immaculate.

One House Nursery

Amazing Anemone nemorosa 'Virescens' spotted at the open day at One House Nursery Rainow. Also Peter Rabbit by Claire de Ruiter sits happily in the rhubarb in the walled garden.

Henbury Hall Gardens

A Cheshire Gardens Trust visit to Henbury Hall Gardens on 14th May. The view of the house from the sunken garden, the view of the lake framed by gorgeous azaleas and the oval window embrasure in the old walled garden.

Hutton-in-the-Forest

The walled garden at the delightful Hutton-in-the-Forest. Really exuberant planting with strict topiary, apples pruned to form boundaries and limes trained on steel frames to form arbours.

Blair Castle, Perthshire

The walled garden at Blair Castle has been restored to its eighteenth century glory. Called the Hercules garden after the statue of the Farnese Hercules by John Cheere which still stands overlooking the garden where he was placed 250 years ago. The garden combines utility with beauty, having a series of pools running through the centre while the slopes are planted with fruit trees and there are mixed borders running round the walls.

Culzean Castle, Ayrshire

Views from the Walled Garden at the National Trust for Scotland's Culzean Castle: annual meadow in front of the gardener's cottage, apples trained over a steel pergola, dahlias in strict formation and the herbaceousl borders. And a sundial from the castle terraces.

Mount Stuart, Isle of Bute

The trees are enormous at Mount Stuart due to a maritime climate. The lime avenue is overpowering and the Crinodendron hookerianum is among many shrubs in the 'Wee Garden' that have become the size of trees. The formal section of the Walled Garden is a 20th century addition by Rosemary Verey, plenty of work for the gardeners there.

Acorn Bank, Temple Sowerby

A quince tree in the walled herb garden, a simple but lovely border in June and stone steps smothered with plants. All at the National Trust's garden at Acorn Bank.