Chelsea 2015 - ICanGarden.com

May 22nd Nymans - Guided Tour of Gardens – Romantic Fairytale Ruins and Exotic Gardens

In the late 1800s Ludwig Messel bought the Nymans Estate in the Sussex High Weald to make a dream family home. Inspired by the wooded surroundings he created a garden with plants collected from around the world. Here this creative family entertained friends and family, enjoyed relaxing, playing and picnicking in the garden and woods. Today it is still a garden lovers' home - a place to relax all year round and enjoy a peaceful country garden. The house was partially destroyed by fire in 1947 and the romantic ruins of a fairytale gothic mansion remain. Nymans is packed full of exotics, from Chinese and Chilean trees in the walled garden to our new South African bed. The terrace border, in front of the majestic ruins evoke warmer, drier climates with Mediterranean and exotic planting. Outstanding 20th-century garden, set around a romantic house and ruins, in beautiful woodland featuring wisteria, azaleas and rhododendrons in spring. Nymans was one of three National Trust gardens that featured in the BBC Four series, 'British Gardens in Time'. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/nymans/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01xs59w

West Green House Gardens Including Guided Tour and a Delicious Afternoon Tea – Both Sumptuous!

“That demanding, rewarding fusion can be savoured in the sumptuous gardens and Georgian architecture of West Green House." Country Life Magazine 2011. West Green House Gardens offers four seasons of beauty, contrast and inspiration, created by an acclaimed garden designer and writer, Marylyn Abbott. Situated in picturesque North Hampshire, it is one of England’s finest manor house gardens marrying traditional style with contemporary design. Nestling in a woodland corner of Hampshire is this ravishingly attractive 1720's manor house, where busts of gods, emperors and dukes now framed with roses, watch over the gardens. West Green House Gardens demonstrate how creative energy is poured into garden making. It is a garden with a special and distinctive sense of place, made by Marylyn Abbott selected as one of the top 20 living garden makers by Stephen Lacey for the Telegraph. He writes “her swash buckling annual potage displays, fountain gardens and torch lit operas reflect her energy and zest. Through her books she has pumped fresh air and sparkle into the world of period gardening” Wonderful shop for garden goodies.
http://westgreenhouse.co.uk/