I want to take this time to answer questions that I have been asked about the gardens we have visited in the UK. I was not in a specialized, or planned, garden tour with a group. First, I joined the National Trust Society (in the U.S. it is called The Royal Oak Society) I do not remember exactly how I came to know about the National Garden Schemes, (maybe Facebook or through a nursing group) but I planned and researched each trip on my own, in order to visit the National Trust homes and the gardens on the NGS. We spent many summers driving from garden to garden! All the listings were in the books I received after joining their societies. I just picked an area I thought would be interesting and went for it! I was not disappointed! The gardens we have visited have been splendid and visiting the many gardens each day was part of our best vacations ever! We loved driving around the countryside, eating in the local pubs, discovering the gardens, and visiting with other gardeners! This allowed us to get out and really enjoy the locals and learn about the UK! Many times we were the only Americans visiting the gardens that day…..so we became popular too! I would have a particular date we would be in the UK, then pick a specific area, and then see what gardens were available on those days. One of my best finds was Warninglid……..the entire village was on the tour that day! They put a lot of work in to coordinate all these gardens. We were there all day and it was fabulous! And, this is exactly what every American pictures an English village and the perfect garden to look like! Here are just a few photos from their gardens!
PS We got to Warninglid very early and I am glad we did……..They had a field roped off for parking, because there are basically two streets that make up the village. I called them the old cottage street and the new cottage street. Without the field there never would be enough places for all the cars and busses that showed up that day! Bisecting the two streets was the village pub. Out back of the pub, many villagers had brought their own tables and chairs so you could also join in the village BBQ and pie contest………what could be more fun, I ask you? We stayed for it all! The gardens were never fully packed, even with all the folks, because there were so many gardens to see. They made sure to divvy us up at both ends so we all met up at the pub eventually!
I hope you have enjoyed my SOS in Warninglid!
The instructions for SOS are easy. The photos can be flowers, vegetables, a garden design, whatever, as long as it’s garden related and posted on Saturday! So, its six photos. Of Gardens. On Saturday. Easy Peasy. To see all the SOS’s look at SIX ON SATURDAY, hosted by the Propagator, to check out all of them each Saturday! See you next week!
ThatTravelLadyInHerShoes 
Oh aren’t those gardens beautiful! What a truly interesting place to visit. Luckily you arrived early!
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H and M, we try to get around to the gardens to get there when it first opens because I never know how long it is going to take me to get there because we are not familiar with the roads and I have to keep remembering to drive on the opposite side that I am used to! I drive because even though my husband was a naval aviator for 24 years he cannot drive a stick shift! AND I CAN! Rental cars are cheaper if you get a stick! Anyway, he is a better navigator than I am and can look for the roads signs……Ha Ha! Some of these gardens are way off the beaten path and its a good thing they mark the turns with big bouquets of YELLOw balloons or we would never have found half of them! Adds to the charm! It’s like a Garden Mystery Tour! But, I can always find the PUB!
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Fabulous place!
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Beautiful.
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One of my friends opens her garden one Sunday every year for the National Garden scheme, along with others in her village and it’s one of the best days out I know. I can go from house to house, have tea and cakes in all of them, buy some plants and support a charity at the same time, and come home stuffed full of carbs. and not needing to cook that evening! Sadly, she’s just had a stroke and so will be unable to open her garden this year, but I love the NGS.
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Oh, Mari If she was willing I wonder if others could “MAN THE GARDEN” for her? One year we went to one garden on the NGS and the owner had put a sign in her yard to never mind her garden, but to go to a particular garden at her friends house nearby. It seems that the neighbor had never been asked to show her garden (for whatever the reason, I don’t know how they choose) and her neighbor thought that this garden was more worthy! It Was a lovely garden too! We all had a good time enjoying the change up! I just love visiting all those gardens, BIG AND SMALL!
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Thanks for this post. Warninglid is now on my garden bucket list.
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Susan check in the Yellow Book for 2021 (for the NGS Gardens) I don’t know how many gardens they are doing this year and the gardens rotate.
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So few photographs yet so long to study all the details. I finally had to jot down specific ideas for my gardens once spring arrives. Our local garden centers sponsor a yearly tour of private gardens every May or June, but not this past year for sad and obvious reasons. Perhaps this year? If we all wear masks and stay separated from each other? I do hope so.
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I hope we can soon get rid of the masks! I am thinking……thinking mind you, of a few new challenges that I’d like to do myself in addition to all the challenges I now participate in! …..hmmmm how much time would that take? I like my own time sometimes…..Ha ha! I am getting my Covid Vaccination Feb 18th. How about you? I am so going crazy looking at all the gardens that are open in Tennessee, that I may join as a member and just go! Especially Cheekwood! They offer so much that I like!
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I really don’t know when or where we’re get our COVID vaccines. It’s hard to get an appointment locally. Besides, I’m down with a very bad head cold, the worse in years, so I probably should not get a shot. Same rules as with the flu vaccine, I assume.
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No, I wouldn’t take the vaccine with a head cold. We just looked up website for our state and they have an online sign up for Covid vaccine and then tell you where to show up near you!
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By the way, the fourth picture showing roses outside a window reminds me quite strongly of Virginia Woolfe’s Monk’s Head, the roses just outside her bedroom window.
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Yes they seem to like the same roses…….pink ones!
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I had to look up Warninglid to see where it is – great name! We have a similar scheme in Scotland which we use sometimes. It’s great when a whole village opens up. Not sure how it will work this year, if at all.
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No the gardens have been on lockdown too it seems!
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Gorgeous! I’d certainly visit these gardens if I were nearby.
janet
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Such a magical place! I already miss the summer🙂
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