.......escape the pressures of daily living .......get back in touch with your inner self.......be inspired.......
.......find time to unwind in fresh air.......enjoy some gentle exercise in beautiful surroundings.......
.......meet up with friends & relatives in an easily accessible place.......

HOPE YOU SAW US ON THE HALLOWEEN BROADCAST OF GARDENER'S WORLD IN THE FEATURE ABOUT TULIPS.
They refered to our display as ...."ONE OF THE FINEST TULIP DISPLAYS IN THE COUNTRY"
We have tulips in flower over an 8 week period
but the best time to see as many as possible in bloom at one time
is from MID TO LATE APRIL.

YOU MAY HAVE SEEN REPORTS OF THE FIRE IN OUR PLANT HOUSE WHERE WE OVERWINTER OUR EXOTICS

No-one was hurt. The fire broke out on Monday morning November 24th. Around 7.15 a.m I spotted the smoke at the kitchen window while cooking breakfast but thought it was an adjoining property and mentioned this to one of our sons. Something made me go out to check what was happening and by the time I was half way up the herbaceous borders I realised the smoke was coming from the plant house. There were no flames at that time but I could hear a roar starting at which point I decided not to go closer! I ran back to the house where our son had already alerted Ian who was checking from an upstairs window. By the time I was at the phone to call the Fire Brigade I could already hear the sirens. The firemen lost no time in getting water onto the fire over an adjacent wall and evacuating adjacent properties when they learned that there were a some gas bottles in the structure for the gas heater that was keeping the frost off the tender plants.

Shortly afterwards a valve on top of one of the gas bottles shot out from the pressure build inside and the emanating gas fueled a pillar of flames that at their height were 30 ft in the air.

Within an hour and a half the firemen had the blaze out and the situation completely under control.

Unfortunately we have lost 99% of our collection of tender and exotic plants. A small number may recover if the shock doesn't cause an ensuing problem. We have also lost all our tools so the clear up is a slow process as our gardening staff, Kevin and Carl, have to pop out to buy what they need.

As gardeners we are used to being over-ruled by nature and when you are faced with the force of the elements it is good to learn to respect them. Such is life - it could have been a great deal worse.

THANKS ARE DUE FIRST AND FOREMOST TO OUR GREAT LOCAL FIRE BRIGADE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SPEED , CARE & EFFICIENCY.

THANKS ALSO TO THE MANY WELL WISHERS WHO HAVE EMAILED TO CONVEY SYMPATHY. YOUR COMMENTS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED

THANKS ALSO TO THOSE OF YOU KINDLY OFFERING SUPPORT WITH EITHER SPACE TO HOUSE PLANTS OR TO SUPPLY CUTTINGS OF EXOTICS TO HELP KICK START A NEW COLLECTION. It will make sense to try to rebuild a suitable winter house to keep them in but leaving your details via our website for later contact is a great help.

Thanks to all
Barbara Pollard

Opening times for 2009 will be:-

11.00 - 17.30 on Sunday March 15th for the one day on behalf of the National Gardens Scheme, Saturday March 21st daily until October 31st.  

Why not go to our Visit Us page for images throughout the season and a virtual tour of the garden?