Whilst glancing through my National Trust magazine I spotted a review for a book called Gardens of Wales written by Helena Attlee with photographs by Alex Ramsay. I looks like a must for my bookshelf which will probably lead to a few more gardens being added to my ‘To Visit’ list. It covers all gardens not just the ones owned by the National Trust.
Elizabethan, Italianate, Victorian, Arts & Crafts, conceptual and cutting-edge, its horticultural delights are as styalistically diverse as they are beautiful. This colourfully photographed book reveals the conoutry’s best gardens, from Trust-owned Powis, Bodnant and Chirk to many lesser-known gems and a few quirky delights, such as the underground garden at Dewstow in Monmouthshire.
I was going to name a place not far from here … but I can’t remember what it’s called!
I wish I knew what i’d done with my brain.
I haven’t done many gardens in Wales yet. I really should because I am sure a lot of them are in day trip distance for me.
Ever been to Bodnant?
http://www.bodnantgarden.co.uk/
No that is also on my wishlist!
Have you been there?
Afraid not. It’s the fact that viburnam bodnantse* was bred there that interests me. Just like hypericum hidcote (a very nice garden). *Nice plant but viburnam davidii beats it with its divine scent for three weeks in the year. I have one by the wall on my drive.
I know the Vibernam are supposed to be quite spectacular, I really must go and visit
Serendipitiously, tonight I found this series about Bodnant on the BBC iPlayer. Only shown on BBC2 Wales so it might be worth downloading before they are taken down: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00kt718/Garden_in_Snowdonia_Bodnant_Blooming/
Thanks for that, I shall download it and have a look