The gardening group is a small group which meets in each
others' houses and gardens, and visits nearby public gardens.
Meetings are held monthly, on the third Wednesday in each month.
Nearer the dates, confirmation details of meeting times/place will be
sent to group members by email and letter.
ENQUIRIES
FOR MEMBERSHIP TO WALTER MASON.
MEETINGS FOR GROUP MEMBERS –
Click on a link below for report on
visit
PROGRAMME
2015
PROPOSED MEETINGS/VISITS
JAN 21ST 2015 – ANNUAL LUNCH – MEET 11.40 at
Torkington Park, or go direct to Platform One, Romiley, for 12
NOON contact Carol Harrison to confirm attendance, and in case
meal time
changes.
FEB 18TH
2015 – VISIT TO HOPTON HALL MEET 10
AM. Garden fairly flat, but some paths difficult for wheelchairs. Tea
Room. (garden entrance £4) (34 miles, petrol
cost £14 per car) – contact Walter Mason (NB.
If Winter conditions makes travel to Hopton difficult – an
alternative will be arranged).
MAR 18TH 2015 - JANET VOCKING’S HOUSE 10 AM -
contact Janet Vockings
APR 15TH 2015 – VISIT TO WALKDEN GARDENS, SALE MEET 11AM.
Garden flat. No refreshments or toilets. (garden entrance – free)
(10miles, petrol cost £5 per car) – contact
Irene Chappell
APRIL 15TH 2015- WALKDEN GARDENS AT SALE MOOR - optional snack/lunch at Sale Waterpark.
MAY 20 ST 2015 – VISIT TO STONYFORD COTTAGE. MEET 10
AM. Tea room/toilets/nursery. (garden entrance £3.50, or various
tour/food options possible) (28 miles, Petrol cost £12 per car).
Some slopes and gravel paths, and 2 bridges - contact Carol
Harrison.
June 17th - meeting 2pm at Walter’s house - strawberries and cream!
July 15th – visit to Chatsworth House Gardens - meet 10am at Torkington Park
High Lane Cream Tea Visit
AUG 19 TH 2015 - VISIT TO LYME HALL GARDENS. MEET 11 AM. Garden is half
flat, half undulating, with steps to some parts. Tea room/Cafe. (car
charge £6, garden entrance £7, NT members free), (4 miles,
petrol cost £2)– contact Irene Chappell.
SEP 16TH 2015 – VISIT TO WENTWORTH CASTLE GARDENS. MEET 10
AM. Garden has flat areas and gradual slopes. Cafe. Gift shop.
(£5.50, includes parking charge, some concessions for NT + RHS
members ), (34 miles, petrol cost £14)– contact
Walter Mason
OCT 21TH 2015 – PAM REED’S HOUSE VISIT MEET 10 AM. -
contact Pam Reed
FEB 18TH 2015 – VISIT TO HOPTON HALL
Seven travelled in 2 cars on the pleasantly scenic
journey to Hopton Hall, near Carsington, one of the few large snowdrop
gardens within reach. The weather stayed fine, although with a cool
breeze, as we followed the directed paths into swathes of snowdrops
with patches of orange aconites, then through the formal gardens not
yet sprung into spring colour, round the recently created attractive
pond area, by the laburnum arch, dovecotes and eagle sculpture, and
returned through more snowdrop woodland. Snowdrops there had been in
abundance, and the soup, scones and sandwiches had been very welcome in
the tea rooms; so the visit made Spring seem well on the way.
Next meeting is 18 March at Janet’s house, when we will try to
suggest how Janet can make her North-facing and sloping garden
easier to arrange and manage.
MAR 18TH 2015 - JANET VOCKING’S HOUSE 10 AM
Warm sunshine greeted our group of 9 at Janet’s house.
Fortified by coffees/teas/biscuits we explored the 4 levels of the
garden, which were full of interest. Seasonal crocus, iris, daffodils
and hellebores gave splashes of colour, and prominent sculptures drew
the eye. Signs of fox and badger activity could be seen in places, not
uncommon in this area. Many unusual shrubs and trees were dotted
around, as the garden descended towards Torkington Brook, with a
backdrop of tall Poplars and lesser trees. We envied the lovely
situation, but found it harder to give useful advice on linking the
levels together without the use of steps. The group exchanged a few
cuttings and admired a display of hellebore and camelia flowers
APRIL 15TH 2015- WALKDEN GARDENS AT SALE MOOR
Our group of 7 were amazed by the “hidden gem” of Walkden
Gardens, near Sale Moor. Harry Walkden’s 1949 bequest of 7 acres
of fomer plant nursery to the people of Sale has eventually been
developed since 1970 by Trafford Council into an imaginative garden of
18 individual sections, or rooms, separated by beech hedges. The design
was originally influenced by Hidcote Gardens, and required much
determination by local people, and still does, now with the help
of The Friends of Walkden Gardens, to maintain and improve it.
The trademark circular Dovecote building was transported brick by brick
from Sale Old Hall, and re-erected. Notable features in this beautiful
and varied garden, called “The Maze” by locals, were
the 70 foot wisteria arch, a tranquil Japanese Garden, the herbacious
walk, fuchsia garden, conifer garden and the beech circle.
Although early in the year, there was plenty to see, particularly the
many magnolias and a splendid selection of double camellias. Unusual
shrubs and evergreen plants caught our eye, even if we could not
identify them all. It was easy to get pleasantly lost and lose bearings
in the array of different “rooms”, and we were amazed that
such a lovely place was still free, in this day and age! Our visit was
nicely rounded off by tasty meals in nearby Sale Water Park.
Click on image below for larger picture.
MAY 20TH - VISIT TO STONYFORD COTTAGE.
Early rain had cleared as our 11 in 4 cars arrived at Stonyford
Cottage Gardens and Nursery, near Delamere. All agreed it was a very
pleasant visit, to a Monet style green and watery poolside garden.
Paths wandered around, islands were linked by smooth bridges over the
pools, choice plants caught our gaze – candelabra primulas,
trilliums, geums, perennial geraniums, and comfreys in particular.
Interesting trees formed a backdrop – from “wedding
cake”dogwoods, and delicate acers, to young specimen metaseqoias.
Later, after a homemade lunch in the warm tearooms, the sun brightened
our second walk round the garden, and tempted us to buy from the many
good quality plants in the nursery area.
All in all, a very good visit to a garden, which seemed new to most.
June
17th - meeting 2pm at Walter’s house - strawberries and cream!
Unwelcome heavy drizzle greeted eleven garden group members for
Walter’s strawberries and cream afternoon. Happily, the rain
stopped long enough for a tour round the garden, with oriental poppies,
candelabra primroses and iris sibirica particularly catching the eye. A
striking clump of off-white camassio was admired, but less so when its
tendency to spread vigorously was disclosed. A common problem, as
plants often grow, either too quickly, or not quickly enough!
The rains restarted eventually, but by then the strawberries
were ready, and the rest of the afternoon passed by happily.
July 15th – visit to Chatsworth House Gardens
5 of us drove to Chatsworth on a gorgeous summer’s day
(St.Swithins Day!). We had a super time, including two coffee/cake
stops in the refurbished Stable block quadrangle.
First we viewed one of their gardeners taking geranium (pelargonium)
cuttings, admiring his skill at inserting surprisingly small shoots
into soggy compost-filled Jiffy bags. Shortening of the leaves, a dip
in rooting powder, and that was it!
Next we had a free guided tour of the gardens, which proved very
informative and enjoyable. Although most of us had visited Chatsworth
in the past, there is always plenty to see - and next year the addition
of the award winning Chelsea garden to be displayed.
Among this year’s floral highlights were giant cowslips, inulas,
and eremurus, but really, at Chatsworth, flowers take second fiddle to
statues, fountains, the striking large avenues, and the gorgeous views;
which we all thoroughly enjoyed.
High Lane Cream Tea Visit
There were 9 at the visit to 21 Scafell Close, High Lane (opened
the previous weekend under the NGS yellow garden scheme). An
interesting garden, quite narrow in places, with different styles
running seamlessly one into another. Plenty of colour especially in the
themed annual sections each with their individual colour, a large pond
area, and some healthy looking vegetables to arouse our admiration. A
number of striking flowers caught our eye, especially two beautiful
dahlias, a patch of pondside houtenya, a lovely pink lacecap hydrangea,
and several attractive clumps of phlox. On the other hand, perhaps
there were too many self-seeded evening primroses, and the garden
didn’t quite gel as a unified scheme. But overall we enjoyed the
garden, the personal visit, and particularly having a relaxing cream
tea as a group.
– 19th August 11am – visit to Lyme Hall Garden (NT cards needed)
Group Leader, Walter Mason