In a Vase on Monday – fuchsias, 5 favourite NW gardens

So the hot, sunny weather is over for the moment.  It’s been raining on or off in Manchester all day, so I ran out into the garden to pick some flowers for the vase, you can still see the raindrops on the fuchsias. It’s a good thing it’s been raining, as the reservoirs, the farms and the gardens need it.  The drawback for me is that my arthritis starts aching again; it’s been glorious having three months pain-free.

The flowers are:

• pelargonium in white, red and the pink edged one is ‘Crimson Flame’. Pelargoniums have appeared in IAVOM many times – pelargonium 
• two hardy fuchsias  Son of Tom which grows about 3 foot high outside our kitchen window(small crimson flowers) and the one came from Morrisons – it might be Mrs Poppleton (crimson with a purple centre) it’s about 4 foot high at the moment. Fuchsias have appeared many times In a Vase on Monday – have a look at fuchsia
• purple perennial wallflower appear often too.
• flowering Chive – awesome purple flowers but these were dismantled from the

The Jug reminded me of the shape of pelargoniums. It was made by Amy Helena Clarke – www.ahclarke.co.uk who is based in Stoke.  It’s appeared on the blog once before when I wrote about John Rylands Library, on Deansgate in Manchester.

• In a Vase on Monday – white, purple, aquamarine, and john rylands too – 18 August 2015

The Sign  I’ve got no idea where I bought it, possibly a charity shop find; it sums up some of the many things I love about my garden.  I don’t have any topiary – to see that you need to visit a Great Garden.

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Please have a look at Rambling in the Garden where Cathy hosts In a Vase on Monday – this week she has stunning dahlias. There’s always plenty of garden inspiration and pretty flowers from the bloggers around the world.

This Bank Holiday weekend we are hoping to go to a Cheshire garden which is only open for three days a year to raise money for local charities.  It got me thinking about some of my favourite North West Gardens – so I thought I’d do a summary of them – the photos are a snapshot because the gardens change weekly.  I’ll write more detailed posts about each soon.

1. Tatton Park – National Trust www.tattonpark.org.uk 

We go to Tatton Park, the Garden and estate often – it has a very extensive grounds, a large kitchen garden, rose gardens, vistas and hothouses.  There’s a gardener’s cottage which serves excellent afternoon teas, a cafe, and the usual NT shops.  There’s an old style carousel in the stableyard too.  The Mansion is unusual, as it’s open over the Winter with the ground floor decorated for Christmas.

Many of the gardening bloggers and local readers will know it’s been home to Royal Horticultural Show Tatton Park flower show, held in July for the last 20 years – the site of the show is nowhere near the Mansion or the Garden though – it’s in the Dear Park.  There are many events run at Tatton throughout the year including classic car shows, charity runs including Race for Life.  I ran here once in the pouring rain for Cancer Research UK – I’d have been just as wet if I’d been swimming in the lake.

September is a very good time of year to visit Tatton Park, as the acers in Japanese Garden will be coming into full-on red!  It is one of the largest and most significant Japanese Gardens in the UK with listed status.
You can’t walk within the garden anymore but there are plenty of photo opportunities.

Tatton Park has appeared on the blog – here’s a selection:

• In a Vase on Monday – hellebore, half cup full, afternoon tea at Tatton Park – the luscious Gardener’s Cottage afternoon tea 🙂
• In a Vase on Monday – Bee Cheerful & Enjoy Today including RHS Tatton Park 2018

Note: There are Car Parking charges for National Trust members too, as the estate is managed by East Cheshire Council.

2. Bodnant Garden, Conwy, Wales – National Trust  www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bodnant-garden

I love Bodnant – not just because this is where we got engaged.

It has stunning views of Snowdonia too.  There’s a large garden centre, shops selling arts and crafts as well as a tea shop. It is the National Trust after all 😉 The Mansion is privately owned and not open to the public.

Rose Garden at Bodnant Garden – our engagement – 18 June 2016

June 2016 – terrace looking spectacular

• In a vase on Monday – sweetpeas are blissful and so are we – the story of our engagement on 18 June 2016

Bodnant has azalea and rhododendron dells, a laburnum arch, rose terraces and large areas of woodland with some of the tallest trees in the UK.

We have been many times, but not yet this year. We need to rectify this.

3. Dunham Massey, Cheshire www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunham-massey

We visit Dunham Massey about every three months or so, even on the coldest days of the year. It’s flat so it’s a good place to take my mum when she visits.

We had our engagement shoot here in May 2017 – great fun 🙂 

4. Abbeywood, Delamere, Cheshire – www.abbeywoodestate.co.uk –
part of the Great Gardens of Cheshire scheme and 2-4-1 RHS 

check the opening times before you go.

This is where we got married in September 2017 – it was the best day of my life! And The Husband says the same 🙂 That’s handy isn’t it? 

We found Abbeywood by accident – as a friend recommended it as a possible wedding venue. We weren’t disappointed when we visited in July and September 2016 – we went a second time to check what would be flowering in September – there was alot of lavender and an exotics garden.

The family who own Abbeywood are wonderful – it’s a grand day out and the food in the cafe is gorgeous.

5. Eaton Hall – Home of the Duke of Westminster – www.eatonestate.co.uk

We’ve only been to this garden once in July 2014 on one of the three annual open days to raise funds for local Cheshire charities.

It is a stunning 88-acre garden; arranging a holiday just to see it is well worth it. As well as walking around the extensive gardens, there’s the 19th-century coach house, with vintage cars and carriages, and the chapel. There are exhibits explaining the history of the Grosvenor family and the Eaton Hall Estate.   The Hall has seen many changes over the centuries, been knocked down or remodelled, most recently in 1972 and 1989.

Dartmouth Royal Naval College was transferred here during the Second World War.

There are also numerous charity stalls, sheepdog trials and gun dog displays.  There’s also a mini steam train called Katie – food and drink stalls, though people are welcome to bring picnics.

The camellia walk in the hothouse – much larger than Tatton Park – can you imagine how stunning this would be in May?

the hot border – with the indoor tennis court/sports hall in the background – July 2014

the kitchen garden and cutting beds with the Chapel tower in the background

It’s was a wonderful day out – and we are planning another visit on Sunday.

The garden is only open three days a year to raise money for local Cheshire charities

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But the most important question is – which place has the best cakes?  They all have excellent cafes and extensive cake selections but the winner is – Abbeywood 

Have you been to any of these gardens? What are your plans for the weekend? Are you visiting any gardens or stately homes? or staying at home? 

Carpe Diem

love Bec xx xx