Gardens Open

It is the season for summer fetes, village carnivals and open gardens. Of course the National Trust gardens and the listings in the NGS Yellow book are interesting, impressive, perhaps both but some little gems can be discovered by following the arrows directing you from a main road to a village where several residents have agreed to let curious passers-by wander around their gardens for a modest donation to a good cause. You park on the edge of the field designated as a temporary car park. You locate the first garden where someone gives you a copy of a hand-drawn map of the village and some friendly guidance. Then off you go, wandering along little lanes, drifting around gardens, bumping into fellow wanderers and somewhere along the way there may well be a plant stall or two and somewhere to have a cream tea. If the weather stays dry, it can be such a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. I am drawn by the chance to find what lies over the garden wall, especially if the wall happens to be mellow flint and brick, bounded by hollyhocks.

On Saturday I visited the gardens in Exton. There were roses. Purple ones.

And a lovely single red one.

In a tiny village nestling in a picturesque river valley, the gardens were set against stunning country side views.

But for all the harmonious planting schemes and meticulous grooming of the lawns and beds, the sight that stopped me in my tracks was a little meadow of ox-eye daisies by the river.