2017 in garden visits

After looking back at my own garden and the allotment over the last year I thought it'd be nice to look back at the gardens I've visited, or more precisely the ones I've already shared with you.  Unbelievably - actually it's not that unbelievable - I've still some to share, so look out those as they appear.

I'd forgotten that last January we went on the hunt for snowdrops on the Blickling Estate, we found them, but I also snapped one of my favourite shots of the year - and now I'm wondering why I didn't include it in an earlier review post. The hydrangeas are against the wall of the orangery but it has a sort of ethereal quality to it, I think.

JANUARY: AT THE BLICKLING ESTATE 

JANUARY: AT THE BLICKLING ESTATE 

We did find the snowdrops, but we also found a fantastic kitchen garden project which I'm hoping to catch up with again this year, on one of our trips to Norfolk - it'll be great to compare the progress they've made.

AND I'D QUITE LIKE A GREENHOUSE LIKE THIS TOO...

AND I'D QUITE LIKE A GREENHOUSE LIKE THIS TOO...

In March we stopped of at Mottisfont in Hampshire and I had a very good nose around the Potting Shed. I was all for closing the door and getting comfy in there, but MOH was less keen on that and I'm sure that really wouldn't have been the done thing.

We'd spent a week in a beautiful cottage in Dorset and had taken the opportunity to revisit Kingston Lacy and take a walk through the camellias, which at times looked more like confetti. 

A couple months later, after a lovely dinner, we took a wander (or more like a waddle) around the kitchen garden at Gravetye Manor. We're planning to go back again this year, and were hoping to go in the winter months - to sample a different menu of food, but it's currently being refurbished (the hotel, not the kitchen garden!)

We'd already visited Grand Designs Live at Excel and while these technically aren't gardens, they are garden sheds so I think it's fine to include them.  I'm sharing one of my favourite shed interiors, a sewing room and while I love my greenhouse for pottering, I'd also love a space like this.

IT REALLY IS A SHED...

IT REALLY IS A SHED...

2017 was also the year that I managed to visit behind the ornate gate in Greenwich Park, and it was spectacular. It's known as the Queen's Orchard, and if you go to Greenwich Park and it's open, be sure to visit, you won't be disappointed.

In August we had a few days away in Suffolk, and the opportunity to visit new gardens like the knot garden at the privately owned Helmingham Hall, another place I'd recommend visiting. While the National Trust and RHS gardens are fantastic, these independent gardens really do have a unique feel to them.

I've shared pictures recently of the gabion wall at RHS Hyde Hall - and it was fantastic - but equally so were the delicate astrantias in the Robinson Garden there. These plants remain on my plant wish list, and if I did more than just wish about them I might actually get myself growing some this year!

And because I can, the last picture and post I'm sharing is one from Dad's garden. His roses were great this year and my conversion to roses is continuing, enjoy!

So just a quick tour of (some of) the gardens I've visited, I'm sure there's more. One thing's for sure though, there's plenty more to come this year.  I'm hoping to get to some new-to-me gardens too, where would you recommend?

PoCoLo