Magical Merriments

You'd be hard pushed to find four acres crammed with more beautiful planting than Merriments in East Sussex. I really like what they are doing there, showcasing plants from their own nursery, and experimenting with colour combinations. The gardens have a traditional feel yet there are some very modern ideas, for example using vegetables as ornamentals, and massed plantings in the 'new perrenial' style. I challenge anyone to visit and not be impressed. I took so many photos on my visit this week, that I've put them together in a little video below - please enjoy!

Some of my favourite shots are also posted below:

In one corner of the garden is a peaceful area where you can observe feeding birds. Only today they were beaten to it by a naughty, but clever, visitor:

If you are in East Sussex and you love gardens, do try to get to Merriments, it really is a wonderful garden.

Guest Garden

Yesterday I paid a visit to my very good friends Sue and Andy in Hastings. I haven't seen them for ages so it was lovely to catch up. As a talented artist, Andy was exhibiting his paintings in an open studios scheme. They live in a fairly small terraced house, but their garden opens out behind the row of terraces in a large L-shape, in quite the most unexpected way, so that you find yourself in an oasis of colour. Both Sue and Andy are very artistic, and this is borne out in the amazing profusion of plants mingled with sculptures and objets d'art. I honestly don't know anyone else who could turn what I see as a piece of junk into something so beautiful! Andy's stunning artwork was displayed in their huge garden studio, but of course it was the garden that must feature here, so here are some snaps:

This looks very English doesn't it!

Sue and Andy let plants self-seed.

An artful arrangement

Believe it or not, a windmill used to stand here!

Junk becomes art in Hastings

Sunflowers stand proud over their surroundings

Every artist's garden needs a Buddha

A nice way to urn a living...

High walls provide privacy

A veg plot to put me to shame!

'Well Kept' Nymans

I try to visit Nymans a couple of times a year, the last time being the month I started this blog in fact, way back in January (see entry here). Gone are the Camellia flowers and the scent of Daphne (she really should wash more) to be replaced by overflowing summer borders. There's actually a lot of renovation work going on in the garden at the moment, and perhaps people visiting for the first time would not be so impressed. But the double borders are looking as glamorous as ever. Not for the colour-themed gardener, you have your archetypal annuals at the front, herbaceous at the back, creating the perfect opportunity to view all the flowers. This style is not 'in fashion' at the moment but I think it's stunning in this context. I overheard someone say the borders were 'well kept'. I think that shows no understanding of the work that goes into gardening; I would hate it if all someone could say about my garden was that it is well kept. Still, I'm sure they meant well.....

Perfect Evenings

It's been just lovely this weekend. Long, sunny days sat on a sun lounger reading, getting up occasionally to do a spot of dead-heading, then back to the lounger. It's been a long time coming, but finally I have that feeling of relaxation that only truly comes once a year for a teacher - you'll know what I mean if you are one! And the gardening chores are all pleasant at this time of year - a bit of light pruning here, dead-heading there - I just love it. The evenings have been particularly lovely, as down here on the coast they are usually the only really still times. Long may this continue! Here are some evening snaps of the garden.

I am particularly pleased with this combination - Stachys offininalis, flowers of Festuca glauca, a Nemesia hiding behind, with Echinacea, Verbascum and Allium sphaerocephalon in the background.

Charming Chartwell

Finding ourselves near Chartwell on Tuesday, we decided to pay our third visit to the beautiful home and garden that Winston Churchill loved so much, living there from 1924 until his death in 1965. The house is one of my favourite National Trust properties - I could just imagine living there - though I'd have to downsize of course - not! The dining room is everyone's favourite, so light and with breathtaking views.

The estate is huge, and the cultivated part of the garden covers a considerable area too, from water gardens to kitchen garden and rose garden, with herbaceous borders along the way. Hopefully these pics will give you an idea if you haven't visited:

Seaford in Bloom

I love my home town of Seaford, even though most people have either never heard of it or just drive though it without stopping. It has a four mile stretch of pebble beach, a bustling town centre and is only 9 miles from Brighton. It also has lots of garden lovers, as I discovered last week at the Seaford Open Gardens event. All ten gardens were beautiful in their own way. Some were crammed with summer bedding, which although not my cup of tea certainly wows with colour. Some came with interesting stories attached, like the town centre house which was built for a town official who also ran a smuggling ring and had tunnels built from the property to various venues in the town. Luckily we don't have corrupt politicians anymore....Here come the snaps:

I also took time to pop in to Crouch Gardens in the centre of Seaford, to see the new 'Quaker Garden' which was opened by Sheila Hancock. It's a small space but very peaceful and very tastefully planted.

Clinton Lodge

I've just got back from a week in Spain, lots of reading, eating, drinking, swimming and sleeping, not necessarily in that order! Before I went, I visited the garden at Clinton Lodge, at Fletching in East Sussex.
This must be about my fifth visit, but I am never disappointed. New developments this year include a revamped rose garden which included an immense water feature.

Here are some other shots of the garden:

The garden is open again on the following dates:

Mondays, 25 July, 1, 8 Aug (2-5.30).

To find out more about the garden click here.