what garden would you recommend

[rary]

I was thinking on planning my holidays for next year, and as I like to visit gardens when on holiday, I was wondering what gardens the grapes would recommend.

It must be in Britain
It must be open to the general public
It must be open all year
It must be free (naw thats just wishful thinking)

[binley100]

Ryton Organic is free admission till March next year .....

[veggiechicken]

For free, the National History Museum of Wales on the outskirts of Cardiff has lots of reconstructed buildings of all eras, each with a garden of the period. From an Elizabethan manor house with knot gardens to farm houses, cottage gardens etc etc.
Or look into buying annual membership of either Garden Organic, RHS or National Trust, all of which give you free admission to lots of different gardens.

[rary]

I have visited Ryton but was a bit disappointed, did not find it as good as I expected.

[rary]

(I will have to try and learn about this computer) following on from previous post. I am a member of N.T. as for the RHS it I have found it cheaper just to pay for entry rather than membership, but have never been into Wales so may give it a try

[veggiechicken]

NT have lots of famous gardens - near me, there's Dyffryn House, Mid Wales has Powis Castle and further North Bodnant gardens.

[Bill HH]

You are welcome to visit my garden Free where you will see a fine display of bent carrots, blighted spuds and mildew, look on it as a national disease repository. There is also entertainment once a day from the flying slug troupe followed by an aerial display kindly put on by the red mites and aerobatic aphids. We have a high wire act from bushy the vertigoless squirrel as he risks life and limb negotiating our clothes line to reach the bird table. Music (of sorts) is provided by a group of gulls from our chimney pots. Quite a day out.

[andy_j]

The two big ones....Wisley and Kew. About half an hour away from each other. You could then possibly drive an hour down to Sussex and visit Sheffield Park and Wakehurst Place.

I did The Eden Project, Lost Gardens of Helligan and Trebah Gardens in Cornwall last year. They were ok but when you have Wisley and Kew on your doorstep, everything else seems a bit disappointing

[Martin H]

I love Wisley, it has a bit of everything. It's not free though unless you are an RHS member.

[andy_j]

I love Wisley, it has a bit of everything. It's not free though unless you are an RHS member.

Im seriously into herbaceous plants and ive found Wisley truly inspiring. ive been going up there every month for the past 3 summers to see what's in flower and to give me inspiration for the garden i look after.

[rary]

[QUOTE=

It must be in Britain
It must be open to the general public
It must be open all year
It must be free (naw thats just wishful thinking)[/QUOTE]
two other items for the list
What is your favourite garden
Why do you like it

[mothhawk]

I'd recommend Hidcote Manor as my favourite. It's an intricate collection of narrow pathways and secret gardens bursting with colour and scent, and one or two sweeping vistas. There are lots of places where you can sit quietly and just gaze at the plants. The surrounding Cotswold countryside and Cotswold stone villages adds to the beauty. It gladdens my heart to go there.

[rary]

I'd recommend Hidcote Manor as my favourite. It's an intricate collection of narrow pathways and secret gardens bursting with colour and scent, and one or two sweeping vistas. There are lots of places where you can sit quietly and just gaze at the plants. The surrounding Cotswold countryside and Cotswold stone villages adds to the beauty. It gladdens my heart to go there.

Thanks Mothhawk that sounds like the type of garden that I would like and the worst of it is that I have past that area inum???a number of times and never went in to see it.

[Bigmallly]

There's one or two here rary but wouldn't bank on them being free:

Gardens in England A-Z guide: A-B

[rary]

Thanks BM I have been to some of them but notice that one that I really enjoyed is missing thats Barnsdale Garden created by G. Hamilton, that is one that I would recomend as even her Ladyship liked that one, and after a discussion she has decided we want to go to Cornwall. But that could change