Garden Visits
MARCH
Six of our group met at Harewood House in Plympton for the Annual Spring Show organised by the Plympton Gardeners Association.
We arrived at the opening and there was a short speech by a local councillor who thanked and congratulated all the participants. The hall was full of beautiful fragrances from a good display of daffodils and narcissus and examples of polyanthus, camellias, orchids, foliage shrubs and even snowdrops.
There were also displays of home baking and jams and curds, flower arranging, rhubarb and vegetables and photography, all of which had been judged and certificated.
We topped off an enjoyable visit with home made refreshments available from the coffee bar and and taken in the comfortable Alf Wright lounge.
FEBRUARY
10 of the group met at Plymouth Garden Centre for lunch and a catch up. Despite horrible weather on arrival, we had a lovely time and capped off a tasty meal with some shopping. Certainly the best place to be on a day like that! Hopefully we will have much better days for our future trips out.
JANUARY 2024
9 members met again for the first time in the New Year in Otter Nurseries Cafe for a good catch up. After a coffee and some retail therapy 6 of us returned for a light lunch, where the cheese tea seem to be most popular. Good to get back together again and have a nice chat after the Christmas break.
DECEMBER
Despite the many pre-Christmas viruses circulating, 9 of us were able to return to Endsleigh Garden Centre for our Seasonal lunch. As usual the staff were excellent, and we were able to reserve a table in the Tea Room for morning coffee and return to it after some Christmas shopping for a hot meal, ordered on the day and served to the table. This has become an Annual event and the decorations and gifts on sale helped to put us in the Festive mood. Hopefully we will return in December 2024.
NOVEMBER
The group's November get together was at Tamar Nurseries in Saltash, where we met for a coffee in the Cafe before a little Christmas retail therapy. We were able to enjoy the entrance to Santa's Grotto and listen to the singing Reindeer (one of which had a sore throat).
Having taken in the selection of gifts and decorations on sale, most of us returned to the Cafe for a hot lunch and good natter. Our last trip of the year is to Endsleigh Garden Centre on December the 20th.
| Dates for your Diary | |
|---|---|
| Mon Apr 29th | Dartington Hall Gardens TQ9 6EE. Meet in the car park at 11am. £5 entrance plus parking charges (eg. £3.50 for 3 hours). RHS members free. 26 acre Grade 2 listed tranquil gardens with sculptures. Cafe nearby. |
| Wed May 29th | Heathercombe, Manaton nr Bovey Tracey TQ13 9XE. Opened for the NGS £6. Meet at the entrance of the gardens at 1:30 pm. |
| Sun Jun 23rd | The Priory. Priory Road. Abbotskerswell, Newton Abbot TQ12 5PP. Opened for the NGS. £6. Meet at the entrance at 1p.m. |
| Fri Jul 26th | Stonelane Gardens, Stone Farm, Chagford TQ13 8JU 5 acre woodland/water garden with National collection of birch and alder trees. Annual sculpture exhibition. Tea room and garden. Price to be confirmed. Meet in the main car park at 11am. |
| Sun Aug 4th | Middlewell, Waddeton Road, Stoke Gabriel, TQ9 6RL. Opened for the NGS. £6. Meet at the entrance at 11.30 am. |
| Wed Aug 14th | The Garden House. Buckland Monachorum. Opened for St Lukes Hospice. £6. Refreshments on sale. Colourful romantic cottage gardens and wall gardens. Meet in the car park at 10.30 am. This is opening time. NB. car sharing recommended as this will be a very popular event! |
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