The Beth Chatto Gardens

So, Chelsea Flower Show is almost upon us  - I don't have a ticket for the show this year but I will be spending every night next week glued to the television to soak up the atmosphere & note anything that can be applied to my own small garden.

On a gardening note, a few weeks ago we went to a wedding in Essex & had the following day free to explore.  The obvious choice was to head to the coast but then I discovered we were very close to The Beth Chatto Gardens.  I knew my husband wouldn't be too keen to visit yet another garden but I managed to persuade him with the prospect of fantastic cake in the coffee shop.

I had heard alot of the award winning Chelsea designer over the years so it was a privilege to final visit her garden.  She started it in 1960 & has developed it over the years from overgrown wasteland into a gardeners paradise.  You won't find manicured borders here - everything had a very naturalised planting scheme that seems to have evolved from a very organic thought process.  There are four clearly defined areas to the garden - the famous gravel garden, a woodland area, a water garden formed of natural ponds & a scree garden.  I was very pleased as I walked around that quite a few of the key plants are ones that I already have in my own garden.  That certainly didn't stop me from spending in the nursery afterwards!  We took the opportunity to take lots of photographs for future inspiration.  If you are heading in that direction & like gardens then it is well worth a visit - or you could just go for the carrot & banana cake - it didn't disappoint either.

 Ajuga reptans

 rhododendron

 primula japonica

 bergenia

Myosotis 'forget-me-not'