GARDENS
Hoveton Hall
HOVETON HALL GARDENS will be open for charity as part of the National Gardens Scheme, on May 12, and August 20. Visit www.ngs.co.uk for more details. The Gardens will also be holding a Craft Fair, from May 25 to 27, showcasing the best of Norfolk produce. There will be a Guided Garden Tour on May 1, as well as a Guided Wildlife Tour on May 15. Both start at the tearooms at 11am. Admission prices are £7 for adults, £3.50 for children (under fours are free). Call 01603 782558 or visit www. hovetonhallgardens.co.uk.
early summer, when there is a fine display of roses. The Kitchen Garden has much for the garden enthusiast to feast their eyes on. It includes a central herb garden, which was begun in 2002. Within the circular hedge of Japanese Privet lies a collage of lavender, box and thyme. The Gallica roses Versicolor and Officinalis are planted in the inner bed among varieties of sage, hyssop and cotton lavender. Tulips and irises add colour during spring and early summer. The area of parkland known as the Arboretum has over 200 specimen trees: several of the trees have blossom in the spring, including the Japanese Crab Malus floribunda, the Whitebeam Sorbus aria Lutescens and cherries such as Prunus sargentii and P. Serrula. Following a visit to the gardens, there’s always the plant sales area next door to the tearooms. Most stock has been propagated from the plants in the gardens, including hostas and ferns from the water garden and a vast array of herbaceous plants from the wonderfully-gated Spider Garden.
AMONG THE 14 GARDENS OPENING for the National
Gardens Scheme in Norfolk during May are: On May 6 at HILL COTTAGE, Edingthorpe NR28 9SY. The garden is organically cultivated, never watered and a master class on how to achieve the maximum interest and production in a quarter acre plot. Shirley Gilbert is also holding her popular monthly garden workshops throughout 2013. This is the last year, so do not miss out. Call 01692 403519. On May 12 at CLERMONT HOUSE, Little Cressingham IP25 6LY, you have the opportunity to explore a collection of rare trees and shrubs making up the arboretum garden. Owner John Davies has created 13 acres of naturalistic gardens over the last 30 years. The collection now attracts visitors and interest worldwide and contains over 800 species of trees and shrubs. On May 19 at CHESTNUT FARM, West Beckham NR25 6NX, John and Judy McNeil Wilson are opening a real plant paradise carefully developed and nurtured over many years and regularly featured in the national and local gardening press, both in Britain and Europe. Their three-acre plot has many rarities and a particular highlight is a Davidia involucrate (Handkerchief Tree). On May 27 WARBOROUGH HOUSE, Stiffkey NR23 1QH, has some great plant combinations in colourful borders; a particular feature is the use of alliums to provide an extra dimension to the displays. This family of ornamental onions is one of the unsung heroes in border planting. On May 11, between 10am and 5pm, there will be an open garden at THE LABURNUMS, St. James South Elmham, Halesworth IP19 0HN - parking at the nearby village hall. The one-acre garden has been featured in Garden News. There will be an all day BBQ and cake stall, and in the afternoon a concert by the Waveney Valley Brass Ensemble in the sunken garden.
PLACESANDFACES.CO.UK
69