The club Garden Safari took place on a beautifully sunny day in May. Those of us who went had a wonderful time not only looking at fellow member’s gardens and the issues they had to cope with, but also enjoying each others’ company with more time to chat and exchange ideas and tips.

The gardens were all very different.

             

Donna has a very steep garden up the bank behind her house. She has stabilised it with stone filled gabions and retaining walls incorporating witty and clever insets such as a water pouring teapot into a cup and saucer. The views from the top were spectacular.

      

 

Elena entertained us for lunch in her garden hut………………………..

          

followed by a gentle stroll around her garden.

A very different location, and being valley bottom meant that the garden suffered very badly from the effects of the recent frosts.Not to be thwarted, Elena quickly replaced the frost damaged flowers with some of her own creations complete with labels!

            

We were up in the hills again for Tina’s garden at Ffarmers.

        

On a bigger scale than the previous two, incorporating fruit and vegetables, herbaceous beds…………..

      

          

……………. yet to be tamed areas currently great for wildlife, ponds and a beautiful hidden valley full of bluebells and other wild flowers.

      

More ingenuity was in evidence – note the border edging materials! (Upturned bottles, slates, and bricks if you are unable to make them out in the 3rd photo above)
Tina, Derek and Kate very kindly provided us with tea and cake after the tour round their fields, which was much needed and much appreciated.

The safari ended with an unplanned visit to Jane and Steven’s garden which was also much enjoyed. The following pics courtesy of Jane……..

    

 

Very many thanks to all our hosts and all those who participated for making it such an enjoyable day.