Did you get there! Please share your experiences with fellow garden loving travellers.

Kandy

Oh my gosh! I've been back a week and the tour is still a pleasant green blur in my memory! Here's a list of the gardens we saw during the 8-day tour (all in the SW of England; National Trust properties marked by NT):

West Green House, Hampshire (NT)
Hinton Ampner, Hampshire (NT)
The Manor House at Upton Grey, Hampshire
Mottisfont Abbey Gardens, Hampshire (NT)
Heale Garden, Wiltshire
The Courts, Wiltshire (NT)
Iford Manor, Wiltshire (!)
Hadspen Garden, Somerset
Lytes Cary, Somerset (NT)
The Coach House (Penelope Hobhouse's house), Dorset
Mapperton, Dorset
Forde Abbey, Somerset
Montacute House, Somerset (NT, !)
Tintinhull, Somerset (NT; P. Hobhouse was once a tenant)
Bury Court, Hampshire
RHS Garden Wisley, Surrey

It would simply take too long to describe each of these gardens, so if anyone wants more particulars, please write me and I'll be happy to share my impressions! You can read about the National Trust properties on the Nat'l Trust website: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/default.asp

After the tour, some friends and I drove to the Cotswolds to see Kiftsgate Court and Hidcote Manor (NT). Kiftsgate is probably my favorite garden of all (so far), and a must see detour for anyone venturing toward Oxford or Stratford-Upon-Avon. The Kiftsgate Rose (reported to be the largest rose in the UK and which appears poised to take over the country) was blooming like mad! Also highly recommended is dinner at Marshmallows in Moreton-on-Marsh.

For the private gardens, Upton Grey was a treat as we were shown round by the owner, Ross Wallinger, who almost singlehandedly restored the original Gertrude Jekyll garden. We also had a personally guided tour by the young head gardener at Heale Garden, and the owner of Bury Court (designed by Piet Oudolf) happily gave us the history of his house and garden.

Penelope Hobhouse was just returned from a few weeks in the US and kept apologizing for the state of her back garden (storms had swept through while she was gone). If only I had a garden that looked half as nice as hers, storm or no! She chatted with us then turned us loose to look around (we were the only ones there), while she continued to tidy up the garden in preparation for a village fete the next day. Her influence was obvious at Tintinhull, as well.

Montacute is a must for any fan of the movie Sense and Sensibility, as it doubled as the Palmer's residence, where Marianne was taken ill. Several scenes were filmed in the house and on the grounds, which are absolutely delightful.

Please write if you want more info! I'm already planning next year's adventure to Scotland!

So glad that you enjoyed your trip. For anyone wanting to visit the lovely gardens of Kent and Sussex - including Sissinghurst and Great Dixter, Sissinghurst Garden Tours are launching a very special tour starting on 13 September 2004. I am sure it will be a super event - its a pity I will be back in Australia before it happens. Well maybe next year!

Here is a link that might be useful: Sissinghurst and the Weald of Kent and Sussex Garden Tours

It sounds like you had a wonderful trip, the kind that you remember for years. Thanks for telling us about it. The list you provided looks like a good starting place for someone to create his own vacation.

Paula