Garden Visit to Dewstow Hidden Gardens & Grottoes

The May Garden Visit was a first time Club visit to Dewstow Hidden Gardens and Grottoes in Monmouthshire in South Wales. A dry sunny day with some cloud greeted us when we arrived.

Described as one of the most exciting horticultural finds of recent years. The Edwardian gardens were created by Henry Oakley who commissioned landscapers Pulham & Son to create a unique garden with underground grottoes and tunnels. However, during the 1940's the garden was filled in and land reverted to working pastureland. It wasn't until the land was purchased in 2000 by the Harris family that initial investigation discovered steps leading down to a buried garden. Now the only Grade I listed garden in Wales it has been fully restored and newly planted.

Members comments were "what a delight, a hidden gem, a totally different garden".


Entrance to the north gardens and grottoes


One of the pools in the north garden


The Lion Grotto

Fairies do live at the bottom of the garden

Barry Cleaves emerging from one of the grottoes.

More views of the north garden

Views of the south garden

Dewstow House

Ann Steer with Millie, the dog of the owners.

WOW 1000 hits

We have reached a milestone in our blog history. Over 1000 visitors - that is so brilliant and makes my job worthwhile. Thank you to members, followers and visitors.

Ros

Spring Coffee Morning

Members and friends enjoyed the Club's spring coffee morning today. Plants, cakes and bring and buy stalls were popular with the visitors.






Carol, Mary & Sue take care of the draws


Jean, June, Olive & Doreen take charge of the refreshments

Member's Plant Competition

It's the Spring Coffee Morning on Tuesday 5th May at The Memorial Hall at 10am. Plants will be on sale for the Autumn Flower Show Plant Competition.



This year it will be a Horizon Geranium called Deep Scarlet. This is a prolific flowering zonal Geranium producing deep scarlet flowers.

At the Coffee Morning there will be two plants stalls, a bring and buy stall and a cake stall too! So come along for a drink, a biccie and a chat too!



Here's what the experts say:




Geranium Horizon Deep Scarlet
With it's unrivalled branching habit and uniform flower growth, Geranium Horizon is one of the best performing upright Geraniums available. Fast growing, this Geranium is ideal for bulking out flower beds and planting up containers. It is also one of our best selling varieties of bedding plant!