Dorothy Clive Garden, Staffordshire

[Brian Ellis]

We have just got back from a trip to the west of the country staying in Wrexham.  Our first visit was to a garden that we had first visited some years ago, The Dorothy Clive Garden. Further information here:
http://www.dorothyclivegarden.co.uk/Dorothy_Clive_Garden.htm

We were sad to see that in the Quarry Garden there was some destruction as Sudden Oak Death had been detected, nevertheless the Waterfall was still looking good, with a beautiful hydrangea in the foreground.  Unfortunately the heavens opened and we spent some time in the shelter of the tea room   The hillside garden below the tearoom has seasonal borders, this hot border looked a lot better in real life, Dahlias, Amaranthus caudatus (which I have trouble growing), Hydrangea 'Annabelle', Crocosmia, Tithonia, Ricinus 'New Zealand Bronze' and Eupatoreum being just some of the contributors to this spectacle.  From there the scree slope falls down to the pond, here were Albuca Shawii and Gentiana septemfida and nearby a good clump of Echinops.  Needless to say the weather hadn't spoilt our visit and, as we were 'on holiday' an ice cream was called for

[Lesley Cox]

Good cakes in the tearoom Brian?

[Brian Ellis]

They looked good Lesley, but as it was lunchtime we were on soup - which was delicious, we did have a very good toasted teacake before we left too.  We were saving ourselves for the hotel meals!

[Maggi Young]

They looked good Lesley, but as it was lunchtime we were on soup - which was delicious, we did have a very good toasted teacake before we left too.  We were saving ourselves for the hotel meals!

I do hope we are all properly appreciative of the privations (not) suffered by Members in pursuit of reports for the Forum.......    

[Brian Ellis]

 

[Lesley Cox]

Absolutely Maggi. I know full well it is a pain and a hassle to go on these trips but the effort must be made for their fellow Forumists' sake. Well done Brian and it's always to get a first hand report on the eatables.

[shelagh]

Thanks Brian, we've only ever been earlier in the year for the Rhododendrons and spring plantings it's nice to know there's plenty to see later in the year.

[Brian Ellis]

Shelagh you are one up on us, we often thought of going in the spring and have never got round to it!

[Maggi Young]

They looked good Lesley, but as it was lunchtime we were on soup - which was delicious, we did have a very good toasted teacake before we left too.  We were saving ourselves for the hotel meals!

I do hope we are all properly appreciative of the privations (not) suffered by Members in pursuit of reports for the Forum.......    

Absolutely Maggi. I know full well it is a pain and a hassle to go on these trips but the effort must be made for their fellow Forumists' sake. Well done Brian and it's always to get a first hand report on the eatables.

I get sent some super cartoons by Theresa McCracken.... I thought this one was apposite:
                

[Brian Ellis]

That looks strangely familiar

[Lesley Cox]

I love it Maggi. We have many tourists in Dunedin photographing at the market, the station building and elsewhere. They always have a camera in front of their faces. I sometimes wonder do they ever see what they're photographing, until it's on their monitor or wherever.

[fermi de Sousa]

Yes, we had the story of the tourists who jumped out of their car, snapped away furiously, then jumped back in with the dad yelling "Hurry up, you can look at the scenery when we get home" - (obviously pre-digital as we told it when I was at school) !
cheers
fermi

[FrazerHenderson]

Brian

Shame to hear about the state of the gardens. We re-visited about 4 years ago we found it utterly charming; I remember it well from my childhood when we lived in neighbouring Shropshire and would visit frequently

Frazer