Myddleton House

[Tim Ingram]

Although I haven't read E. A. Bowles' books (which must soon be remedied) the feel of the garden, as a true 'plantsman's garden' really comes across - a wonderful venue for such an event. I have to admit to casting an envious eye on the conservatory next to the house, not to mention the greenhouse range beyond the vegetable garden. And how about E. A. Bowles' description of his rock garden? He may have been privileged in many ways (and, as it says in the exhibition, one of the last of the truly great gardeners - perhaps a little of an exaggeration: in fact he is probably closest of many of his generation to the specialist gardeners of today, even if we work on a slightly smaller scale!). The rock garden is now romantically over-run with snowdrops but with plans for renovation. Could this presage a new age for the rock gardener? - it would be a great start to stimulate more interest amongst gardeners in general.

[Maggi Young]

Thank goodness there was a bit of sun  to light the flowers before the weather started throwing its weight around. Hope everyone is home safely.

[Tim Ingram]

Amongst the pots of succulents in the greenhouse (which are beautifully grown and presented) was this personalised example - this would give a great advantage to exhibitors at shows! Many of these plants were quite familiar but I can't place the last one - can anyone help?

[Tim Ingram]

Within the garden is this at first sight curious structure. In fact it is the Enfield Market Cross which was otherwise going to be destroyed for the stone and was saved by Bowles. It was constructed in 1504 and it is hard to believe that anyone would consider losing it in this way - an amazing lack of concern for history, and another example of the value of the garden. Finally a couple of examples of plants - first a carefully trained specimen of Hardenbergia violacea, a vivid and superb 'pea'; and second, to finish on a snowdrop, a distinctive clump in the garden - possibly 'Yaffle' or something very close to it, with rather unique soft colouring.

[Alan_b]

Although the Myddleton House snowdrops include a few named cultivars, I think the vast majority are just random hybrids.  But I'm sure you can find very many look-alikes there.

[mark smyth]

Lovely snowdrop

[Alan_b]

I agree, Mark.  To some extent a visit to Myddleton House represents a challenge to your faith as a snowdrop collector.  You can see so many attractive and unnamed ones there that you might begin to question the superiority of the named ones you grow. 

[Leena]

Thank you for the photos from Myddleton House, these pictures are a treat to us who can't come over there.
I liked all, but especially Alan's photo Something of interest made me smile. Wish I were there.

[Tim Ingram]

I can imagine Bowles wandering around his garden with a small group of similar friends in just like the same pose as Alan's picture! Small is definitely beautiful.

[colineddie1]

What a wonderful morning I had - first trip to a gala such as this - extremely suprised though at how fast people moved when the barrier went back and in some cases how shall we say 'determined' some of the buyers were - I have the elbow bruises to prove it and nearly ended up on Joe's table at one point by some extremely eager buyer - but it was fun and I spent a fortune!!! not a good one but came away with 3 on my wish wish list plus another 10. 

Sorry I feel extremely ignorant as I didn't speak to anyone only because I didn't know you - so if you were there a belated Hi from me and my dad!

I took the country route back home via Birmingham and passed through where the storm had hit - took out lots of trees and even road signs were bent like screwed up paper 

On a Garden note though - the day was amazing, the weather was superb for us to wander around and the grounds - well there were so many twists n turns you could get lost for a week in there and never be seen again - lovely lovely lovely and see you all next year - by then I might know some of you! 

[Alan_b]

I'm always very pleased if somebody else from the forum comes up and introduces themselves.  I'm liable to forget names and faces so you may need to do it several times - but that's just my stupid brain.  I was going to wear the hat I have in the picture for ease of recognition - but it was such a nice day I did not need a hat.   

[David Nicholson]

Loved the picture of the Enfield market cross Tim, lovely piece of stonework. I can,t understand why the Enfield "powers that be" aren't knocking on the gates asking for it back. Mind you they've probably been "Osbourned" so hard they couldn't afford it.

[loes]

I'm always very pleased if somebody else from the forum comes up and introduces themselves.  I'm liable to forget names and faces so you may need to do it several times - but that's just my stupid brain.  I was going to wear the hat I have in the picture for ease of recognition - but it was such a nice day I did not need a hat.   

Missed you again.
Seeing the photo of the garden I now realise it was you after all.
We, a group of 7 Dutch speaking people,were at the same time at the same place in the garden as you were.
We discussed if it was you we saw but decided it could not be as we were told you couldnt make it to Myddelton House.
Please do wear your hat in the future or say hello to " funny speaking people" !

[Alan_b]

I remember a group of "funny speaking people", Loes.  Next time, next time.

And I had not twigged that colineddie1 is actually female so I was not looking in the right, er, direction.  I'm glad to hear she got at least some of the ones she was after.   

[johnralphcarpenter]

I see that Tom Mitchell's pictures of the sale are on Twitter.