High Beeches

Nestled in the forest ridges of West Sussex, mid-way between London and the south coast sits High Beeches Woodland & Water Garden, containing a beautiful collection of rarely seen plants and trees surrounding peaceful water gardens.

 

 

Click to Enlarge

The reason for our visit was to view the Blue Willow Gentians which are in full flower at this time of year. High Beeches is said to be the only UK garden in which these shade loving plants have naturalised in such large numbers.

 

 

We took to the descending paths, through an acid wildflower meadow that had not been ploughed or cultivated within living memory to see pirouetting butterflies, diaphanous winged dragonflies and friends dancing amongst the Devil's Bit Scabious.

 

Down into enchanting mossy woodland glades, we walked marked tracks past ponds bordered by enormous Gunnera Manicata, malodourous American Swamp Lily and then thankfully on to swathes of sweetly scented Hedychium Gardnerianum growing under a dizzying array of trees including some very impressive Magnolia, Rhododendron and Acer. 

 

At last the Willow Gentians we sought revealed themselves with trumpet shaped flowers in the most beautiful and vivid shade of blue scattered all over the lower gardens. The long descend concluded with a much longer ascend to a well deserved picnic with views over the High Weald.

 

 

You old Weasel!

Short of seeing the odd local fox slinking around your garden looking for a tasty titbit, British native mammals are elusive creatures.

For those eager to connect with our secret society of hedgerovians up close and personal, there is a place where hardy urbanites can go to see an example of the beautiful native wildlife these islands have to offer in a natural setting.

Halfway between London and Brighton in the village Lingfield (close to the renowned Lingfield Park Racecourse) The British Wildlife centre was our destination of choice last week to catch a glimpse of the mysterious Pine Marten, Weasel and Water Vole.

 

Click to Enlarge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is it me or would the guy above left make an excellent Bond Villian with his white fang!

 

 You can find lots more of our favourite animals featured in our wildlife wreaths this season.

 

Gold Diggers Giveaway!

With Autumn fast approaching, plans for Spring displays are already in the forefront of many gardeners minds. I have already been sticking my beak into bulb catalogues wondering which new additions will be gracing our gardens next year.

One of our favourite garden hand tools are these not quite gold but bronze beauties which appeal to my magpie's eye and I think add a little pizzazz to the bulb planting season. 

 

To kickstart your autumn gardening we have a very smart bronze fork and trowel duo as part of
This Months Giveaway!

It's very simple to enter. All welcome, new and existing followers.
Join up and join in. One entry per person.

To be in with a chance of winning your own set of 'Gold Diggers' just.......
A. Follow (Worldwide) The Magical Christmas Wreath Company Blog
B. Leave a comment below

One lucky winner will be picked at random from the comments below on 29th September 2012
Good Luck!

A Blink of Summer

A rare sunny Saturday this weekend had our pasty little white legs racing for the nearest stretch of coastline within easy reach, to roll up our trousers in true British fashion, go for a paddle, eat an ice cream, lounge on the beach and with a smile on our faces, complain that it was far too hot....!

Don't forget to enter our 'Gold Digger' Giveaway
HERE until 29th September

Visit our Fresh Christmas Wreath Store here

Little B&B on the Prairie

On a little farm in West Sussex, a stone’s throw away from the village of Henfield, sits a delightful B&B shielding a humongous surprise behind its romantic private garden. Not the collection of hairy, speckled piggies that run to oinkily greet you as you pass through the oak woods or the chickens who welcome you with a chorus of clucks but a long winding path that opens out onto six acres of breath-taking English prairie humming with harmonious colour. Welcome to Sussex Prairies Garden.

Click Images to Enlarge 

Laid out in a Fibonacci-esque spiral fashion you are encouraged to escape the formal green paths and enter the network of hidden trails within the borders. The reward is to walk amongst tall perennials and billowing grasses to be at one with plant, bee and butterfly, absorbing the sights, sounds, smells and textures at first hand.

The owners and designers Paul & Pauline McBride have created a unique relaxed experience here for visitors to the garden. Returning to West Sussex in 2009 after working on large projects in Luxembourg and also alongside naturalistic landscape and garden designer Piet Oudolf, the couple took on the incredible project of transforming the six acres of farmland into the Sussex Prairies Garden.

 

Nothing is done in half measures here, layer upon layer of great stonking strokes of colour and texture allow you really focus on the plants merits without distraction. With over 30,000 plants to choose from, the paths sing with the sound of insects feasting on the smorgasbord of rainbow nectar served daily throughout the summer.

The hub of the garden is a barn of a building festooned with pretty vintage bunting serving delicious mummy made cakes alongside exquisite coffee. This weekend was our second visit of late which saw a lively plant, art and craft fair attracted huge numbers of plant lovers and hunters cramming trollies, bags, pockets and hats with every conceivable must-grow they could lay their green fingers on!

Laura Ingalls and Nellie Olsen never had a prairie like this......