East Lambrook Manor and Avon Bulbs - Summer visit

Now that most zoom meetings have been replaced by in person meetings, and as it is too far for me to attend my local Alpine Garden Society Group meeting, I took the opportunity of meeting up and joining the summer visit to East Lambrook Manor and Avon Bulbs.

We started at East Lambrook Manor where Mike Werkmeister greeted us and gave us an outline of the development of the garden and how it is being looked after now.

Having visited just a short while ago when the snowdrops and other spring beauties were in full blow, it was a different scene with all the spring growth hidden with early Summer blooms and Shrubs catching ones attention at every turn.

The various Cistus looked particularly fine in the early summer sun

There were shrubs which gave height and would be suitable maybe for my small garden such as this Elaeagnus giving some height, and with the silvery leaves an ideal contender to offer height in the smaller garden. There are a few of them dotted around and the sun and warmth brought out the delightful scent.

The borders had generous planting and interesting plant associations, and a few statues or sculptures to anchor the beds, such as this fine one in the white garden.

As with many gardens, there is often a moment, whether it is the light, the season or just one's mood that varies, often a different area seems to shine out.  On this occasion the area behind the Malthouse in the area named the Lido along a  with its white wisteria.

After  lunch we then went onto to a visit of  Avon Bulbs for a visit to their growing areas. Chris Ireland-Jones greeted us and having greeted us all, took us through the sorting and packing areas. 

Out in the growing beds, we had a tour of the neat well tended growing  areas.

and their shade houses too.

There was much chatting and catching up on trends and their specialities over refreshments.  With Avon Bulbs being in my area, I often see Chris manning his sales bench and will now have a idea of how many of his plants are grown, though we did learn than he also sources plants from abroad.