Sarah Honeysett's gardening blog: Inspiration

This page is for photos and items about gardens and planting schemes that I've been impressed by. Below are short items and photographs from Trentham Gardens, Biddulph Grange and Arley Hall.

Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent

We're lucky to have the gorgeous Trentham Gardens close by, and they are an inspiration even in the middle of winter.

Trentham's formal Italianate gardens have been brilliantly restored, with the section close to the ruins of the old hall quite conventionally planted, but the beds further towards the lake planted with wonderful perennials.

In spring, as the flowering plants start to come back into their own, Trentham has a glorious selection of different iris cultivars.

There are also spectacular oriental poppies in the mixed borders - I love these flowers.

In my opinion, Trentham looks at its best in late summer, when the "Prairie planting" to the east of the formal gardens is at its most spectacular.

There's also a gorgeous walk through the woods around the lake; if you run out of energy during the summer, there's an electrically powered boat to take you back to near the entrance from the half-way point.

More photos of Trentham from my Flickr site here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30634865@N03/sets/72157624267204186/show/

Biddulph Grange Gardens, Staffordshire

Wonderfully eccentric, Biddulph Grange has both formal and informal planting in a series of themed gardens.

Victorian concepts of China, Egypt and Italy rub shoulders with the stumpery and pinetum. The wide variety of trees makes Biddulph Grange a rewarding location for an autumn visit, though it's not a good site to visit if you have problems with moblity as there are a lot of steep steps just to access the gardens.