Through the Garden Gate - Taking a visit to Barnsdale Gardens
Apologies I'm late again and my own garden is looking not the best - we have had so much rain the last month that we haven't managed to get out and do some tidying up. So how about a treat instead and let us wander around a garden we visited back in the summer.
This is Barnsdale Gardens in Rutland which was the demonstration garden set up Geoff Hamilton who has a presenter for BBC Gardeners World presenter for 17 years. When we married and set up home together and started gardening we watched Geoff each week to learn new tips and get inspiration for what we could do in the garden. He taught us about peat-free and organic gardening, how to create an inexpensive garden by taking cuttings and growing plants from seeds, installed in us a love of native plants and homegrown vegetables. Sadly he died suddenly in 1996 from a heart attack while taking part in a charity bike ride. He was one of our heroes and we still remember where we were when we heard this sad news.
His family decided to maintain the gardens at Barnsdale and open it up to the public There are 38 individual gardens to see on the site.
It was like taking a step through memory lane as we wandered through some of his demonstration gardens, some of the gardens have been redesigned over the years but they still following Geoff's principles, which were not part of mainstream gardening at the time.
Is there someone who has inspired you in your gardening journey?
What are the highlights in your garden this month?
Thank you to everyone has joined me in Through the Garden Gate in 2019.It has been wonderful to see other gardens and watch their development during the year. If you want to join in with Through the garden gate each month please let me know in the comments below and I will add your site, it is always fantastic to see a range of gardens from all around the world, and share our love of gardening.
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and a good gardening year in 2020!
Sarah
Sarah
Thank you - I enjoy seeing other gardens too. That gazebo ...
ReplyDeleteHappy new year!
I am inspired too. It was a pleasant tour. It is sunny outside but the wind is biting cold. Our few days of warm weather are gone and we are heading back into winter. I needed a bit of summertime warmth.
ReplyDeleteJeannie@GetMeToTheCountry
How lovely to read your post. We must be of a similar age as we too sat every Friday night and watched the doings of Geoff. We had a very tiny walled garden in town and we did our best to emulate Geoff. Hadn’t realised his garden was still in existence. It’s on my list now! Have a very happy new year. B x
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Sarah! Enjoy another year of wanderings and wonderings in that amazing place where you live!
ReplyDeleteSuch lovely photos! I can hardly wait for some gardening this Spring. Have a wonderful year in 2020!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful way to walk with an old friend again!
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely way to walk with your friend again! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteGeoff Hamilton was a great inspiration for me too. I learned so much from him about gardening. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI would love to visit Barnsdale, especially after seeing your wonderful photographs, Sarah. I plan to resume the monthly reviews of my garden at the end of January. It makes me get out there even though the weather is bitterly cold here. Wishing you a happy gardening year for 2020! P. x
ReplyDelete