Ballinger Cymdeithas GarddwriaetholBy Jeannette Batten
A prompt departure from South Heath cross roads heralded the start of the Ballinger Horticultural Society trip to Wales on 12th June.
Dewstow Garden at Caldicot was our first stop. This garden was designed in 1895 with underground tunnels and grottoes but had then been buried for over 50 years, before being rediscovered in 2000. A very tranquil garden with varying shades of light and with the reflection in the pools making it particularly beautiful.
Under blue skies and warm sunshine we arrived at the Grade 1 listed gardens of Duffryn in the Vale of Glamorgan dating back to the 7th century for a guided tour. The coal magnate John Cory, who later owned these gardens, commissioned Thomas Mawson to design them to complement his wonderful home, which unfortunately today stands empty awaiting funds for repairs.
The gardens include a Pompeian garden, a fernery, herbaceous borders and an arboretum where Japanese maples in varying colours are in abundance.
Sunday morning and we were off to the National Botanic Gardens of Wales.
Dedicated to research, conservation and education, the 500 acres of gardens, woodlands and wild flower meadows provide a habitat for plants and wildlife to thrive.
The great glasshouse, the largest single span in the world, houses an amazing collection of plants from the five Mediterranean areas of the world.
I am sure that many of us will wish to visit these beautiful gardens again in the future, but in the meantime we returned home with many plants to remind us of these amazing places.
Many thanks are due to Liz Bristow for organising another successful and enjoyable weekend.