High Summer Sunshine for the Garden Visit

    

Our coach trip to Llwyngarred Gardens for 25 members and friends of the gardening club was huge fun. 

Everyone seemed to enjoy the gardens...not to mention the tea and cake which was on offer whenever we chose. Some wandered the garden first, others went for refreshments after quite a long trip down, thanks to a diversion from the A40 roundabout. Thank heavens for our coach driver, who was magnificent, safely depositing us at the entrance and getting us all
back to our home destinations.

The sun was high in the sky and shone with an intensity; people were glad of the shade that the lawn area allowed. Liz and Neil, who garden almost single-handedly, are a warm-hearted couple who welcomed us in and gave us a very interesting tour of the gardens. Llwyngarreg opens only for the National Garden Scheme, so all donations go to good causes. 

The garden features many unusual plants that love its mild climate, including agapanthus bamboos, blue Himalayan poppies, rhododendrons (sadly over) and magnolias. A spring-fed stream flows around the garden with a pretty 'Monet' bridge to cross. The summer borders were still still colourful at the end of July, with Hedychiums and Salvias.  I loved the spectacular living willow sculptures.

There were very impressive gravel terraces, formal raised pool and a pretty sunken garden where one could sit in tranquility. There were many tender and exotic gems and wonderful autumn colour was already promised with the beautiful, very tall Acers.  

The vegetable plot was impressive. I don't know many veggie gardeners who have had results like the ones in the picture this year! Well done Neil, who I think is the veg gardener. 

This gardens is a must-visit; a real hidden gem that offers inspiration for gardeners with smaller plots. Even the non-gardeners among us had a lovely time. 

Overall, a huge vote of thanks to Liz and Neil from our members, and a especial thank you from one of our members, who is blind––Neil has invited her and her companion back to have a guided tractor ride around the whole site. 

If you were unable like to visit and would like to make your own trip,  Liz and Neil say this about the gardens:

"We made a decision to change a 2-acre field into garden in 2000, and this has now reached maturity. Even in the winter months, there are flowers such as scented Mahonia and witch hazel, Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ and many Hellebores that only the keenest gardeners ever see!

There is bamboo tunnel with a Japanese entrance gate to the garden, into a shelter belt begun in 2007. Beyond can be seen a long, curved hedge in the centre of the main garden, near a bed of deciduous azaleas containing trees such as Liqidamber and Nyssa. Visitors cross a stream emanating from springs on either side of the house, which were converted into a series of cascades planted with candelabra Primulas, dwarf Rhododendrons, and tender perennials such as Astelia, Colocasia and Crinum lilies.

Down the east side of the field is a 40m border of mixed perennials and shrubs and below this is a woodland area with Acers, Rhododendrons, bamboos and an area containing mainly long-needled pines (P. patula grown from seed in 1999 is 40’ tall), with naturalised Fritillarias. At the bottom of the garden it is boggy, giving plenty of opportunity for colourful Primulas of many species, ferns, blue Himalayan poppies (on raised peat beds), Ligularias, Iris and wet-loving trees Metasequoia and Taxodium. Centrally placed are the Low Walk borders with shrubs and Rodgersia, many Rhododendrons, Pittosporums, Fuchsias and Cotinus. Foliage colour is varied here and autumn brings particular delights with many trees chosen for their flaming colours. At the top of the two borders is a monocot bed, dominated by jungly Miscanthus floridulus enlivened by masses of Dieramas.

Facing the house, the Magnolia garden is to your right, above the potager. Here also are large-leaved Rhododendrons, aquilegias and hellebores. A wall to the right beyond the house has been planted with alpines, above a gravel area where more Mediterranean plants thrive. A large polytunnel supplements fruit and vegetables from the potager. This is a spacious garden which repays the plantsman who cares to linger. Sounds are important, with water babbling, chimes here and there and the bamboo deer-scarer. 

Children will enjoy the living willow structures, which include a “monkey cage”, a dome and 2 benches. Attention
has been paid to the need to label trees and shrubs, if only so that the owners can keep track of the many plantings. A ‘Tropical Bed’ was added in 2013 and well-drained gravel terraces surround the conservatory, including a collection of succulents. The sunken garden for more exotics is now mature and above this a bed is dedicated to species Salvias.

Benches are thoughtfully provided at intervals around the garden and children may enjoy swings, dens, underwater giant and mermaid and hiding in the jungly Miscanthus!

The newest project is above the polytunnel where the orchard is supplemented with a young arboretum underplanted with bulbs and framed by wavy beds of grass and wildflowers."