Synopsis: A trip to RHS Garden Rosemoor for Mum, Christine and myself. Stopped at Tesco, Crediton, to pick up supplies for a picnic lunch. The gardens were looking really good. Proved a great visit.
(selection of photos from Flickr photo set – use link above to view album)
Mum and I have visited RHS Garden Rosemoor a number of times (see below), once with my daughter Helen, but Christine, my sister-in-law, had not visited the garden, and was keen to do so. The weather was forecast to be fair for this day, so we planned to make this trip. We met at my place so as I could load picnic table and chairs, tea-making kit too, into Christine's car, before setting off. We made a preliminary stop at Tesco, Crediton, to purchase provisions for the day, and then continued on our journey. It's a nice drive from Exeter to Torrington, one which I think greatly enhances the pleasure of a day out to RHS Garden Rosemoor.
On pulling into the car park at the gardens I was a little surprised by the number of cars. This was most certainly the busiest I had ever seen Rosemoor. Although there were a lot of cars, it wasn't a problem as there are many parking spaces. We soon found a place to pull up on the grass to park our car not far from a tree under which we set up our picnic table and chairs. I soon had the kettle on the go, and we were all tucking into our sandwiches, cuisine a la Tesco.
As soon as we'd finished our lunch, we set off for the ticket office. The day was warming, with plenty of sun, and the occasional wisp of cloud floating by. There was something of an Alice in Wonderland theme taking place at the gardens, what with it being 150 years since the first publication of the story.
We couldn't make up our mind whether we should be going to Nowhere or Over There.
On entry, we were told that the Hot Garden was looking particularly splendid and really worth a visit. That noted, off we set on our exploration of the gardens. There were Alice themed sculptures dotted around the garden. I particularly liked the Mad Hatter fountain. I at first thought that it was reasonably priced, at only 10/6, but then discovered it was actually selling for £2,000. Um. I'll need to give that some thought.
I was delighted to find the Queen Mother's Rose Garden awash with colour. I had thought we would be too late for the roses, but perhaps they were in a second flush of colour. And of course the fragrance was everywhere in the air. Quite heavenly.
When we reached the Hot Garden, we weren't disappointed. Just had been said, this was almost startling in the amount of colour on display. Huge swathes of vibrant colour spread out before our eyes. On approaching from the top of the garden, it's possible to look out over this area of planting and take in the broad expanse. It's then possible to follow the winding paths that lead you through the flowers allowing you to take in the wide and varied planting all about. A plant lover's paradise.
Mum coped very well with the day, for although quite hot and humid, we were walking at a very gentle pace, as there was so much to take in at every turn. Mum chose not to walk down to the lake with Christine and I, as this involved a slight drop to the lower reaches of the garden. Mum sat on a bench, of which there are many, and waited for us to return.
We then followed a bamboo trail which led us under the road in the direction of Rosemoor House, the old house of Lady Anne, the previous owner of the house and garden. I like to approach the house along the lawn, between tall trees, as this affords a fine view of this, not large, but extremely elegant, and rather Mediterranean looking house. We looped past the café, up through the Stone Garden and the Mediterranean Garden, both looking wonderful in the sun.
We finished our visit with a cup of tea and a muffin back at the car, not noticing the disappearing numbers till we were the last car there. At least, not noticing until, at 18:15, when a man approached us to say that they'd be locking up in 15 minutes. And it was so pleasant sat there having tea, we could have stayed, but it was probably as well we made tracks for home.
A delightful way to spend a day.
Originally, I had posted just a few photos, mostly from my mobile phone, to the Flickr photo album for this day (link above). I’ve now sorted the photos taken with my camera, and upload these to this same Flickr album. Mostly, my photos are of what, to me at least, were the most unusual plants, plants that I had not previously known.
Previous visits to RHS Garden Rosemoor:
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26 June 2011 – Trip: Rosemoor Gardens (RHS), near Torrington
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12 June 2014 – Trip: RHS Garden Rosemoor, Greater Torrington
Trip Statistics:
RHS Garden Rosemoor entry price: £8.95/person
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