Oxfordshire and some lesser known gardens

Day 1 - Coton Manor Gardens is a ten acre garden occupying a hillside position. Landscaped on different levels, it comprises a series of distinctive smaller gardens, providing variety and interest throughout the season, and enhanced by flowing streams, fountains and ponds. Beyond the garden, there is a five acre bluebell wood and a colourful wildflower meadow. Steane Park Garden is situated adjacent to the site of the old medieval village of Steane, which is mentioned in the Domesday book. Approached via parkland, it has an abundance of classic trees and a smattering of wild flowers. The attractive formal gardens, governed by a stunning copper beech, a classic cedar of Lebanon and a red chestnut, lead to a wooded area next to the lake, with wandering paths, wild flowers and an amusing folly. The garden houses many unique and fascinating features, including the ‘Monet Bridge’ which lies on the mound, presumed to be the site of the old mill in the Domesday Book.

Day 2 - Waterperry Gardens are beautiful eight acre gardens with beautiful trees, shrubs and flowers, classical borders, modern planting, secret corners and long vistas. Home to the renowned horticultural college between 1932 and 1971, the emphasis was on food production rather than spectacular ornamental gardens. There is a Formal Garden, the Mary Rose Garden, a Water Lily Canal, a Long Colour Border and a small arboretum. Lime Close (NGS garden) is a 3-acre mature plantsman’s garden with rare trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs. There are mixed borders, raised beds, a pergola as well as an unusual topiary and shade borders. Visit the herb garden and a cottage garden which focuses on colour combinations and the Iris garden which has over 100 varieties of tall bearded irises. Whitehill Farm consists of 2 acres of hillside gardens and woodland with spectacular views overlooking Burford and Windrush valley. It has a number of semi-formal mixed shrub and herbaceous borders including several hundred different perennials, surrounded by more informal plantings of shrubs leading to young woodland. There is a small rose garden featuring C19 shrub roses, a pond and bog garden and a small wild flower meadow and there is an emphasis throughout on ornamental grasses and bamboos.

 

Day 3 - Ryton Gardens combines 10 acres of organic gardens buzzing with wildlife, brimming with plants, bursting with flowers and abundant in fruit and vegetables. These inspiring demonstration gardens contain the world’s first public biodynamic garden; fruit gardens and an orchard; a rose garden, an exotic garden; the Paradise Garden, in memory of the late Geoff Hamilton; a garden enclosed by a holly and beech hedge, containing bulbs and perennial flowers for colour, scent and cutting; garden plant sales; a gift shop and garden centre. Long Close is sheltered on all sides by mature native trees. The walled courtyard is home to several plants such as Schizandra rubifolia and Sophera tetraptera. Formal terraces slope down from the house to more informal gardens below. Herbaceous borders flank the lawns as do the old, knarled trunked, weeping ash and the mature magnolias. The large collection of rhododendrons and azaleas form the boundaries of the garden. There are many types of camellias, magnolias, trees and shrubs which are well established. In addition to the garden, paths have been mown to allow the visitor to wander through the meadow which has not been ploughed in living memory, and where many native wild flowers and grasses grow. Both the garden and the meadow are a haven for wildlife.

With all packages we supply a tailor-made flyer to assist in the promotion of your group holiday, along with a booking form which provides us with all the details we require from each participant.