Cascades Flower Festival in Winchester Cathedral

Cascades, a beautiful modern flower arrangement exhibition, was held in Winchester Cathedral between 23rd - 28th June 2015, some of the arrangements seemingly inspired by the Tower of London poppies of 2014. The exhibition was directed by Hans Haverkamp with support from Bill Dixon and Pauline Harran.

For more photos of the exhibition, click here

Favourite Places - Wells Cathedral

The famous west front of Wells Cathedral contains one of the largest collections of mediaeval sculpture 

At last I have managed to visit Wells Cathedral, which I have long wanted to see. A flower festival was held in the Bishop's Palace Gardens which was interesting, but the C12th Cathedral was superb.

The famous scissor arches supporting the tower. 

Mottisfont Rose Garden June 2015

Rose Tour de Malakoff

The magnificent rose garden at Mottisfont is at its best in May and June, but I don't always manage to visit in peak season. However, June 2015 was an exception and although it wasn't sunny, the roses were superb and I was able to get a lot of quite decent photos - though nothing like as good as those of Nigel Burkitt.

For the full set, click here




More photos can be seen here 

Old Swan House Garden Open for the NGS 2015

I have been a supporter of the National Gardens Scheme for years and love visiting their gardens myself, but faced opening Old Swan House garden this 2015 with some trepidation. I certainly hadn't thought of doing so in only its second season, but was prevailed on after one of the four NGS gardens in Stockbridge was withdrawn.

Fortunately the weather was kind and the plants obliged with a decent show; and the visitors particularly enjoyed seeing a garden behind a house on Stockbridge High St which they would otherwise never see.

   

The NGS raised £2.4m for its charities last year and Hampshire was the largest contributor. I hope we'll do as well this year.

Click here to read Paul Johnson's well-known and evocative piece on the English love of gardening.