RIP .... to blog awards!

Now this is a really serious message to all of my fellow bloggers out there .... please, please, please, no more awards. You can mention my blog, you can put me in your side column links, you can follow me, but I'm really serious, no more awards..... no, not for anything ... not for best blog, meme, youyou, usus or hehe, or should it be hee hee...??

I want you all to know that I do this blog because I LOVE gardens, I love visiting gardens and, because I am lucky enough to have a camera when I am out and about, an ability to point the lens at things that I like and take pictures.

The rest is history. Once I've put my eye behind the camera, downloaded the results on to my computer and then got on to "Blogger" and published, it's all down to technology. I'm really pleased that so many of you like the results. I'm deeply flattered that you want to pass awards on to me, but I actually feel that I'd rather read what you all write about so well.... rather than seeing you worry about passing on awards.

I'm sure that like most of you, I started blogging because I wanted to try something new, and then it sort of grew.... just like plants in the garden ... and then it grew again... need I say more?

I made lots of mistakes; I tried not to repeat those mistakes; I had a great passion for gardens and found that people wanted to read what I had to say and look at my photographs; but now I'd like all of you to enjoy those pictures and odd bits of text in between and leave comments...

Magical Memories on a Monday!

The weather is so awful here in England that I'm reflecting on some of the lovely flowers I've seen this year to cheer me up! Hope you'll enjoy them too. Off to India now, so I will be carrying on with my alphabetical gardens from abroad, interspersed with relevant garden entries from Rajasthan. Thanks for visiting my blog.

"I" for Iconic English gardens!

In my last post I featured wonderful historic houses with gardens, and in this entry there are stunning houses, but I'm concentrating on iconic gardens with a capital "I"! Steel yourself though, because you're going to encounter some interesting road conditions reaching them, plus the odd tractor, but all worth the effort when you arrive! These are English gardens at their best - you won't find anything like them anywhere else in the world.

Iford Manor in Wiltshire (above) ranks as one of my top gardens visited so far. This is Harold Peto's garden - a magical place, where you'll encounter something more extraordinary at every corner you turn! It took me three years to get here, but when I did, it took my breath away, with the amazing Italian statues and the feeling that you have stepped back in time and become an actor on an empty stage. This garden is a masterpiece!

Filled with statues and urns that Peto shipped from Italy, it has a predominately Italianate feel and the hillside position lends itself to an extraordinary landscape that Peto has used to the full, so you climb up and down steps; get views of the valley and stage sets below; and encounter a series of garden rooms at different levels. A simply marvelous garden and definitely not to be missed!

Combine this with The Courts (below) which is just a couple of miles away and you will be left wondering how you'd ever missed these two extraordinary gardens hidden away in Wiltshire. The seven-acre garden surrounds a lovely 18th-century house, and includes a fine collection of trees.

The water garden (below) is a particularly stunning feature at The Courts and although I wasn't there at the right time of year, I'm told that the Iris sibirica display is outstanding. Just a word of warning though - you won't be able to combine these two gardens on a Wednesday because The Courts is closed that day!

Check diary dates for next year in The Yellow Book published by the NGS to make sure you don't miss the open days at The Old Rectory, Duntisbourne Rouse in Gloucestershire (below).

Home of Mary Keen, the well-known garden author and designer. This is one that will make your spirits soar! Do check your map before you go, because if you take the wrong road, you'll end up crossing a ford, which might just take you by surprise! But this is a garden worth getting wet for - it's a classic English idyll.... need I say more?? Only open on a couple of days a year, so you may need to do your homework in advance, but there are many other stunning gardens in the area, so this is good to include in a garden break with a stay in the glorious Cotswolds.

Cothay Manor is another iconic house and garden in the heart of the Somerset countryside. The beautiful medieval moated manor (below) has another of the finest gardens that I've seen in my travels so far. Extending to some 12 acres, the gardens were only laid out early last century and have been redesigned and replanted in the last few years by the present owners. Particularly spectacular in May when the tulips are in bloom, but good to visit at any time of year for the immaculate topiary and summer flower displays.

This is definitely another garden in my top ten and will be well-worth watching in years to come as the owners continue to develop the outstanding work they have already completed. The surrounding countryside is stunning too and you won't be disappointed if you make the effort to get here. There are also many other beautiful gardens locally, so do your homework and visit several on the same day!

There will be more iconic gardens to come later this year, as I get details of open dates for readers.

"H" for Historic Houses with gardens

There are so many exquisite gardens beginning with "H" that I can't fit them into one entry, so I'm concentrating on members of the Historic Houses Association today, because you won't get finer architecture than this and the gardens are spectacular too! If, like me, you are interested in visiting gardens, this is a wonderful organisation to join - you pay an annual fee and you can visit most gardens free - you also get the quarterly magazine which gives you news about member properties.

Heale Garden near Salisbury in Wiltshire is heavenly! A fabulous house (above) provides the backdrop to a truly wonderful garden, designed by Harold Peto, which starts blooming in spring. You'll really enjoy the endless vistas of daffodils here, with a tributary of the River Avon flowing behind. This is one of my favourite English gardens - there's always something to see and the grounds are beautiful. There's even a Japanese garden, complete with bright red bridge (below) that was brought over from Japan at the turn of last century and assembled by four Japanese gardeners!

Hestercombe Gardens (below) near Taunton in Somerset are another Gertrude Jekyll and Edwin Lutyens triumph - he provided the architectural interest, with rills, pools, steps, pergola and orangery and Miss Jekyll used her talents to make the most of the flamboyant planting. It's a spectacular combination and has the added advantage of wonderful views over Taunton Vale. Definitely worth making a detour to see and there are so many other wonderful gardens locally including gems like Lytes Cary and Cothay Manor (not members of the HHA), that you may want to stay locally and visit them all!

Hole Park in Kent (right) is another must-see! A lovely early 18th-century house, set in the heart of the country, with 15 acres of gardens which feature many lovely statues; fine, tall, specimen trees, and wonderful vistas over the surrounding countryside. I'm told the bluebell displays are magnificent, but haven't seen them for myself. I loved this garden, but do check website for opening times.

Houghton Lodge in Wiltshire (below) is just a stone's throw from Heale House and enjoys a fine hilltop position overlooking the River Test, which is known for some of the finest fishing in England! The house is certainly unusual and the gardens are lovely, especially in springtime with the endless drifts of daffodils. There is also a lovely walled garden and lots of topiary, plus a hydroponicum (where plants are cultivated without soil).

Some really gorgeous "F" and "G" Gardens

Today, I've got some really special gardens for you on my alphabet tour! From Forde Abbey in Dorset to Greenbank Garden in Scotland - they are all favourites of mine - and places that I return to whenever I am in the area.

Forde, a former Cistercian abbey (above), started in the 12th century, has wonderful grounds extending to more than 30 acres, complete with lime and walnut avenues, a large lake and a backdrop of stately buildings; plus impressive bog and walled kitchen gardens. There is something enchanting about this place, dotted with statues and sculptures, and you'll enjoy a remarkable sense of peace when you're walking around. Open year round, and really spectacular in February with its displays of crocuses and daffodils.

The Garden House, which I reviewed earlier this year, is another great favourite of mine and is home to a ruined abbey, which makes a wonderful backdrop to the gardens. The creation of a retired schoolmaster - Lionel Fortescue - it is a plantsman's paradise - filled to bursting with interesting plants and divided into a series of large garden "rooms" featuring South African, meadow, bulb and magnificent tree collections. There is always something to see here and the only sadness is that it has become so popular that it can be hugely crowded.

I'm being a little unfair including the next garden - Glen Chantry - because it's no longer open to the public. The owners closed their doors last summer after 30 years of receiving visitors, although I understand they will continue to open for charity in 2010. So check the web if you plan to visit and see if they plan to open - you won't be disappointed. Planting here is magnificent; the borders will stop you in your tracks; and then there are the stunning little touches like this lady, made out of chicken wire!

Great Dixter (above) seems to be on everybody's wish list, which is hardly surprising because it is an iconic landscape with its staggering floral displays and ancient timber-framed house as a backdrop. Former home of Christopher Lloyd, this is a garden with a difference! It's stunning and well worth going out of your way for.

Gorgeous Greenbank Garden (above) may be a little out of the way, but could form the basis of a Scottish garden tour because there are so many other lovely gardens nearby. This stunning 2.5-acre walled garden is divided into many sections and demonstrates design and planting ideas for small gardens. You will see many interesting plant combinations and colours here.

And finally, Groombridge Place in Kent (above). An interesting restored 17th century garden with its "drunken" juniper trees, handsomely moated manor house (not open to the public), and newer features like the giant chessboard, the Golden Key Maze and a charming knot garden. There is also an enchanted forest for children. The setting of the property is quite spectacular in a broad wooded valley, and it is very peaceful here.

Delightful gardens beginning with "D" and "E"

Delightful gardens beginning with "D" and excellent gardens starting with "E" are featured here today, starting with Denmans Garden in West Sussex (below) - created by well-known designer, John Brookes. This garden is a secluded paradise and is home to many fine foliage plants, which provide year-round interest. The planting here is luxuriant and you feel that the site is much bigger than its four acres, because there are so many different species. An added attraction here is that the garden is open all year and has a wonderful nursery.

Dyffryn Garden in Wales is worth making a detour for because of its fine borders, interesting statues and series of themed garden rooms - also open throughout the year, so there is always something to see. There are deep herbaceous borders in summer; croquet lawns fringed with Irish yews; a rose garden; fernery; Mediterranean and Pompeian Gardens; and all set against the backdrop of a house built at the turn of last century. The original garden was designed by Thomas Mawsom, and with the help of recent lottery funding, much of the garden has been restored to its former glory in the last decade.

East Lambrook is a must if you like cottage gardens. Former home of Margery Fish, who is synonymous with "cottage gardening", it embodies the seasonal English idyll's of snowdrops, spring bulbs and masses of summer colour in a small space. You will see every type of cottage garden flower here and the winter snowdrop and hellebore displays are quite spectacular!

The Eden Project - which breathed new life into Cornwall and put the county back on the map -you'll never forget the first view of the biomes (below) as you stand at the top of the hill looking down. It's not everybody's cup of tea and you could be forgiven for thinking that you've landed on Mars when you arrive, but certainly worth a visit, even if only to say that you've been there. The different biomes house plants - divided into different geographical areas and offering humid tropical species and Mediterranean plants. With over 1,000,000 visitors a year, they're doing something right here!

Englefield House, a classical masterpiece, and a garden that has been there since the 17th century, complete with deer park, lake and formal gardens. There are stone balustraded terraces adjacent to the house and miles of parkland to explore - particularly spectacular in spring with the azaleas and all the bulbs, stretching as far as the eye can see!

All these gardens are open throughout the winter months, but do check websites for open days - Englefield House (above) is only open on Monday during the winter months!

Needs must ... so thank you all!

Yes, you guessed - this is me, with camera in hand!

Yes I'm travelling, but still blogging, and wish to thank all three fellow Blotanists who gave me the HSA (Honest Scrap Award) - I have to say that I'm not too sure about these awards because although I'm honoured, I actually have very little to say about myself, so I'll concentrate on those who nominated me and those I'm passing the award on to.

First let me thank my fellow bloggers - in the order in which the award arrived - first to Jean with her delightful blog Jean's Garden, then to Drew of Baneberry Garden Blog and most recently to Jack of Sequoia Gardens. Please don't think I've ranked you, because you are all favourite Blotanists of mine and I always enjoy reading your posts.

Now comes the problem of passing this award on, because so many Blotanists deserve praise that it seems impossible to choose just seven and on that basis and having seen how many of you have already received the award, I'm going to pick the Blotanists who live in the country where I'm doing my charity work - India - because I'll be there in a couple of weeks time and it is, after all, my home from home.

So my nominations go to Sunita, The Urban Gardener; Kanak at Terra Farmer, who has, I know like me, been nominated several times; India Garden; Zindgi at Lost in Dreams, new Blotanists, Arati at Trees, Plants and More, Zazu at Zazu's Garden and Evergreen Tree. I did look at other blogs from India, but many haven't posted for months, which is why they didn't make it on to my list!

And so what about me .... this is the really hard part because, as I said earlier, there's not a lot to say. I'm just an ordinary person with a great family, lots of friends and a huge amount of energy. But my great love is India and I'm very committed to my hospital project because my friend and partner, Dr Deepak Babel, saved my husband's life last year when we were visiting India, and gave me strength and hope when my father was dying earlier this year.

I've had incredible support from family, friends and contacts since I started this project and it's a bit like planting a garden (yes, that's me planting a tree, below right). We've started at the beginning, with the motto, "sowing the seeds of change"; and little by little, that's happening. Every day sees a little bit of change as the building work progresses, and I shall be posting new pictures when I arrive on site in two weeks.

What I'd really like to do is lump all 10 things about me together and say that I'm motivated by hope; faith; energy; enthusiasm; love; growth; change; strength; truth; integrity and love; and if you've got this far on this post, please, please just support my foundation with your thoughts - sign up as a fan (on Facebook) or blog follower at the Raven Foundation and help me to "Sow the Seeds of Change". I genuinely believe that the more people who think about what we're doing, the more energy there'll be around the project - just like working on a garden.

Choicest of "C" gardens

A glorious mixture of castles and spectacular camellia collections make up my choices for "C" gardens today, starting with Caerhays in Cornwall, which has some of the best camellias and magnolias I've ever seen, together with colour displays that will leave you speechless if you visit in the spring! Hidden away on a peninsular overlooking the sea, Caerhays Castle (below) is only open early in the season because that's when the azaleas, camellias and magnolias are in flower. Well worth going out of the way for and you can, of course combine it with some of the other great Cornish gardens.

And no trip to Cornwall would be complete without a visit to Carwinion, near Falmouth (below) - home to one of the best bamboo collections in Britain, and cream teas to die for! This is a wonderful garden with acres and acres to explore and bamboos, particularly the blue ones, that will leave you amazed. You can also stay, since the owners offer bed and breakfast, so base yourself here if you want to explore all the Cornish gardens in the area - it's perfectly located and is right next door to Trebah and Glendurgan.

Castle Drogo in Devon is another must see, with its severe Lutyens house and incredible garden. Steel yourself for the drive though.... as you will encounter narrow country lanes and high hedgerows - definitely not for the fainthearted! But once there, you'll be able to enjoy the views, the spectacular circular lawn big enough for four croquet courts. And if you're there in springtime, you'll see incredible displays of azaleas and rhododendrons.

Coleton Fishacre (below) is one of my all-time favourites - a truly magical arts and crafts garden in deepest Devon - also approached by winding country lanes - for full details you can see my original entry in June - definitely worth making a detour for, but be careful about taking pictures from inside the house, which is filled with art deco treasures! Marvelous walks down to the sea and spectacular views plus many unusual plants that thrive in the microclimate on this sheltered peninsula.

And another garden that took me years to see, because of its severely restricted opening hours and the English weather, is Cranborne Manor in Dorset (below). But it was worth waiting for and from early spring, this garden will give hours of delight, with its fantastic displays of bulbs, magnificent trees and a nursery that you'll be hard-pressed to get away from without buying a selection of plants! Lovely sculptures too.

With all these gardens, you DO need to check opening times as many are off the beaten track and although the countryside is beautiful, you could be disappointed if you don't see the gardens!

The best of the "B" gardens!

In my ongoing alphabetical posts, I'm looking today at some of the best gardens I've visited beginning with the letter "B". And we start with Bateman's in East Sussex (below), one-time home of Rudyard Kipling - an enchanting place to visit, with its formal lawns, working mill and riverside position. Kipling was a keen gardener and the property retains much of his original planting, including his famous pear tunnel. Open mid-March to October.

Benmore Botanic Garden (below) is a must if you get to Scotland, with it's incredible collection of trees (particularly good for autumn colour) and ornamental shrubs. Plants are grouped either by geographical location or type and you could easily spend a whole day here just looking at the extensive collection. The stunning location makes it even more enjoyable for walks. Open from April-September, but check website for times.

Beth Chatto's garden (below) is famous the world over and deservedly so. This is an incredible garden at any time of year and the latest addition is the Gravel Garden. Anybody who has an interest in water and shade plants will have heard of Beth Chatto, so the garden is a must! Located in Essex, it serves as a gateway to some of the fabulous gardens further east. A riot of colour in the summer months, but always worth visiting.

Bonython in Cornwall (below) is worth taking a detour for if you are down in the West Country - with its fabulous walled garden, views over the surrounding countryside and walks. Particularly stunning early in the season with its fabulous collection of azaleas and rhododendrons, it goes on to display some of the finest vegetable displays I've seen and has fine collections of exotic plants. The current owner's verve and enthusiasm really show in the planting - this is one of my favourite Cornish gardens. Open April - September.

Bury Court in Hampshire is another must see, if you can get there on the few days a year it's open. It is actually two very different gardens around a series of barns - the first, designed in collaboration with Piet Oudolf and the second by Christopher Bradley-Hole. Quite stunning on a summer's day, whichever garden you see - the two gardens actually open on alternate dates! Right in the heart of the Hampshire countryside, this makes a great day out, because there are so many lovely country pubs around if you want to stop for lunch. Do check the website for openings though, because as already stated ... they are infrequent and it took me a couple of years to actually get here!

A look at some A* gardens!

As the days get shorter, I thought I'd reflect on some of the wonderful gardens that I've seen in the last couple of years and post in between the new gardens that I visit while abroad. So here's to some of the magnificent "A"s on my list - some have already been featured in my blog, but others will be appearing here for the first time.

First, and one of my favourites, are the Abbey House Gardens in Malmesbury, Wilts (right) - a stunning 5-acre garden set around a Tudor house beside the abbey. Although famous for its spectacular displays of tulips and roses, this is a garden worth making a detour for at any time. Open March to October, daily.

Aberglasney Gardens in Wales make it into my A* list because of the painstaking restoration work carried out here to transform what was once considered "lost" into what is there today. These gardens are quite unique and as you wander through the different areas, you feel as though you have stepped back in time. Open all year except Christmas Day.

The restored Cloister Garden at Aberglasney

An Cala in Scotland sits in a marvellous position near the sea, and is a series of carefully planted areas which invite further investigation, and there are many charming touches including sheep sculptures, a burbling stream and a small wooden temple. Generally considered to be at its best in spring and summer, and with a wonderful collection of azaleas and rhododendrons, I visited in the autumn and really enjoyed my afternoon amid the falling leaves, with the bracing air. Open April - October, and well worth combining with some of the other fine gardens in the area.

An Cala in autumn - the house makes a wonderful backdrop to the gardens

Nearby Arduaine is another must-see in Scotland, with fine sea views, an incredible collection of trees and shrubs and an interesting history. The first great gardener who lived here was James Campbell, a tea planter, who brought back fine specimens from his forays into Sri Lanka and the East. Acquired in 1971 by two Essex nurserymen, Edmund and Harry Wright, the gardens were given to the National Trust for Scotland in 1992. Open year round - wonderful for views over the Sound of Jura and long walks.

Athelhampton House in Dorset has a fine architectural garden, with unusual features including a circular Corona, Great Court with its 12 immaculately clipped yew pyramids, and the benefit of the River Piddle, which bounds the garden on one side and feeds the pools and fountains that are one of the most attractive features of the property. An interesting house too, and lovely views over the surrounding Thomas Hardy countryside. Gardens open March to end of October, but check website for opening days.

The clipped yews in the Great Court at Athelhampton

Each property on my A-list is located in an outstanding area of the UK, so if you're going to visit you may want to plan a longer trip and see some other neighbouring gardens. Garden Visit is a great website for planning trips all over the world, and provides details and maps, so worth adding to your bookmark list if you're a regular garden visitor ... like me.

If you're a Piet Oudolf fan, you'll love this!!

I really, really wasn't going to write another post before leaving on my travels, but I visited such a magical garden yesterday that I just HAD to share it with you all! It's amazing, fantastic and the stuff that fairy tales are made of, so I decided to sneak in just one more post before getting on that plane ... especially as it's gone straight to the top of my list for the best garden I've seen this year!! And here it is .... the Sussex Prairie Garden ....

Owned and run by delightful husband and wife team, Paul and Pauline McBride, this six-acre garden is a dream - even in early November - and reminiscent of Piet Oudolf's "naturalistic" style that we all love so much. The McBrides are an interesting couple - they worked in Luxembourg for 12 years and for part of that time with Piet - and then returned home to create the Sussex Prairie Garden - which they've managed to do in just under two years! Pauline describes the garden as a "big sharing experience", and questioned further, she explains that when they came to create the garden, "everybody" came to help with planting the 30,000 plants you see there today!

But it's not just swathes of wonderful plants you'll see here, there's also the sheep - real, rare-breed Shetlands, like the ram below and interesting sculptures (above); wonderful views over the surrounding Sussex countryside; and, if you head for the cafe, a taste of Pauline's delicious home-made cakes.

But most interesting is the McBride's philosophy that you should engage with their garden - they want you to walk through the circular perennial beds and really see the plants - and have laid paths throughout the borders so you can get in touch with what's growing.

This is definitely a "must-see" garden to put on your list for 2010 - details of openings can be found on the website and, if you're planning a trip to the area, you could even stay with the McBrides, who are offering wonderful bed and breakfast!