Wonderful Wisley

It doesn't matter how much "galloping" I do, there's always another garden out there to amaze me and today was a really special day, because I went to the RHS Garden at Wisley with fellow English blogger Joanne, who showed me all the best parts of this remarkable and historic property.  I couldn't have asked for a better guide - Joanne is a regular visitor here; knows her way around and is incredibly knowledgeable about plants. I was also lucky enough to see her own remarkable garden - it's stunning - and if you follow her blog, you'll be able to see for yourself the masterpiece she's created.

It doesn't matter where you go at Wisley, or what time of year you visit, because there'll always be something to see at this remarkable 240-acre site, which is the Royal Horticultural Society's (RHS) flagship garden. The RHS originally had its headquarters in London, but moved here when Sir Thomas Hanbury of La Mortola fame, gifted the site to them in 1903.  It is here that students come to from all over the world to study horticulture both as professionals and amateurs, and there is also an excellent library which is open to all visitors.

Wisley has something for everyone.  When you enter, there are formal canal gardens in front of the main house (top), laid out by Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe and Lanning Roper in the 1960s, which include two walled gardens. Beyond this there is a Wild Garden and an area known as Seven Acres, where the planting focuses on the four seasons - it's here that you will see thousands of daffodils in spring and glorious colours in autumn.

Borders are a major feature at Wisley and you'll see every kind of perennial as you climb a hill between the splendid double borders that lead to the trial test bed area, featuring both ornamental and edible plants. But perhaps the most spectacular are the Monocot borders (above), en route to the 18 model gardens, which will give aspiring gardeners much to think about as they wander through the selection of "rooms" that are roughly the same size as English townhouse gardens.

The Rock and Alpine Meadow Garden (above) was the first area to be developed after the RHS  received Wisley as a gift and there is always something to see here, whatever the season. The most recent renovation was in 2004 when a new Japanese-style landscape was added, complete with waterfall, but you'll find alpines from all over the world here. Today the weather was good enough for us to spend our day outside, but there is also an amazing glasshouse at Wisley ... not to be missed even in summer, as well as fruit demonstration, herb and model vegetable gardens, alpine display houses, a country garden and a rose garden currently under development.  It would be hard to see everything in a day, even with Joanne as a guide, so this is definitely a garden I'll return to later in the year.