Jane Phillips iris grace the garden in St George's Road, Twickenham
Guests on the Botanica World Discoveries Chelsea Flower Show & London 2017 tour enjoyed a day at the world's greatest flower show and private visits to gardens in Twickenham, Chiswick and Richmond.
Some had already immersed themselves on a Cotswolds' tour with garden designer Anthea Guthrie while others were continuing to Scotland for a week's cruise.
Australian-based Botanica, a partner of APT cruises, is the only niche tour operator to fully charter small ships for botanically themed river and ocean cruises; it offers 40 bespoke itineraries a year to take in the world’s most outstanding private and public gardens.
The company, owned by garden lover and businesswoman Judy Vanrenen, has its eye on the British market and I was asked if I could like to learn more by joining the London tour.
I leapt at the chance during RHS Chelsea week, and along with a lovely group of Australians and New Zealanders (about one-third solo travellers and several mothers and daughters among the couples), we visited three contrasting gardens in West London. Although each plot had its own distinct character, there was one common denominator – all three had been started from scratch when the owners inherited the neglected gardens.
St George's Road, Twickenham
This joyful, romantic garden frothed with soft planting in perfect sunshine. Jenny and Richard Haworth have planted a predominately pastel-colour palette of purples, pinks and whites set against clipped yew hedges, while fragrant old English roses and clematis have been trained to scramble up walls and over the pergola.
A bed of Jane Phillips iris was its picture perfect best and the luxuriant conservatory, full of geraniums and fuchsias, had the visitors drooling.
Some had already immersed themselves on a Cotswolds' tour with garden designer Anthea Guthrie while others were continuing to Scotland for a week's cruise.
Australian-based Botanica, a partner of APT cruises, is the only niche tour operator to fully charter small ships for botanically themed river and ocean cruises; it offers 40 bespoke itineraries a year to take in the world’s most outstanding private and public gardens.
The company, owned by garden lover and businesswoman Judy Vanrenen, has its eye on the British market and I was asked if I could like to learn more by joining the London tour.
I leapt at the chance during RHS Chelsea week, and along with a lovely group of Australians and New Zealanders (about one-third solo travellers and several mothers and daughters among the couples), we visited three contrasting gardens in West London. Although each plot had its own distinct character, there was one common denominator – all three had been started from scratch when the owners inherited the neglected gardens.
St George's Road, Twickenham
This joyful, romantic garden frothed with soft planting in perfect sunshine. Jenny and Richard Haworth have planted a predominately pastel-colour palette of purples, pinks and whites set against clipped yew hedges, while fragrant old English roses and clematis have been trained to scramble up walls and over the pergola.
A bed of Jane Phillips iris was its picture perfect best and the luxuriant conservatory, full of geraniums and fuchsias, had the visitors drooling.
Roses and clematis clothe the back wall in St George's Road
A mass of large white astrantia major fill the beds in St George's Road s
Field House, Chiswick
Deer sheltered from the midday sun under trees as we cut through Richmond Park on our way to Rupert King's house, which overlooks the River Thames.
Just around the corner from Fuller's brewery and the noisy Hogarth roundabout, Rupert has transformed his walled garden into a tranquil space which seems far, far from the madding crowd.
A central rectangular pond surrounded by exotic tree ferns, tree peonies, phormium, persicaria and hostas made the garden feel roomy and thoughtful use of textures has created a lush sanctuary for peace and contemplation.
Rupert, a psychotherapist who comes from a family of keen gardeners, said his design had been part-influenced by gardens he had seen in Kyoto, Japan – and he has certainly achieved an oasis of calm which he also enjoys from his floor-to-ceiling glass-walled living room.
Field House, Chiswick
Deer sheltered from the midday sun under trees as we cut through Richmond Park on our way to Rupert King's house, which overlooks the River Thames.
Just around the corner from Fuller's brewery and the noisy Hogarth roundabout, Rupert has transformed his walled garden into a tranquil space which seems far, far from the madding crowd.
A central rectangular pond surrounded by exotic tree ferns, tree peonies, phormium, persicaria and hostas made the garden feel roomy and thoughtful use of textures has created a lush sanctuary for peace and contemplation.
Rupert, a psychotherapist who comes from a family of keen gardeners, said his design had been part-influenced by gardens he had seen in Kyoto, Japan – and he has certainly achieved an oasis of calm which he also enjoys from his floor-to-ceiling glass-walled living room.
Rupert King in his lush garden at Field House, Chiswick
Stokes House, Richmond
On our third garden visit, to Stokes Hall in Ham, near Richmond, we were greeted by the Rachel and Peter Lipscomb in their family-friendly walled half-acre garden. Roses were just coming into bloom and a bed containing orange and burgundy bearded iris mixed with Cerinthe major Purpurascens was an idea I took back to my garden.
The age-old mulberries and wisteria added to the interest while the visitors wandered on the lawn and found shady corners to tuck into the welcome lunch.
Originally an orchard, the country garden that is so close to London enchanted the Southern Hemisphere visitors and they had to be rounded up to reluctantly return to the coach.
The tour guests were bowled over by all three gardens and also loved comparing English planting to Australian methods with guide and garden expert Julie Prent, from Melbourne, who shared her knowledge to highlight everything from planting combinations and unusual species to what the guests might try growing at home.
On our third garden visit, to Stokes Hall in Ham, near Richmond, we were greeted by the Rachel and Peter Lipscomb in their family-friendly walled half-acre garden. Roses were just coming into bloom and a bed containing orange and burgundy bearded iris mixed with Cerinthe major Purpurascens was an idea I took back to my garden.
The age-old mulberries and wisteria added to the interest while the visitors wandered on the lawn and found shady corners to tuck into the welcome lunch.
Originally an orchard, the country garden that is so close to London enchanted the Southern Hemisphere visitors and they had to be rounded up to reluctantly return to the coach.
The tour guests were bowled over by all three gardens and also loved comparing English planting to Australian methods with guide and garden expert Julie Prent, from Melbourne, who shared her knowledge to highlight everything from planting combinations and unusual species to what the guests might try growing at home.
Stokes Hall, Ham, near Richmond
Cerinthe major Purpurascens works well with deep-coloured iris at Stokes Hall
On return to our central London hotel, St James' Court, the gardeners' delight continued with a RHS Chelsea-themed dinner, during which Tracy Foster, who designed the Welcome to Yorkshire garden at this year's show, regaled behind-the-scenes stories of how the garden was built and its various challenges!
RHS Chelsea judge and principal of The English Gardening School, Rosemary Alexander, talked through the show gardens and design ideas that the Botanica guests could look out for on their visit to the show the next day.
Fun, friendly, informative and inspiring - if this is what Botanica does all over the world then I'm in!
Example tour
The new 16-day Botanical Discovery Gardens, Plants, Homesteads & Sights tour focuses on unique Australian plants and private gardens, as well as iconic sights such as Sydney’s Botanical Gardens. Starting in Perth guests sail on the Swan River in Fremantle and highlights include tropical Cairns, the Great Barrier Reef and Grampians National Park. Price from £5,999, departing September 11, 2018.
Visit botanicatours.com
For my UK readers, the above three gardens open for the National Gardens Scheme:
St George's Twickenham: Saturday, June 3 from 6pm- 8pm. Admission £6, children free.
Visitors also welcome by arrangement May to July for groups 10+.
Field House, Chiswick
Opened as part of Chiswick Mall Gardens on Sunday, May 28. Check ngs.org.uk for next opening.
Stokes Hall, Ham, near Richmond: Sunday, June 4 from 2 - 5pm. Admission £4, children free.
Visitors also welcome by arrangement April to October. Garden groups 10+ welcome.
Full details at ngs.org.uk
RHS Chelsea judge and principal of The English Gardening School, Rosemary Alexander, talked through the show gardens and design ideas that the Botanica guests could look out for on their visit to the show the next day.
Fun, friendly, informative and inspiring - if this is what Botanica does all over the world then I'm in!
Example tour
The new 16-day Botanical Discovery Gardens, Plants, Homesteads & Sights tour focuses on unique Australian plants and private gardens, as well as iconic sights such as Sydney’s Botanical Gardens. Starting in Perth guests sail on the Swan River in Fremantle and highlights include tropical Cairns, the Great Barrier Reef and Grampians National Park. Price from £5,999, departing September 11, 2018.
Visit botanicatours.com
For my UK readers, the above three gardens open for the National Gardens Scheme:
St George's Twickenham: Saturday, June 3 from 6pm- 8pm. Admission £6, children free.
Visitors also welcome by arrangement May to July for groups 10+.
Field House, Chiswick
Opened as part of Chiswick Mall Gardens on Sunday, May 28. Check ngs.org.uk for next opening.
Stokes Hall, Ham, near Richmond: Sunday, June 4 from 2 - 5pm. Admission £4, children free.
Visitors also welcome by arrangement April to October. Garden groups 10+ welcome.
Full details at ngs.org.uk
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