I only now present talks in support of local charities.
INSPIRATIONAL GARDENS
The “Inspirational gardens” talk highlights gardens in this country which have inspired me to use design features or planting combinations from them in my own garden. These include National Trust Gardens at Sissinghurst and Biddulph Grange, RHS gardens at Rosemoor , Wisley, Hyde Hall and Harlow Carr also Great Dixter – the home of the late Christopher Lloyd. Japanese gardens at Tatton Park and a private garden at Sutton Coldfield belonging to a teacher of Ikebana, also feature along with other inspirational gardens.
Although the gardens shown are large and impressive, the slides will show how some of the design ideas and colour/planting combinations and how I have adapted them for use in my garden.
INSPIRATIONAL GARDENS OF THE EAST (EAST ANGLIA & ESSEX )
The slide show visits the gardens of BETH CHATTO and RHS HYDE HALL both with renowned gravel gardens. Then to HOUGHTON HALL and its wonderful walled garden.
The Old Vicarage, EAST RUSTON is next, an outstanding and much photograph garden.
The PENSTHORPE and wildlife garden, home to BBC Spring Watch, contains the Millennium Garden designed by Piet Oudolf . Next we visit the colourful BRESSINGHAM GARDENS home of the world famous plantsmen Alan and now Adrian Bloom.
The slide show ends with a short film set to music, “Flowers of the East.”
WILD GARDENERS FROM WILLIAM ROBINSON TO PIET OUDOLF.
The slide show begins with William Robinson the father of Wild Gardening.
He published several books and magazines promoting the more naturalistic style of gardening and in 1884, he purchased Gravetye Manor in Sussex to develop a garden of his own, he lived there until his death in 1935.
We visit Gravetye Manor today (2012) to see the 35 acres of garden surrounding the Manor, including an impressive walled garden growing vegetables and cut flowers for the current owner’s hotel, whose intentions have always been to remain faithful to William Robinson’s vision of Gravetye.
Next we visit six gardens by modern day Wild Gardeners, to see the Robinson influence today. Starting with John Brooke’s garden, Denman’s, then on to The Garden House, Devon and showing the influence that Keith Wiley had there. Two private gardens in Herefordshire designed by Tom Stuart Smith are next, followed by Laura Gatacre’s garden in the Netherlands. De Wiersse. A 16 ha garden of a country house, surrounded by 32 ha of parkland, a demesne in the centre of the estate.
Then finally Scampston Hall in Yorkshire, one of the renowned Dutch plantsman and designer, Piet Oudolf’s finest gardens, in his well-known prairie/ naturalistic style.
The slide show ends with pictures and videos of our garden the wildlife that visit and how I garden to support the wildlife.
A WEEKEND IN BELGIUM FEATURING A VISIT TO THE ROYAL GREENHOUSES AT LAEKEN, BRUSSELS, THE WATER GARDENS AT ANNEVOIE AND THE GARDENS AND FLOWER FESTIVAL AT CHATEAU BELOIEL.
The gardens at the Summer Palace of the King of Belgium contain “Greenhouses” which are only open to the public on three weekends of the year and one of these weekends is for disabled people only. To call them simply “Greenhouses” does not do justice to the buildings and their contents and this presentation aims to show the magnificence of these Victorian era buildings and the infinite colour and design of the perfect plants in them. This is followed by a visit to the beautiful water gardens at Annevoie. All the water features are gravity fed and these amazing fountains, rills and waterfalls all rely on water pressure only. From here we are transported to the Chateau Beloeil, “the castle of the good view”. These gardens are typical of the Belgian love of green gardens and spaces. Much use is made of green vistas in the shape of trees, rooms, landscape features and water. An added attraction at this time was a “flower festival” inside the Chateau where displays of amaryllis and orchids greeted you in every room and staircase. The flowers were of every hue of red mixed with white where appropriate and the ingenuity of the designs was breath-taking.
FLORIADE 2012 & THE MODEL GARDENS OF APPLETERN.
Floriade 2012, the horticultural world expo, was held at Venlo, The Netherlands from 5th April 2012 until 7th October 2012. The central theme for Floriade 2012 was “Be part of the theatre of nature, get closer to the quality of life”.
You will be taken on a tour of the Floriade 2012 site not only on the ground but a bird’s eye view from the cable car ride across the site. The planting of the site is changed throughout the seasons and as we went in July 2012 you will view natural summer planting in the Venlo region and also displays of the international flora native to the countries involved, including garden designs from all over the world (except the UK).
The presentation includes a film of the floral art displays set to music “The Waltz of Flowers”.
We also briefly visit the 200 model gardens at Appeltern in the Netherlands accompanied by music.
THE GARDENS OF MADEIRA AND THE 2013 FLOWER FESTIVAL.
We arrive at the Garden Isle of Madeira in 2013, visiting the gardens of Monte Palace,The Madeira Botanical Gardens, The Palheiro Gardens and an Orchid Garden. We also visit the Old Market and Fish Hall, Blandy’s Wine Lodge and walk among the flower decorated streets of Funchal to the start of the flower carnival. The slide show ends with a film of the flower carnival set to music.
GARDENING & PHOTOGRAPHY, WITH SOME MUSIC.
THE LIFE OF BRIAN.
This slide show is based on my website blog brimfields.com Within it I cover my experiences as both an ‘Amateur’ gardener and photographer. We visit The University of Oxford Botanic Garden, The National Botanic Garden of Wales, Dr Karl-Heinz Hubbers garden in Germany The Palace Gardens of Het Loo in the Netherlands also an award winning Worcestershire garden, ending with photographs and films showing some of the flowers in our garden and the wildlife that visit, sharing it with us as we prepare to open for the Village Church and the National Garden Scheme.
I only now present talks in support of local charities.
brimfields.com 