Mid August Visit to Herefordshire

 

In between the medical appointments we managed to escape to Herefordshire just for two nights last weekend.  The main purpose of the visit was to water the plants! The journey there was a nightmare as the M42 was closed that weekend between several junctions due to perishing HS2 work :(  It took us 50 minutes to get to Solihull to join the motorway there (it normally takes 20 minutes!). Annoyingly, I think the M42 is going to be closed for several more weekends which will make journeys to and from Herefordshire far more lengthy.

It was noticeable on the journey how many trees were losing leaves or changing their leaf colour.  I think this is due to all the hot dry weather we have been having as the trees get stressed and  shut down early to try and conserve moisture.

This is the  lovely view from the kitchen table where I sit and read or use my laptop.

Interestingly the leaves on the Herefordshire trees were not changing colour.

Herefordshire Oak

Octopus Tree

Constable Tree(s)

It was a relief to see that most of the plants in the garden, borders and pots had survived our absence again!

The rose in the pot is looking particularly lovely at the moment.

I am so glad I bought this geranium as it is flowering profusely again.

Mini alliums have finally more or less come into flower.

Just one chilli and  one tomato on the plants

Apologies that so many of my photos are similar to other recent Herefordshire posts. I keep hoping D will come with us and motivate me to go out somewhere!

This is the lovely rose we inherited in the garden.

Timothy sat by the little jug I bought on the Isle of Wight. I will probably use it as a vase.

We returned home last Monday when the M42 had re-opened! Hopefully, soon we can return and stay for longer.

All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one of mine or my son's I would appreciate an email first - thanks).

End of May Visit to Herefordshire - Part 2: Stockton Bury Gardens

 

On the Friday D and I visited Stockton Bury Gardens which are a delight at any time of the year.  They are not too large which meant I could hobble round them with my cellulitis!

An old farm implement

Stockton Bury Gardens have been created over the last 35 years by the owner Raymond Treasure, with help from 1984, by gardener Gordon Fenn who had been Head Gardener at Hereford Cathedral. In 2015 Tamsin Westhope, a gardening magazine editor, came to help at the gardens.

The gardens opened to the public in 1985.

The Elizabethan Garden

The Pool Garden

The kitchen garden has vegetable beds, fruit trees and a greenhouse on one side and herbaceous borders on the other.

Then into the Dingle which was created from an old quarry.

Oontitoomps!

The Grotto

The Secret Garden

The Pillar Garden

The Sunken Garden

The Pillar Garden again

The three bells at the end of the barn are rung every hour. There is a  history of bell ringing at Stockton Bury and in the past they were rung at 6 am to summon the farm workers.

A new species for the 2026 Wild Plant Challenge - Maidenhair Spleenwort. We also added Meadow Buttercup and Dog Roses.

The Pigeon House Garden which houses a Grade II listed medieval dovecote with 51 opening holes and a revolving ladder.

We didn't visit the Spring garden at the side of the house because by now my feet and ankles had had enough so we visited the Tythe Barn cafe housed in a Grade II listed C15th barn for lunch. I had lemon polenta cake which I have had there before and is delicious.  D had a healthier option which was really tasty - red onion and cheese panini with coleslaw and salad.

Some of D's photos. Dog Rose in the first picture

*D

*D

*D

*D

*D

*D

*D

*D

*D

On the way back we stopped off at B and Q in Leominster as D wanted to buy some compost. He also bought some mint to plant at the caravan and I treated myself to a dahlia.

On the Saturday D and I visited a Plant Fair in Leominster and I will write about that in Part 3.

Photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera and those marked *D taken by my son with the Canon SX50HS bridge camera. (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one of mine or my son's I would be grateful for an email first - thanks).