News Article
Follow the Norfolk Open Gardens Easter Trail
Enjoy the picturesque bright yellow heads appearing among the woodland walks at Gayton Hall on the 28th March. This is one of the first Norfolk National Gardens Scheme Easter gardens. Nearly six hundred visitors from in and around the county enjoyed a bright spring day last year. With the launch of the garden lovers bible “The Yellow Book” and the local Norfolk NGS Guide you will find garden enthusiasts follow open gardens, old and new ones, with keen interest. For the families that enjoy the experience admission for children is often free. This Easter the Norfolk NGS garden trail will not only let you peep over the private garden gates, but will help entice you to explore the beautiful county of Norfolk to discover them!
Wretham Lodge celebrates spring with masses of species tulips, hellebores, fritillaries, daffodils and narcissi. Desert World however provides a complete contrast with bamboos, herbaceous primula theatre, spring bulbs, particularly lilies. Over 70 species and varieties of magnificent magnolias with a view from the roof garden. Both gardens are open on the 4th and 5th April. Easter Day and Easter Bank Holiday Monday.
On the 11th April The Old Cottage, Colby Corner ends the Easter garden trail. It is currently being redeveloped, showing the stages in the several opening days this year. Visitors are being invited to see the progress and purchase plants that are being removed, May for perennials and shrubs, July for exotic plants. It is also the venue for a NGS Summer Garden party on Saturday July 10th.
Also opening with The Old Cottage, on the 11th April, for the first time for the Norfolk NGS is 16 Witton Lane, Little Plumstead. For those who don’t know the chair of the Norfolk and Norwich Horticultural Association, now is the chance to swap gardening tips or just peep over his garden gate. It is a small but a full garden with a wide range of plants, many rare and unusual. In spring there are species tulips, daffodils, scillas, dogtooth violets and many more bulbs. Woodland plants such as trilliums and wood anemones abound. Winter flowering shrubs, climbers and evergreens provide structure for the garden.
NGS County Organiser Anthea Foster said “It has been a long cold winter this year. Now that the green shoots are showing it is a sign that spring is on its way. This year Norfolk has seventy five open gardens with fourteen new ones. The traditional formal gardens are still very popular with the garden visitors. However now allotments, garden design and small and quirky urban gardens are also the trend. The pastime of the British cream tea and collecting a few plants and handy garden tips is what the National Gardens Scheme represents, along with raising funds for the worthwhile charities. Last year was an exceptional year weather wise and for garden visiting. The Norfolk NGS hope that 2010 will attract even more interest raising funds not only for the NGS but also local charities nominated by the garden owners.”