My Local Garden Centre: Walkers Nurseries

All gardeners need a good garden centre and my local one is more than good. Walkers has grown in scale in the years since we first arrived in Doncaster but it has always remained a family concern. Today we visited for the cafe and to purchase a house plant as a gift. However on a deliciously sunny morning we took the opportunity to tour the free-to-enter gardens that are such a feature of the place. The photographs were taken with my tiny Nikon compact.

Renishaw Hall Gardens, Derbyshire - opening weekend

Renishaw Hall in Derbyshire opened its gates to the public on Wednesday after its winter break and on a stunning day with end to end sunshine we visited early and stayed late. Lunch was in the courtyard but the highlights were the walks through the garden, park and around the lakes. Truth to tell, topiary leaves me a little cold. Today however I appreciated the chiseled lines of the yew hedges that later on in the year will enclose shrubs and flowers galore. The daffodils were bright, and the magnolias majestic. The two featured here were specially noteworthy. When I purchase my stately home they will go straight in. As yesterday, please take a walk in one of the UK's special place. We are fortunate to live so close. As ever, do visit my Instagram pages.

Magnolia "Kew's Surprise"

Magnolia "Ruth"

Nostell Priory and Parkland, Beautiful Spring Day

Nostell Priory and its surrounding parkland is a delight on a sunny spring day. Mid-week, the number of visitors is limited and it is easy to relax on one of the benches and watch the time, or geese, go by. Over the last five years or so the gardeners have transformed the grounds, cutting out the wild rhododendrons and diseased trees to allow light and wild flowers in. The highlight today must be the "hyacinth walk" where the fragrance was powerful and sweet. Take a walk, savour the scent, enjoy the lake and flowers. And do visit my Instagram pages.

Wentworth Castle Gardens is to Close after the Easter Weekend

Wentworth Castle Gardens

Wednesday February 1 2017: John Edwards, Chair of the Wentworth Castle and Stainborough Park Heritage Trust said : “It is with sadness we have decided that the gardens will have to close to the public from Spring 2017."

The Heritage Trust behind the gardens says it has not been able to make enough money to cover the running costs and management of the site - despite  a £3.74 million restoration of the garden's Victorian conservatory back in 2013.

We visited today for the last time and here are the memories of a garden nationally famous for "Lady Lucy's Walk" and its vast collection of azaleas and rhododendrons.

We managed to see some early rhododendrons in flower, feast our eyes on the conservatory and eat at the excellent cafe. All for the last time. This is a loss for all who love gardens and a particular one for our family for we have enjoyed many days there over the years. Do visit my Instagram pages to comment. We hope the staff find alternative employment. But most of all we hope some benefactor arrives to save the day.