We really enjoy visiting the gardens of friends throughout the year to see how they change and develop. Many of these friends are also fellow members of the Shropshire Branch of the Hardy Plant Society.
One such garden belongs to our friend Von and we have visited her special garden several times. In the summer we visited this garden which is a short drive from home. The garden gently slopes away from the house and the conservatory affords a good view down the garden and to the countryside beyond.
The first photo was taken from partway down the slope looking back up towards the house. The second is the view through Von’s old apple tree to the countryside.
The next sets of photos shows other broader views within the garden.
One powerful element of a garden that lifts it from the average is the way plants are grouped. Each plant group works together to create a plant community just as in the natural world.
Sculptural pieces and found objects integrated into a border add extra interest to Von’s creation.
It is amazing what you can find on shelves in greenhouses!
We always enjoy time spent in Von’s garden and this early May visit was no different. Meeting there with other members of our mini-group of the Shropshire HPS added so much more as we have got to know each other as friends as well as group members.
greenbenchramblings 
5 replies on “Return Visit to a special friend’s Garden”
I like ‘Hard’ Plant Society – I imagine you in studded leather taking no prisoners. None of that namby pamby gardening !
I love seeing the same place through the seasons. This year i have gone to Thursley Common SSSI Moat to see changing bog plants, dragonflies, snakes and other reptiles.
Thanks for replying Graham. You should see the tools we use too -none of those ‘nambypamby’ forks and spades you see on Gardeners World!
Beautiful landscape and gardens. I was not familiar with ‘Hard Plant Society’ so looked it up online. Thank you for the tour and applause to the gardener.
That is a terrible typo! We are really hardy gardeners but quite a lot of softies really.!
I found ‘Hardy Plant Society,’ read about it, and just thought maybe it was the British version. I still learned something. 🙂