Peter Truman Photography

We are always in search of new plants for the garden and needed a few to fill in some of the gaps in the border along the terrace – a strip we refer to as the “Trench” given that’s how it started. We have been to Bonsall a few times, stopped and talked, seen gardens, but never been to the plant centre there until now. Oh, what a treat! How did we manage to miss that? It is jam packed with perennials of all sorts – foxgloves, many geraniums we haven’t got (umm, now have), several thalictrum varieties, clematis and loads and loads more. A cottage gardener’s delight, reasonably priced, great looking plants that appear very well looked after, hardy (the nursery is at 900 feet above sea level and not well sheltered) and with a tremendous view across the valley.

We found this garden and nursery by complete accident and didn’t even know of its existence beforehand. Having seen a post for a Plant Fair at Kedleston Hall on 4th and 5th July, we drove down the drive but could see no-one walking to their cars with bags of plants, no stalls, simply nothing to suggest there was any plant fair going on at all. We didn’t go into the garden, of course, as I guess that was where the fair was being held (assuming it was!) Even though I am a fully paid up member of the National Trust, I am starting to think about next year’s renewal as I cannot get the value I want from the subscription – I need photographs of gardens and plants and at National Trust locations I cannot use the photographs I take for any commercial purposes given their rather draconian conditions, so I’m starting to avoid their locations. I am seriously considering cancelling the subscription as it just doesn’t work for me any more. However, I digress…