Brits behaving madly

Every February in England the National Gardens Scheme publishes its bible of garden visiting, the Yellow Book.  The 2010 edition features over 3,700 gardens that are open for charity, most are private and not usually open to the public.

Anybody who doubts that the British are bonkers about gardening should get their hands on a copy and read the descriptions of gardens that range from tiny terrace plots to rolling country estates, all jostled side by side within the pages.  The descriptions themselves are worth the price of the book (9 pounds sterling), which is available in bookstores in the UK or online for an additional postage fee from the National Gardens Scheme website.

You can search for open gardens on the NGS website, which is helpful if you're planning a trip the England and only want to know what's open during your visit.  The only drawback is garden photographs and extended descriptions are not available online as yet.

You also have to plan slightly ahead as not all gardens can be visited on a whim, some are by appointment only,  others are community efforts with a street or village banding together to throw open their gates.  Over 2,000 of the gardens have plant sales and 2,500 "provide the all important teas and home-made cakes" a staple of every good British garden visit.  The peak month for garden openings is June, some like Great Dixter above are open all year round.

If you’re living in or visiting Scotland, the Yellow book will not do you much good as it only covers gardens south of the border.  For Scottish gardens you need to visit the website of the Scottish Garden Scheme  

I live in hope that our annual visit to family coincides with the opening of Charles Jencks extraordinary Garden of Cosmic Speculation at Portrack House in Dumfries.

Over the last twenty years he has created a private wonderland in the grounds of an 18th century manor house complete with twisted grand-scale landforms, lakes, a geometric kitchen garden of the Six Senses, woodland walks, a Nonsense Building designed by James Stirling, sculptures that include one of DNA and a newly completed comet bridge.

This year the garden is open Sunday, May 2nd from noon - 5pm, needless to say we will not be there but if you’re in the area for six pounds you can take the tour.  Maybe I should just book a trip to Dumfries now.