Interest in a trip to England?

On another post, we were tossing around the idea of how great it would be to go to England and go on a garden tour and visit Laurie (and other DG English gardeners?).

I'm wondering if there is enough genuine interest to start putting something together. My mother-in-law had a saying, "Take your cookies when they're passed." The older I get, the more I have adopted this motto.

There are garden tour groups we could go over with and do a sidetrip to Laurie's or we could put something together on our own (hopefully with help from Laurie).

Anyone?

Gwen

You have my attention. I'd love to arrange some of the garden trips, and would just love hosting a DG day. How exciting. And I'll make dinner.

Im on board, need to find the right time and the air fare and my DH will most likey will have a OK and maybe go with. But the hard part is to who will watch the furry and feathered friends at home something to work out. Would love it never been out of the US.
I talk to my DH he said it would be fine for me to go, If we can afford it when the time comes,and I still have to make a trip to see my mother in Calif.

Tillys - that would be fab.

Count me in! I can never get enough of those great English gardens! Try this link for some ideas too:
http://www.ngs.org.uk/gen/info_visitors.aspx

I would so much love to do this. I doubt it's in my budget, though. But, just for fun I''ll ask anyhow. What season were you thinking of going?

I think that is a good question.

September/October is when we have the best (read most beautiful) weather. Usually a very comfortable temperature, and the least rain. I think it is a good time to see gardens, and I love when the trees get blushed with that first autumn colouring - not necessarily the best floral time but the fullest growth - I think gardens blend beautifully at the end of the summer. (some of the gardens are closing down by October though).

Spring is exciting in that everything is bursting forth - and I love spring green. It just carries such optimism. but vegetable beds are scarely planted - and few of the perennials are up and at their best. Bulbs, big in this country, are great in the spring - and we do have a bluebell wood. I like spring, and it was magnificent weather this year - although very late last year - we had snow at Easter, big snow!

Summer is a funny season. Can be very wet, very overcast. Very hot, and droughty. But I like the amount of blue that the greens take on. I like the full blown feeling of the trees - you don't get that effect quite so well with conifers - but hardwoods really become the ballgowns of the arboreal world. It never fails to please. Blossom can be in short supply - the filler annuals haven't quite matured, and yet all the bulbs are gone. Beds can be a bit gappy. But there is always the smell of cut grass, and if you hit it right, mowed hay. Yes, summer can be very good.

Winter - hmmm. Cold, not much at its best in the borders. Well, there is always the secret scent of Daphne, and the saraccoca that just one day appears. And winter jasmine. I like seeing the structure of gardens in the winter - you can really assess layouts much better, and I find a lot of good work can get done then. I like winter gardeners - they really are dedicated. And frost on the left over seed heads - especially if you get a hoare frost - is beautiful. And then there is that low light that just highlights things in a way you don't get in full summer sun. Winter is good.

Well, I hope that simplifies the decision.

Okay Laurie I want to see pics of all you just said.
But what I want to know is what it would look like say around the first week of Sept.
If all things are in the cards for me next year that is what I want for my B-day. A trip to see you and Merry Old England. (I maybe dreaming but you never know) I so want to.

I would so like to see England. I went to Northern England on a business trip about 10 years ago, it was very, very all work and no play. I did manage to wander around the town a bit and peek over walls and through gates at some wonderful cottage gardens. As I was the only gal in the group I was consistently outvoted on our little free time activities. I do NOT like Indian food I discovered. lol My macho co-workers professed to but they were begging me for my antacid.

There's an outside chance I could swing the trip. My stamina sure isn't what it used to be but if necessary tuck me in a corner with a book and I'll be content.

Katy

I would love to go. I'll start saving my pennies!

Ohhhhhh, Tillys - a tall order. I may have to beg a few photos from neighbours.

Now, let me think - yes, by next September Tom should have laid the new patio - right now the entire back part of our garden is a building sight. DH decided he wanted a log store closer to the house (sounded simple to me, no problem - small structure) - Simple it is not, and I have taken a photo of the work in progress. It includes dumper truck and mini digger and tons and tons of earth.

And my beautiful old birdbath got smashed.

Why is it that men break things and then stand around expecting you to say "that's okay, don't worry". But this time I didn't do that. I told them I understood it was an accident, but that I didn't feel like saying that it was okay. And then I just walked away. I thought about it for a couple of hours - almost in tears - and then went back and told them that they will have to put in a claim on their liability insurance - and that it will be sizable. I told them I don't want it repaired, it will need to be replaced, and I will let them know when I find the one I want, and that I did not expect to have any argument about it. I said that I appreciated that they feel terrible that it happened, but reminded them that I feel worse. And then I walked away again.

The combination of being 'voice of reason' with walking away is tremendously empowering.

So we can all have morning coffee on the new patio - I hope.

Laurie,
Sounds delightful! I'm so sorry to hear about your beloved birdbath, good for you for making them replace it!!!!

I know how they break things "THEY DON'T THINK" They are like bulls in a china shop.
Good Job Laurie makem wiggle and squirm.
sorry about your birdbath, But you know some things happen for a reason, I'll bet there is that special one out there waiting for you to buy it and give it a home in your wonderful garden.

And sorry about the tall order, I have a way of overdoing things.
Would love some Coffee

Ohh, Laurie - I'm so sorry about your birdbath. Sounds like it was a treasure. Hope you find a new one that you like as much. I know how hard it is to get exactly what you want. Garden art is like that.

Thanks katie, I'm sorry to lose it, but I am starting to see it as an opportunity to do something different - more forward! first to get the area looking a little less like the Somme and a bit more like a patio.