Days out: Wisley

Last year I joined the Royal Horticultural Society, which not only provides great gardening advice via their website and publications, but also offers lots of beautiful gardens to visit.

Last weekend the OH and I decided to have a day out to Wisley, the RHS garden in Surrey. There was a "Butterflies in the glasshouse" event on, which meant some parts were very crowded, but it was easy to get away from it all. This is the lake by the glasshouse.

And the view up one of the herbaceous borders towards fruit hill. 

 

It's quite a contrast with this photo I took in July, the same borders from the other direction:

 In the winter garden snowdrops were appearing - it's been so mild they're early this year.

In one of the alpine houses crocuses and cyclamen were in bloom.

We went to the vegetable plot area to have a look. This is set up as examples of different types of gardening. This side is the same size as a half allotment plot, to give an idea of what can be done on an allotment.

The winter crops were in, including some sprouts with an amusing name.

The earliest varieties of rhubarb were beginning to appear.

This is the red and purple vegetables bed, which I thought was a great idea if you have the room!

And finally some Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter fire' full of glorious colour.