Hertfordshire Tour:July 10

Hertfordshire Tour:July 10

Today we set off in sunshine again from St Johns' Tube station on the Jubilee line, duely found with help from my friends and all kitted out for a day of garden delights.My kind of day.
We transferred to a bus and st out for Hertfordshire.The first garden we visited was in St Albans where the owners had created a delightful oasis on a small site resplendent in the colours of the Cross of st Albans.

Not that you can see that from the pictures but it was a lovely setting and many treasures evident in the garden walks.

Our next garden was at Hitchen-not far from my friends,Wendy and Rod so familiar territory.Here we visited a pastoral garden with very natural plantings,amazing topiary and a wild flower meadow to capture the butterflies and insects vital to the countryside. It took them two days to trim all the hedges once a year,they only did them once so they did not disturb the birds and insects. Some very special spaces to relax and enjoy the garden.

The philosophy of this garden interested meas it closely mirrored the life cycle of the garden inhabitants which brought benefits through insect control and natural seedings of plants to replenish the garden each year.Life was in balance here

Lunch was at The Brocket Arms in Welwyn and infamous because of the fraudulent dealings of the local lord and master-still in jail it seems.Never mind we enjoyed his ale and vitals.

Alongside the pub was a quintessentia lEnglish cottage and garden known as Ruins 1 because of the church nearby.

It was lovely so we were given a quick peck before moving on to Benington where we visited another lovely cottage garden notable for the garden art made by the owner.