What a summer it has been, with heatwave after heatwave and very little rain. It has been a struggle to keep our gardens alive! Despite it all, garden owners who have opened for the NGS this year have still managed to produce some gorgeous gardens, with nearly 7,000 people visiting the open gardens in Powys so far this year.
The NGS garden won a gold award at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show last month. Designed and assembled by Powys NGS volunteers Jude Boutle and Jane Cliff, the theme focused on plants for climate change, so very topical. Dingle Nurseries provided many of the plants, for which the Powys NGS group are very grateful.
The season is not quite over. The following gardens are open for visiting, and for relaxing with tea and homemade cakes. As always, children go free. For more details, visit https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/
Sunday 30 August: Llwyn, Tregynon, Newtown SY16 3PP opens 1 until 5. This is a small, colourful garden packed with interest and variety, with a kitchen garden, pond and hidden places. Homemade teas are available and there is a well-stocked plant stall to tempt you as well. Admission is £4.
Yscirfechan, Merthyr, Cynog, Brecon LD3 9SB opens from 12 until 5. This is a cut flower farm located in a peaceful valley in the shadow of the Epynt Hills. The one acre garden is sloped and has uneven paths. Admission is £6.
Monday 31 August: Garthmyl Hall, Garthmyl, Montgomery SY15 6RS opens from 1 until 5. Five acres of grounds and a one acre walled garden with gazebo, long herbaceous border, three cedar of Lebanon and giant redwood trees, a wildflower meadow and pond. Refreshments in aid of Friends of Montgomery School. Admission is £5.
5 until 13 September: The Hymns, Walton, Presteigne, Powys LD8 2RA opens 11 until 5 in partnership with Herefordshire Art week exhibition and Radnorshire artists. This garden includes rainwater recycling, compost management, home propagation and plant rescue as well as interesting plants and sculptures. Plants, books and pictures are for sale. Visits can be pre-booked at https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/34145/the-hymns
Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October: Dingle Nurseries and garden, Welshpool SY21 9JD open from 9 until 5. A 4 ½ acre internationally acclaimed RHS partner garden with unusual trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants in a beautiful setting around a lake. Admission is £3.50. Tea and coffee available (but no cake).
There is still time to take part in the Big British Garden Survey. The NGS has teamed up with the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) to map the biodiversity in gardens across Britain. Find out more at https://ngs.org.uk/the-big-british-garden-survey/
The first gardens opened for the NGS in 1927 so next year will have even more gardens and special events to celebrate the centenary. If you have a garden to open or you’d like to be involved with volunteering for the NGS, please contact North Powys County Organiser Susan Paynton at susan.paynton@ngs.org.uk or South Powys County Organiser Alison Kemp at alison.kemp@ngs.org.uk
Feature image: Garthmyl Hall
