Tower and Town, August 2026 (view the full edition)Gardening: MGA Annual Weekend AwayIt was with some trepidation that I went on my first Marlborough Gardening club annual visit, last year, but I need not have worried. Everyone was very friendly, the gardens were superb and it was great fun talking gardens and plants all weekend This year my new friends all signed up and on a warm sunny Friday morning in early June we set off for Essex. We stopped at NT Cliveden, in Buckiinghamshire, and the gardens surround and complement the majestic house with all its political history. There is a formal parterre, rose garden and water garden, with fountains, and a Japanese pagoda. It was a good first stop as the gardens, whilst beautiful, are more pleasure grounds. Both weekend mornings we left at 9.30 which gave you time for a quick swim or a leisurely breakfast. Saturday morning’s visit was Green Islands garden near Colchester which is a private nursery with large island beds, a woodland area and a jasmine terrace. After lunch there was a short drive to Beth Chatto’s garden. This was a real wow factor garden with a luscious green area with a pond and stream, and a dry garden showcasing coastal plants and plenty of purple Eryngium which seems impossible to grow in Wiltshire. Sunday saw a whole day visit to RHS Hyde Hall. Of particular note were the cottage garden, which was at its best, the formal garden and the vegetable dome. There was also a flower fantasia area which was outstanding. Here, the RHS is carrying out a study of Antirrhinums, the snap dragons from our childhood gardens, and there were rows of every colour and size. Our coach driver was ready at 3.00pm and valiantly stored all our purchases on the coach. We had a smooth journey despite it being a Sunday and were back in Marlborough at 6.15 with sore feet but lots of garden ideas. The MGA work together to devise such great trips and next year’s will be in Dorset and staying by the sea.  Sue Hine<br>Marlborough Gardening Association |