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Ashington Manor Farm (Yeovil)

After a two-night stay at The Swan Hotel in Wells , we departed for Exeter. Along the way, our first stop was Ashington Manor Farm, the home of the husband and wife garden designers Julian and Isabel Bannerman.  Roses are a specialty of the Bannerman's, but sadly, we were too early to see any. That disappointment was curtailed by touring their magnificent farmhouse, which we were invited to roam around at leisure. And Julian Bannerman, who did most all the talking, was a very entertaining man.  Gathering at the front door - We actually entered at the side of the house, right off the patio, which led to this room, where the Bannerman's greeted us. The massive table was filled with books they had written as well as magazine articles about their gardens. As we were listening to Julian's speech, I happened to notice Isabel Bannerman's book "Husbandry" on the table and immediately recognized it as a book I have at home but have not gotten to yet. At the time, I ha...
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Plant Delights, pt. 2

After spending almost 3 hours touring one part of the garden and shopping for plants, we just had 1 hour to explore the display garden located right at the entrance to Plant Delights. This garden was mostly all shade. 

This garden also featured a waterfall, not as big as the other one.
 

A stone sculpture surrounded by an island of plants. All of the plantings were done on huge raised berms. In the previous display garden, some of these berms were at least 4 feet high.


Such interesting combinations - palm trees, hydrangea, hosta, mahonia and acuba.
Leading to a bog garden, filled with pitcher plants
Another view of the bog garden



I cringe when I think that we almost skipped Plant Delights - it was a memorable afternoon and an awesome chance to see a living nursery catalog of unique plants.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. Sue EllenJune 5, 2012 at 3:49 PM

    Thank you so much for the wonderful photos of this nursery display garden. I have read about it on their website and thought about planning a visit. Now I know I would certainly like to visit.

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  2. Rose Petals NurseryJune 5, 2012 at 5:59 PM

    The Gardener at Rose Petals Nursery wishes she hadn't chosen to skip Plant Delights....guess we have a "field trip" to plan soon! Thanks for the 2 day tour, we loved seeing the garden through your lens.....♥

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  3. LarryJune 5, 2012 at 6:22 PM

    Beautiful! Larry

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  4. DariciaJune 5, 2012 at 7:11 PM

    i am thrilled to see pictures of this garden! i've wanted to go to an open house for years, but never been able to. i like the interesting plant combos, too, and your photos are a real pleasure. thanks for sharing.

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  5. F CameronJune 5, 2012 at 8:18 PM

    Glad you didn't miss that section! I remember we almost missed it on our first visit. Some of the garden "art" is so tongue-in-cheek!

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  6. danger gardenJune 5, 2012 at 10:33 PM

    But what did you buy?

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  7. Phillip OliverJune 6, 2012 at 9:35 AM

    Danger, take a look at my "Pt. 1" post - I listed the plants I bought at the end. :)

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  8. xiomara @ ParkesdaleJune 6, 2012 at 10:06 AM

    Glad to have found your blog. I love all your pictures. Thanks for sharing your visit to Plant Delights. I'll have to remember that if we are ever in NC.

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  9. scottweberpdxJune 6, 2012 at 11:53 AM

    I'm glad you went too...so I got to go along!

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  10. Storage ShedsJune 7, 2012 at 6:33 AM

    Wow! Lovely indeed. I can imagine myself watching at the waterfall and be relaxed. Thank you so much.

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  11. RoseJune 7, 2012 at 7:21 PM

    Thanks so much for taking us on this tour, Phillip--I just finished Part I as well. What a fantastic place! I kept hearing about Plant Delights on several blogs and checked out its location before we headed to Asheville. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to drive the extra distance to view it, but now it's going on my "bucket list." This is no ordinary nursery!

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  12. Gardener on Sherlock StreetJune 7, 2012 at 7:22 PM

    You took great photos of the tour. Thank you for sharing. I really like seeing these places I can't get to.

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  13. Garden Centre ChulmleighJune 7, 2012 at 8:23 PM

    Good to know about your blog You took great photos of the tour. Thank you for sharing. I really like seeing these places I can't get to.

    Garden Centre Chulmleigh

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  14. toko baju muslim priaJune 11, 2012 at 2:53 PM

    This is a great posting It’s exactly what I was looking for. I like your article.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Sweet Home and Garden CarolinaJune 13, 2012 at 7:03 PM

    Wow, Phillip, you've really captured this beautiful place, another one I've not been to yet but its on my list. It makes a Southern summer feel cooler just looking at it.

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  16. Peggy HillJune 14, 2012 at 9:54 PM

    I order from Plant Delights every year, and a visit to their nursery is on my bucket list. Now I want to go even more. Great pictures.

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  17. Brenda Addington The GracefulGardenerJune 19, 2012 at 8:38 AM

    Love your beautiful photo's! I just purchased a "Little Imp' last week for my JapMaple/Conifer garden area. Thanks for sharing!

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  18. SkeeterJune 20, 2012 at 11:37 AM

    How awesome to be able to see what you would like to purchase in all its glory! How do they get hosta to become so large? I have to fight off the Voles as they love to eat my hosta roots. For now, I put them in large pots and cover the pots in the soil. This keeps them from getting large for me but it keeps me having them....

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