For Apple Day: Eat your way to the river
It's Apple Day, one of my favourite days of the year and what better way to celebrate than to tell you about my recent trip to Longney, where Gloucestershire Orchard Trust have 18 acres of apple orchard under their tender care. Here you'll find older orchards with some trees well over a century old, plus their newer plantings of around 94 Gloucestershire cultivars which have just acquired national plant collection status at Plant Heritage . The jury's out on the actual number as DNA testing has revealed at least one locally named variety is actually a more well known one: Ribston Pippin in this case. Don't worry, there are dozens there which definitely have their origins rooted firmly in Gloucestershire and their cultivation at Longney is vital to their continued presence and preservation. There were around 200 local varieties at one time and today it's around 100 still in existence. Steve Mason - the Trust's Curator - was our knowledgeable guide who invited ...
Must admit topiary doesn't do it for me.
ReplyDeleteHi Sue - I resisted for a very long time. For this particular garden, it's probably the most 'right' part of it and was the standout area on a very dull, freezing cold day in March.
DeleteAbsolutely wonderful. Malmesbury? I do so love the combination of nicely clipped greens and old stone. Nothing lovelier.
ReplyDeleteWell spotted CJ :) This year might be the last chance to see it as the house is currently up for sale.
DeleteWhen I see topiary I see work.
ReplyDeleteToo true Jean, but it's nice to admire the handiwork of others.
DeleteI'm a sucker for topiary. Maybe because I think I have half a chance of doing it myself but also it's a lovely way to add structure without hard materials. Hope the new owners like it too.
ReplyDeleteHmm Helen, I must show you the 'duck' in my front garden sometime...
DeleteI love a bit of topiary, very English and a lot of hard work
ReplyDeleteLuckily we just had to admire it Amanda - totally work free and we had cake too :)
ReplyDeleteVery English....yet seems to have a Japanese feel to it too.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very English garden, there's hundreds of roses elsewhere!
DeleteI like topiary. But only when someone else cuts it ;)
ReplyDeleteYep, I'm with you there :-)
DeleteI like a bit of Topiary to contrast with the rest of the planting. It only needs clipping once a year if you use the right sort of plants, other parts of the garden are far more work! We enjoyed our visit here a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteThis year might be the last chance for a visit Pauline as the house is up for sale.
DeleteA fascinating subject, but I can never really make up my mind if I like it or not! Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteI like it... when it's someone else's ;-)
DeleteTopiary, always looks great but requires quite hard work. It sure looks good in your picture.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Thanks Jan :-)
DeleteI love topiary and this is a wonderful picture. I don't do it up here as it is too formal to look ok but one day I will!
ReplyDeleteI look forward to seeing that Elizabeth. Mind you, the wind up the hill from you sculpts the trees into some fantastic shapes :-)
ReplyDelete