The summer in 2020 is one we will not forget quickly because of Covid. It was also a time where people turned to gardening in their thousands with a new appreciation of the plant world.
After the first lockdown people were able to visit some of the most beautiful gardens in the British Isles. We take you on a tour of four of our own summer highlights.

American Museum, Bath. The recently updated Garden at the American Museum was the first on our list. It underwent major works in 2018 to transform it into one of the finest gardens in the South of England.
Opened by Alan Titchmarsh, the New American Garden was designed by Washington DC based firm Oehme, van Sweden and was their first UK commission.
There are many new features including a natural amphitheatre, extensive borders full of colour and a wheelchair friendly path encircling the lawns. This is a must for your 2021 diary.

Kiftsgate Court Gardens, are magnificently situated garden on the edge of the Cotswold escarpment with views towards the Malvern Hills. This is a real favourite of ours and never fails to delight. We visited on a hot summer day and almost had the garden to ourselves. Heather Muir created the garden at the 19th century Kiftsgate House from sloping woods and was helped by her lifelong friend Lawrence Johnston who created Hidcote just 1 mile away.
Since then the Garden has been developed and improved by two more women gardeners, the present one being Anne Chambers who will be delighted to chat with you about the garden. The image is of a more recent contemporary feature, 'The Water Garden' where Gilded bronze leaves float over the water providing slight movement in the wind. The sound of water trickling off the leaves refreshes the senses on a hot afternoon.

The Savill Garden near Windsor - This a beautiful Garden for all seasons and we were able to visit here in July. Once again we were treated to a sunny warm day which enhanced the wonderful kaleidoscope of colours in the Garden.
There are great walks all around the garden and  lake. The 35 acres of interconnected gardens include the Hidden Gardens, Spring Wood, the Summer Gardens, the New Zealand Garden, Summer Wood, The Glades, Autumn Wood and the Winter Beds.

Hergest Croft Gardens, Herefordshire, have a history going back 120 years to William Hartland Banks (1867-1930) a banker, traveller, photographer, gardener and passionate plantsman and his with wife Dorothy. They built Hergest Croft in 1895 and laid out the garden which was much influenced by the writings of William Robinson. We visited the Gardens which surround an Arts and Crafts House on a warm summer afternoon and had the garden much to ourselves.
Hergest Croft has more than 5,000 rare trees and shrubs, holds the National Collections of maples and birches as well as over 90 'champion trees', plus an impressive collection of azaleas. The garden is a great place to visit throughout the seasons.

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