Garden visit: High Beeches

High Beeches Gardens, near Handcross, West Sussex, are looking amazing at the moment. This is definitely the best time to see them.

Cowfold Fair and Flower Show

On Saturday the rain stopped long enough for the good folks of West Sussex to step out and enjoy Cowfold's village fair.
As a closet classic car fan, I was overjoyed to see some cared-for examples of motoring history, including a German Borgward, a Jaguar XK 150 and a pristine Mk1 Ford Escort.
Also in the line-up were a modern Lambourghini and matching white Mazerati, desperately trying to steal the show.

'Rather tempting'

But I digress... The cars aren't the reason you are here so I will tell you instead about the Cowfold Horticultural Society flower and vegetable show.
While everything else at the fair was free, the society charged 50p entry to its marquee containing this year's entries of vegetables, fruit, flowers and flower arrangements.
It was rather tempting to see those strawberries and raspberries so beautifully presented but I managed to resist swiping one.

Rain damage

Given the horrendous weather, including a downpour on the morning of the show, competitors to the flower categories did marvellously to produce any entries at all.
Some of the roses were showing slight signs of rain damage but most were pristine. I did succumb to one temptation during my visit... the plant stall.
I came away with two modest ophiopogon 'black lilyturf' to fill a hole in my little border at home.
My only other purchase of the day was a generous chunk of coffee and walnut cake from the clubhouse canteen.

Gardens Visit: High Beeches

 

The weather this summer has meant that I have not spent much time visiting gardens – instead I have been occupied with helping my own plot survive the deluge. 

I've not been 100% successful.

Although the main rhododendron season is over, there is plenty still to see at HighBeeches so I made a dash around the gardens while there was a break in the clouds.

Majestic cornus 

The wild flower meadow is still in full bloom, along with swathes of persicaria, wild orchids and late flowering rhododendrons, magnolias and azaleas.

My highlight of the garden at this time of the year, however, is the majestic cornus kousa tree which is in full bloom and just starting to turn pink at the top. It is visible from right across the garden and, even after all the rain, is still beautiful.