Rare Plant Fair at Adwell House

 Last Sunday I visited my first Rare Plant Fair of the season at Adwell House, near Thame. It was further away than I would normally consider traveling for a plant fair, but I didn't want to miss out on the experience of a long awaited plant fair, all that pent up plant buying urge! The wonderful thing about a plant fair is that there are a great range of nurseries attending with fabulous plants, and great advice on all aspects of growing the plants they are selling. There is also the added bonus that when you have finished buying plants, you can go and look round the gardens and get even more inspiration for your own garden. 

I looked up the Adwell House information, and this is what is said about the garden:

'The Adwell Estate lies on ground sloping down from the Chiltern Hills. The Saxons called it Eadda's Well, and hence the name today. The garden was originally laid out by the present owner’s ancestors in the 19th Century, and over successive generations further developments have taken place. Visitors are greeted with a magnificent herbaceous border which sweeps around the drive. The Parish Church nestles within the grounds and you are led around to the walled garden, with its herbaceous borders, roses and a superb collection of salvias. The garden is fed by spring water and the water garden continues to be the major feature with magnificent trees dominating the lawns.'

All true, what a magnificent spot, and so fabulous to be out again at a plant fair, it felt very good to be doing something normal, and talking about plants. Here are a few photos of the day:

The stalls were very well spaced out from each other, and they had spaced out the plants so we were able to browse and keep 2 metres apart without any difficulty

I quite like these photos of people choosing and buying plants at different stalls

This is my Rudbeckia Peking, I like the flowers, but am unsure if it will make it through the winter

Below you can just see Paul Green of Green's Leaves with his stall where all labels are very clear so you know what you're getting.

There's a great church virtually in the garden, dating back to 1856

With a rather fabulous spire with gargoyles

We then walked into the walled garden which is beautifully laid out

with glorious roses and delightful touches like a small summerhouse with two chairs in it.

In the Italianate garden, there's a water feature, and behind it a 70 foot wisteria hedge

There were some lovely stone planters

and this is my best photo, it was such a gloriously still day that the bridge was wonderfully reflected in the water

there's a great walk beside the lakes, created when blue clay was dug out for the M 40 apparently

This long border opposite the front of the house hasn't come out well. There were masses of wonderful salvias along here.

And these are the purchases at home

The delphinium is Tim's choice, it looks fantastic, but I fear for it's future.