The Secret Gardens

The fabulous weather continues and as I said in my last post, there is so much more to do at this time of year than sit in front of a huge flat screen watching the football (controversial, I know.)

If Pembrokeshire's beaches aren't quite your thing, this is also the perfect time of year to visit the many beautiful gardens in the county - from the more well-known such as Picton Castle and Colby Woodland Gardens to the most hidden and secret of gardens.

Many gardens throughout Pembrokeshire open their gates to the public throughout the summer and this Saturday Glenowen cottage garden near Llanstadwell will be open for the day. On a much larger scale, Picton Castle near Haverfordwest is set in 40 acres of woodland and has one of the largest private collections of exotic and unique plants in Wales. On 30th June the Chapterhouse Theatre Co. are staging a production of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice in the beautiful grounds of the Castle and on 13th July there is a guided RHS walk around the walled garden. Colby Woodland Gardens near Amroth always have an exciting schedule of events over the summer and The Welsh Wildlife Centre near Cardigan is hosting a series of guided walks led by a local medical herbalist on traditional remedies and uses for wild flowers, trees and plants. Other gardens well worth visiting include Bro Meigan gardens and tea room near the Preseli Mountains, Upton Castle gardens near Cosheston, the walled garden at Stackpole, Penlan Uchaf farm garden near Fishguard, the National Botanic Garden of Wales near Carmarthen - the list goes on and many of our wonderful castles also have beautiful gardens to explore (Laugharne and Hean Castle in Saundersfoot.) We have wonderful garden centres too - which cater for coastal windswept gardens like mine. Here in the office Cecilia and Julia are the gardening experts, always good for advice and gardening tips (and plant swapping too!)