| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| Leader: | |
| When: | Third Thursday of the month |
| Venue: | Out and About |
New members are always very welcome.
The Practical Gardening Group visited Taw Organic Plant Nursery near Tawstock on 21 May. The 18 acre site has been developed over 7/8 years by just three full-time staff and includes a large polytunnel, two greenhouses, an ever-expanding number of plant beds, a pond and an impressive orchard. David and Liz were delightful hosts and outlined ambitious plans for the future, including a vegetable growing area. The plants were in immaculate condition and our members were not slow to buy some. The nursery is open on Saturdays (or by appointment) and purchases can also be made online.
Well worth a visit, and website address: www.tawvalleyorganics.com
In June we will be visiting East Woodlands Farmhouse in Alverdiscott, Newton Tracey - for more details, see our programme on the website.
Finally, new members are always welcome to join us - just contact one of us.
Andy Jones & David Green
Following our April visit to Upper Gorwell House & Gardens, here is our report for the next newsletter & website:
On 16 April, 13 members of the Practical Gardening Group visited Dr John Marston’s Upper Gorwell House garden overlooking the River Taw estuary in Barnstaple.
After retirement as a local GP and with little previous experience of gardening, he started in 1977 to develop a four acre garden, full of exotic and unusual plants which thrived in the maritime microclimate. He planted all the trees himself, including magnolias, horse chestnuts and cedars, and during our tour could remember the date he planted them and from where he obtained them! He almost seemed to greet each tree or mature shrub as an old friend he had nurtured into adulthood. It was just a memorable afternoon.
PS there are NGS Open Days on: 17 May, 21 June, 19 July & 13 September.
On Thursday, 19 March 2026, twelve members of the Practical Gardening Group visited Rosemoor RHS Garden. A perfect Spring morning of blue skies and warm sunshine greeted our group and the garden was at its most welcoming. Much winter damaged foliage on perennial plants had been tidied up, many beds had been liberally mulched and the hedges were clipped immaculately. At this time of year there is an opportunity to see the huge variety of daffodils and other bulbs that take pride of place before their companion plants come into full leaf. The morning ended with a light lunch, seated outside in the sunshine. To cap it all, some property mislaid by one of our members was promptly retrieved by garden staff and duly returned to the relieved owner. It summed up a really pleasant and positive start to our gardening year.
Our next meeting on April 16th is a visit to Upper Gorwell House, Goodleigh Road, Barnstaple, a 4 acre garden with its own microclimate with many rare & tender plants.
New members are most welcome to join us.
David Green & Andy Jones
October 2025
Damp weather and a road closure meant that only a small group of Practical Gardening members managed to get to Rosemoor RHS Garden on October 30th.
Nevertheless, there was a surprising amount of colour to enjoy, particularly from the dahlias as we walked round, although a camellia in full bloom close to the entrance was probably the star attraction.
The group enjoyed their stroll around the garden and were in even better spirits during a delicious lunch in the restaurant.
-o0o-
As regards our ‘End of Term’ get together, that will now be on WEDNESDAY 26th November at the Fremington Methodist Church Hall, as last year.
Sadly, the hall was not available on the Thursday.
-o0o-
September 2025
September saw 16 members spend a delightful morning at the home in Lake of Ron & Yvonne Bimson, which has been called "Dahlia Paradise".
With 150 varieties of dahlia displaying a full range of colours, and requiring daily picking/deadheading, we were not disappointed.
The entire garden was immaculate and a cream tea capped a lovely morning in the autumn sunshine. I'm sure we'll be back soon!
August 2025
We visited the NGS garden made by Dawn and Steve in Yelland that was featured on BBC Gardeners' World last year.
Twenty four members of the PGG braved the showery weather to visit Steve and Dawn Morgan’s remarkable garden in Yelland. In a relatively small area they have produced a garden full of exotic and tropical plants that often tower above their visitors: cannas, bananas, gingers and an amazing range of passion flowers fill the prepared beds and the large cedar wood greenhouse. There are several varieties of rudbeckia, salvias and some gorgeous dahlias added to the kaleidoscope of colour.
The owners clearly love cultivating and hybridizing their plants and were only too willing to offer information and advice to our group. It was a memorable visit – finished off nicely with a cream tea!
July 2025
Nine members of the PGG enjoyed a warm and generally sunny day attending the Taunton Flower Show using the excellent Park and Ride facility which required only a short walk to Vivary Park.
The Show was busy without being uncomfortably crowded and provided plenty to see and hear. The huge Competition Marquee contained some extremely high quality entrants in the many categories of flower and vegetable arrangements.
There were plants to buy, an array of retail outlets, an artisan village containing some tasty and unusual food and an arena which entertained an appreciative audience, including our very own Barnstaple Youth Marching Band who did Devon proud.
June 2025
Our meeting, on the 26th, was a visit and guided tour at Quince Honey Farm, South Molton.
May 2025
Our meeting was at group member Geraldine Eacott’s garden in Sticklepath.
Tea and coffee and delicious home made cake got the morning off to an excellent start before we were given a guided tour of her beautiful garden, which included a wide range of beautiful and interesting plants and shrubs and impressive vegetables and soft fruit.
