Last week I went away for a few days and as always my trip included garden visiting. We called in on fellow Cottage Garden Society member Rachel Helfer’s garden in Wareham, Dorset. There are wonderful herbaceous borders full of flowers, magnificent views of the surrounding countryside and a most impressive kitchen garden complete with these adorable domestic ducks. Clever garden owner Rachel says that thanks to these friendly additions she has no problems with slugs in her garden.

Knitson Old Farmhouse opens for the NGS on Friday 11th, Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th of September from 1 – 5pm. Admission is £3.00, children free. Hopefully Rachel’s wonderful home-made cream teas
 and cakes will be for sale!

http://www.ngs.org.uk/gardens/find-a-garden/garden.aspx?id=12306

On the return journey home we called in at Knoll Gardens, home of Neil Lucas for the past 20 years. Neil is an expert plantsman and the UK’s leading authority on ornamental grasses. The gardens provide a showcase for his personal naturalistic style, and he has a specialist nursery there that I have always wanted to visit.

Now is not the best time of year to see a garden specialising in grasses (so I will just have to go back again later!) but there were some lovely examples of good plant combinations and the nursery did not disappoint. Knoll Gardens, Stapehill Road, Wimborne BH21 7ND

https://www.knollgardens.co.uk/visit-us/