We visited three town gardens in Burford. Each of them was a visual delight and set in peaceful surroundings although situated in the centre of this bustling town. We received a warm welcome from all our kind hosts who took trouble to show us around, to point out plants of particular interest and to explain each garden’s history. Everything was enhanced by the glorious Cotswold stone. We were invited to see the ground floor of two of the elegantly furnished houses and two of the gardens afforded glorious views over the surrounding countryside. A memorable morning!
In the owner’s absence, the head gardener at ‘The Lime Close’ at Drayton was our guide. This garden has many things to offer in terms of shrubs, perennials, herbs and bulbs, including an amazing display of flag irises. But the outstanding feature was the extensive collection of rare trees, some dating over a century. Reading Gardeners were completely undeterred by the onset of a steady downpour of rain and showed their determination to see everything on offer.