The last time I visited a garden was back in September, so feeling a little deprived of new inspiration coupled with a touch of cabin fever and frankly just needing a change of scene, we decided to visit RHS Wisley, in Surrey. Unfortunately, the combination of good weather, half term and some children’s events meant that we weren’t the only ones with that idea. To say it was busy was understatement, heaving more like.
The RHS has 3 other gardens in North Yorkshire, Essex and Devon but Wisley is the largest and it’s flagship garden. Covering 240 acres it combines being a training establishment for it’s students and it’s educational role informing the public about horticulture with providing a day out in beautiful surroundings. We used to live close by so have been lucky enough to see the gardens throughout the seasons. High summer is in my opinion the best time to visit but there is still plenty to see even in winter.
Winter scent is easy to find at Wisley with Daphnes, winter-flowering Honeysuckle and the incredible Chimonanthes or winter sweet.
There were some beautiful specimens of witch hazel with it’s lemon peel-like flowers. The overnight frost had not had too much of impact on the carpets of crocus and snowdrops and there were hellebores scattered all over the gardens.
A great treat at this time of year is the Alpine House which was bursting with colour. A stunning collection of Hepaticas, Crocus and Narcissi were all in bloom protected from the elements. Later in the year the green tussocks of Saxifrages will be covered in tiny little flowers.
One of main reasons for our visit was to see the glasshouse which was opened in 2007. We had seen the construction work going on but had moved away from the area before it was completed and opened. The structure is very impressive especially with the lake in front of it, providing beautiful reflections. It covers an area of 10 tennis courts and has different climates – dry temperate, moist temperate and tropical. As part of the half term activities was a ‘Come and See Butterflies’ event in the glasshouse which was proving incredibly popular with families, so popular there were long queues. We weren’t so bothered about seeing the butterflies and were more interested in the plants, so thinking we could bypass the 40 minute queue to see the butterflies, we left the queue to have a look at the plants only to realise half way round that you could only see the rest of the glasshouse if you were in the queue for the butterflies. We didn’t have the time or stamina to queue again. What we saw was good and I particularly liked the display about roots but it was quite frustrating not to get to see the rest of the glasshouse especially as we seemed to be the only people interested in seeing the plants.
The plant centre is amazing and could do serious damage to your bank account. The nursery has a wide selection of herbs, shrubs, trees, alpines, herbaceous plants and fruit bushes and trees. It is horticultural heaven. The staff, as you would expect, have a wealth of knowledge and are very helpful. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, I was so tired after 4 hours of walking around I didn’t have enough energy for the shop. I was very tempted by the trained fruit trees but all I could manage was a pot of blue wood anemone. If you really want to do the plant centre justice I suggest you start here first. It has the added advantage that you don’t have to pay to get into the plant centre so if you didn’t have time to visit the gardens you could just pop into the shop.
I can highly recommend Wisley and realise how lucky we were to live so close by. The gardens cover such a large area that even on a very busy day you can find quiet spots. Visitor facilities are good with a selection of places to eat. It is always worth checking what events are on, they offer a full programmes throughout the year ranging from courses and talks for adults to childrens craft making days.
For more information visit the RHS website
Pauline Mulligan said:
Wisley was one of our favourite stopping places when our daughter lived in Essex for a while. Loved to visit in winter, it was so inspirational with all the scented plants and bulbs. As you say the plant centre is so tempting, always came home with the boot full, and they have the best selection of gardening books that I have ever seen. Loved visiting again through your photos, don’t think my Daphne is ready to flower yet, must go and investigate!
wellywoman said:
Hi Pauline,
The book shop there is incredible but we didn’t even attempt to have a look it was just so busy. Might look to see if I’ve got the space for a Daphne somewhere.
Janet at Planticru Notes said:
Our recent visit to the Botanics in Edinburgh coincided with half term and there were lots of families in the greenhouses. I should check before we go… The Wisley greenhouses look like beautiful structures, especially placed nest to the water. Looks like an interesting visit.
wellywoman said:
Hi Janet, We was very busy and I probably won’t go there when such an event was on again but it is good that these places are so popular with families exposing the next generation to plants and gardening.
Janet at Planticru Notes said:
I’m all for children being taken to museums, galleries and Botanics (as I was) but not on the same day as me…I’m auditioning for the “Grumpy Old Women “on TV!
Pen said:
Sounds like you had a lovely visit – wouldn’t it be lovely to have ‘scratch and sniff’ photos on our blogs! Our closest RHS garden is Harlow Carr and that’s still a good 5hrs drive; needless to say I’ve only made it there once. I’d love to try some witchhazel cuttings; I just need to find a willing donor.
wellywoman said:
Hi Pen, It was a 4 hour round trip for us yesterday. I was pooped when I got back. Harlow Carr is good too and Rosemoor in Devon, the only one I haven’t been to is Hyde Hall.
Jo said:
I’d love to visit Wisley, the glasshouse looks so impressive. I always head for the plant centres on days out, you never know what you might find, and a plant or two can serve as a happy reminder of a visit. My nearest RHS garden is Harlow Carr, they have a great book shop too.
wellywoman said:
Hi Jo,
Harlow Carr is great. I’ve been a few times on the way to visiting family. Haven’t been since they built the new education centre though.
Laura@PatioPatch said:
Have always delighted in this Surrey garden but prefer hosts of plants to people.Love your photos and clicked all to enlarge and enjoy to the full. The glasshouse is one I have yet to visit.
Wintersweet intrigues me – the colour of winter lonicera and a formation as strange as witch hazels.
wellywoman said:
Hi Laura, I had heard people wax lyrical about winter sweet but never seen it before. Such tiny flowers but such an amazing scent.
BridgetBridget said:
Sounds like a lovely day out. It’s nice to break the cabin fever. Love the position of that glasshouse by the water.
Christina said:
I used to live nearish to Wisely and often visited. I still try to visit when I’m visiting friends and family in the UK. I’m still a member of the RHS; I think they are a fantastic organisation, they send my issue of The Garden without extra charge. I have to admit to being a bit dissapointed with theinside of the glass house although I thought the planting around them and the lake were very special. Glad you had a good day. Christina
wellywoman said:
Hi Christina,
The RHS is a brilliant organisation. They occasionally have a tendency to be a bit old fashioned but with new management I think they are reaching out even further. It’s great to hear they send you the magazine to Italy for no extra charge. I find it hard to judge glasshouses because I’ve been to the Eden Project and it is such a hard act to follow.
outofmyshed said:
Love the pics of the Witch Hazel, Wintersweet and Daphne-looks like a great time to visit, despite the crowds. Haven’t been to Wisley for a few years, but now inspired to journey down to S. London and beyond as there is so much to see. Do remember the plant centre having a great selection of plants too-must visit soon!
wellywoman said:
Hi Naomi, Wisley is such an amazing place, it’s a shame it a 4 hour round trip for us now. The library there alone is somewhere I could spend the whole day, shelf after shelf of gardening books.
outofmyshed said:
Now that does sound tempting!
jardinm said:
I’ve just discovered your blog – some really beautiful photos and good inspiration for this time of year… one of these days I’ll get to go to Wisley myself… the furthest I got once was the Nursery as I was in a terrible hurry which was a shame!
Anna said:
Sounds as if you had a grand day out though a shame it wasn’t quieter. Have visited Rosemoor and Harlow Carr but the joys of Wisley await. My sister keeps threatening to take me when I visit her as she lives relatively near. By the sound of it I should save up some pennies before I do.
Flighty said:
A most enjoyable post. I’ve been there a couple of times both in the late spring, and I’ve been to Kew during all four seasons.
I think that it’s good to visit such places at different times of the year, but preferably when they’re not heaving with people! xx
Janet/Plantaliscious said:
Sorry your attempt to skip the butterfly queue wasn’t entirely successful. Winter seems like a great time of year to go to such a place though, if anyone would know how to show you what to plant for winter interest it would be the RHS. Your descriptions made my nose twitch in envy…