A Winters Trip to Wisley

By Alternativeeden @markngaz

RHS Wisley is a garden that we seem to visit far more frequently in winter than in the summer. When ever we go we always comment that we must visit in Spring and Summer as well as the colder months. But as its still January we will have to wait and see if we can manage to take advantage of our membership.

Anyway ignoring our musings, we visited recently.

When you first enter the garden the long pond stretches out before you, although cold the skies were very clear blue.


Henry Moore sculpture by the house

Fatsia Polycarpa

 A small dry bed given a winter rain cover.


The view back towards the large house, which is home to laboratories and offices. This was extensively remodelled during World War I in a mock Tudor style. 

Walking away from the house and there is a small semi formal garden with large trachycarpus fortunei and water features. 





Another pond, on a more domestic scale.

Fatsia japonica doing its thing!


The large informal pond works well even in the depths of winter, with dogwoods providing a blast of very striking orange.


Walking away from the pond and we spotted a Mahonia 'Sweet Winter', this is a similar plant to 'Soft Caress' but may turn out to be a better plant.


Walking into the woods past the swath of seedheads on the Lunaria annua above and we spotted this little fellow hiding in the undergowth.

Blechnum chilense 


Mark and I.... 


The view of the glasshouse, where we spent much of the day in the warmth - which will feature in a follow up post. I love the way this modern glasshouse looks.



Wandering through the woods we spotted these fungi, It is not one we have seen before, so if anyone know its name please let us know.


And with a lovely view across the lake we headed home. Hopefully we will be back in the spring!


Gaz