I’ve just been for my first outing with the East Sussex group of the Cottage Garden Society. The nursery and garden are tucked down a lane near Etchingam in deeply rural countryside and has been on my list to visit for some time. It was a jolly event (including tea and cake) despite the lack of sun and a chilly wind. It’s always interesting to see the bones of a garden before all the prettiness kicks in. There are some wonderful gnarly old apples trees smothered in mosses and lichens and wreathed with the stems of climbing roses which look fabulous in late spring when the blossom is out and the orchard is knee deep in cow parsley. I know this because I have seen photographs taken by Carole Drake, one of which she is very kindly allowing me to use in this post. I will definitely be going back at a more benevolent time of year .
©Carole Drake