This relatively leisurely trip (compared with John Foster's) began, as usual, at Notcutts Garden Centre at an early hour on Wednesday 3rd July. Members gathered round while Alisdair loaded the overnight bags, then boarded the coach. When we were all on board and ready to go, organiser, Linda, made a head-count, which gave her one more than expected. A recount gave the same result. She then carefully announced which trip it was and asked if we were all on the right coach. No response! Linda then made a roll-call and we all dutifully answered to our names (even though John Metcalf said 'No', when asked if he was present). Baffled, she then asked if anyone was present who's name had not been called and a quiet little lady put her hand up. Linda looked at the 'paperwork' and discovered that she was booked on a completely different (day) trip and her coach was not due to leave until 8.00am! (We asked her which trip she would prefer.) So, as soon as Linda had raised a volunteers for the day's write-ups, we started again and set off towards Kent and Sussex.

Alisdair's reliable, careful driving allowed some of us to catch up with our sleep whilst traversing the M25 and we duly arrived at one of the 'extras' that Linda had fitted in, Sissinghurst. It was evidently of as much interest to those who had visited recently as to those who had not been for sometime, or perhaps ever before. We discovered some muscles we didn't know we had climbing the spiral staircase to the top of the tower.  This gave an excellent view of the gardens, which helped us get our bearings once back on the ground.

Sissinghurst - photos by Colin Pusey and John Metcalf
(click pic for slideshow)

Lunch above the restaurant was well organised and very welcome. Afterwards there was a little more time to catch up with the garden and see the shop and plant sales before leaving for the object of the exercise, Great Dixter. My abiding memory is the astonishing display of plants in pots around either side of the porch.

Great Dixter - photos by Colin Pusey, John Metcalf and Tony Gray
(click pic for slideshow)

I was a bit shocked when Fergus Garrett told us that they were changed every two weeks. He uses these as a training exercise for students in putting together an effective group of textures and colours. Something he can quickly criticize and they can quickly improve. The garden room system is familiar to Norfolk gardeners, but here it is so innovative and worked on so intensely that it generates a vast amount of information on plant combinations, which we encouraged Fergus to commit to paper. His forward planning, which I think he called 'mind-plans' were inspiring, and I imagine the write-up will reflect this.

We arrived at the hotel, (after Alisdair had tried to deliver us to another one,) and had a good supper of soup and sandwiches and delicious little desserts, which exercised our minds whilst analysing the ingredients, especially the lavender cream, which had a mixed reception. Beds were large, breakfasts were even larger. Some members took advantage of the swimming pool, and perhaps the other exercising options.

It was sad to think that we were on the way home already. However, the day was certainly not an anti-climax.

Lullingstone Castle - photos by Colin Pusey and John Metcalf
(click pic for slideshow)

Lullingstone Castle provided us with a visit to, (and long description of) the church and house, followed by a rather rushed gallop round Tom Hart-Dyke's World Garden, with Tom as guide. This was impressive and interesting, much enlivened by Tom's enthusiastic lunacy. (See write-up.) We naturally found time to visit his nursery and buy some mementos of our visit before making a dash to the marquee for a good lunch of sandwiches and cake.

Alisdair then drove us home to Norfolk (and Suffolk), having made it early enough to avoid the overturning lorry on the motorway, arriving only a little later than scheduled because of our unwillingness to leave the gardens.
Many thanks to Linda for arranging this extra-special trip for us. We also hope that the stowaway had a great day, as well as a story to tell her friends.

Chris Davies