The House and
Garden at Wrenwood Hotel, Bournemouth, UK - only 100 miles south
of London are on land formerly owned by Mary Shelley, the author of the
Frankenstein books.
The centrepiece
of the garden has to be the giant Chestnut tree which is under a Preservation
Order. There are hundreds of daffodils planted at its base intermingled
with the earlier snowdrops and crocuses. Daffodils and crocuses are also
planted under the beautiful Magnolia tree higher up the garden.
Bournemouth is very lucky in its climate and we have geraniums that survive the winter outside, along with Torbay Palms. In the rear there is a splendid Magnola tree which blooms both in late April and mid-September which is quickly followed by the Rhododendrons and Azalias in early May to early June, but we must not forget the small cream clematis that bedecks the back wall of the sun terrace which is followed by a slighly larger-slowered mauve clematis.
In the shadier parts of the garden are the Paeonies which produce splendid, if short-lived flowers.
Both on the sun terrace and in the rear we have a selection of hanging baskets which contents we change according to the season. Last year we tried "Surfina" am F1 hybrid Petunia which was so succcessful at Manor House Farm, our former hotel in Somerset near Wells, that we have brought some cuttings of it here (it can not be grown from seed).
You will also find a selection of both summer and Spring buls in both the front border and rear gardens according to the season in which you stay with us.
On the Sun
Terrace we provide Tables and Benches and that area is also licensed so
on a pleasant summer's evening what better to partake of a glass of wine
with the setting sun. Higher up on the flat roof above the lounge we grow
our own tomatoes in the summer as this position faces south and being high
receives a lot of sun.
Rhododendrons in our Garden in May |
The Chestnut Tree does not come into leaf until early May - the nuts are tasty in October |
The Roses both in the garden and on the Sun terrace bloom in June and last until October |
The Jasmine blooms in April |
There are hanging baskets both from and rear |
The Sun-Terrace in May 1999 |
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