(Before It's News)
Pictured: Craig Rockfield amidst an October Bloom at the National Botanical Gardens of Wales
On my ventures around little welsh Wales, I recently visited the National Botanical Gardens of Wales in Camarthenshire. I have been wanting to see this attractions for some time now, well that and the Eden Project in Cornwall. But why not start with my home lands first?
Pictured: The massive dome greenhouse shell.
The giant dome greenhouse was a sight to behold. Situated in the heart in the welsh countryside of Carmarthenshire set within the grounds of a country estate. Whilst it’s size looks imposing, it somehow blended in with it’s surroundings. I was surprised at how incredibly eco-friendly the whole project is, and without giving too much away you should really have a look for yourself.
Pictured: The walled kitchen garden and victorian greenhouse.
Of particular interest to me was the traditional ‘walled garden’, I have always wanted to see one of these still being worked ever since I watched the series of BBC’s ‘Victorian Kitchen Garden’ with Head Gardener Harry Dodson for those who know of it.
On site there was also a couple of apiaries, which the bee’s could be watched behind the safety of glass buzzing away in harmony on this fine sunny day. I sat for lunch in the courtyard which was orchestrated with live welsh harp players, it all added to the charm of my visit. I mustn’t forget to mention the ladies who were providing live demonstrations of how to make chutney, with tasters provided of course.
Other things of interest included the traditional victorian greenhouse which hosted many unusual plant species from around the world, some of which I had seen recently on my travels to New Zealand, Australia and Papua New Guinea. I personally would have like to see it complimenting the kitchen garden with a grapevine and melons, but thats just me.
Just around the corner was an ‘ice house’ (now defunct) the pinacle of luxury in it’s day on an estate of this size. Try to imagine an english/welsh summer, sitting outside on such an idyllic day like I was sipping a homemade cordial with fruits from the garden and served ice cold at a time when there was no fridges, no freezers.
Visit the National Botanical Gardens of Wales website.
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