Thunderfairy's at the bottom of the garden: NGS

BRADENHAM HALL

This week we're off to Bradenham Hall for a National Gardens Scheme garden with a difference. Alongside the walled vegetable garden, long border, rose garden and extensive yew hedging, the garden's main feature is its arboretum of over 800 different trees, all labelled. Chris and Panda took me on a tour...

Bradenham Hall is open Sunday 9th September 2-5.30pm.

HUNWORTH HALL

My National Gardens Scheme travels for Radio Norfolk took me to Hunworth Hall this week. A garden in the Anglo-Dutch tradition, it's brimming full with topiary, pavilions and spectacular canals! I went on a tour of the walled hectare plot with owner Henry, taking in the kitchen garden, floral beds around the house and chickens on the way...

Hunworth Hall is open Sunday 2nd September, 12-5.

DAISY COTTAGE

My NGS travels this week took me to the wonderful Daisy Cottage in Roughton, where I was treated to two acres of wildlife-friendly garden! From their fabulous vegetable garden, to their very stylish 'bug walls', stream, bog gardens and gorgeous planting, it was an absolute treat!

Daisy Cottage is open 11-5, Sunday 19th August.

SEVERALS GRANGE

My National Gardens Scheme journey took me to Severals Grange in Wood Norton, the home of Hoecroft plants. One of my favourite nurseries, it has a fantastic selection of plants to give you all the colour, shape and form you need using just spectacular foliage. But there are some rather lovely flowers thrown in for good measure! Enjoy!

Severals Grange is open on Sunday 12th August, 2-5.

DUNBHEAGAN

This week my NGS adventures took me to Dunbheagan in the village of Westfield. Jean and John guided me around their plantsman's garden, which had everything from meandering grass paths and island beds, to extensive woodland paths, a little river, rockery, bog bed, hot bed and veg patch. A particular highlight was the innovative heaven and hell area of the garden, packed with aptly named plants - from Cosmos 'Purity' in heaven to Crocosmia 'Lucifer' in hell. Enjoy!

Dunbheagan is open for the National Gardens Scheme from 12.30-5.30 Sunday 5th August.

35 CLARENDON ROAD, NORWICH

This week I was treated to a look round a delightful Town Garden. Lesley gave me a sneak peek of her garden at 35 Clarendon Road, Norwich, which she lovingly tends with her husband Steve. At only 90ft by around 20ft, it's a compact space, but look at what they've done with it! There are three distinct areas to the garden, lots of trees, a greenhouse and even a fernery! Feast your eyes...

35 Clarendon Road opens along with 37 and 39 Clarendon Road on Sunday 29th July, 12-5pm.

DALE FARM, DEREHAM

This week's NGS garden is Dale Farm on Sandy Lane in Dereham. The two acre plot - the work of Graham and Sally Watts - is a feast for the eyes, absolutely resplendent with sumptuous planting and a lake-sized pond! Graham gave me a tour of the garden, including the free gravel beds in the front garden, the park-like layout of the back garden, sculptures by Sally and some breath-taking planting combinations and views....

Dale Farm is open Sunday 22nd July, 11-5pm.

NGS: NORTH LODGE, NORWICH

My tour of NGS Gardens took me to North Lodge in Norwich this week to see the beautiful plot of Bruce Bentley and Peter Wilson. Bruce showed me around their town garden, which is packed with beautiful structures, wonderful water features and lots of drought-tolerant planting. Enjoy....

North Lodge is on Bowthorpe Road in Norwich. It's open Sunday 15th and Sunday 22nd July, 11-5.

NGS: WELLS-NEXT-THE-SEA GARDENS

Over the rest of the summer I'm taking advantage of my spot on BBC Radio Norfolk's Garden Party to get a sneaky peek round some of the NGS Gardens that are yet to open. The interviews will be played out during the show and fingers crossed I'll be able to get pictures of all of them to add to the blog. This week I headed out to Wells-next-the-Sea where five gardens are opening together for the first time this weekend. The wonderful David and Joolz showed me around their garden 'Capprice'...

The centre of David and Joolz' garden is a series of circles - in the centre a place to sit, around that a circle of shingle to reflect the coastal surroundings of Wells, followed by a 'polo' of grass (as David called it!) and then planting and seating areas around the edge.

One of David and Joolz' great triumphs was with their Hostas. As you can see, their many-tiered gravel approach has left their plants looking wonderful...and not a nibble in sight!

Probably my favourite area of the Saunders' garden was around their little pond. I felt most honoured that their water lily had decided to flower for my arrival...