Members of the Garden group enjoyed a visit to the Constable Burton Tulip Festival on Monday, 4th May. This is an annual event over the early May Bank Holiday weekend. Constable Burton is a private house and the interior can’t be viewed but the grounds open a few times a year for special events, and this is one of them.
Apparently there are over 500 different types of tulip planted in the extensive gardens and they can be seen in gardens all around the house itself as well as the extended gardens and woodland that surround the property. There are echoes of Italian styling in the grounds with a pond and a fountain as well as a pretty terrace and parterre.
The tulips were magnificent, as expected, with swathes of group planting of the same colour and variety as well a colourful mixes and the overall effect was lovely. Constable Burton gardens are not just about the tulips though as there was complementary planting throughout the borders. In addition there were a large number of well-established shrubs and trees. Many were in flower and provided a pleasing backdrop to the borders. A feature in the lawns at the side of the house are the amazing Cedar trees. At least one of these came from Syria and is a few hundred years old.
No garden group trip is complete without refreshments and Constable Burton did not disappoint. They were efficiently served in a marquee and although the choice of items to eat was not huge, what they did serve was tasty and of good quality.
Author: Pam T and Photos: Anne A, Janet P, John S, Pam T