British gardens with good annual displays Great Dixter Northiam, Rye, East Sussex, TN31 6PH Tel: 01797 252878 Christopher Lloyd's continually spectacular garden. Always worth a visit, also features impressive mixed borders and meadows - and the house is open too. Opening times: Daily except Mondays (open Bank Holiday Mondays) April to mid October, 2-5pm Location: 11 miles north of Hastngs, off the A28 Hadspen Garden Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7NG Tel: 01749 813707 Features the most impressive coloured planned bordser in the country; every gardener should see it Opening times: Thursday to Sunday plus Bank Holiday Mondays, March to September, 10am-5pm. Location: 2 miles south east of Castle Cary on A371. Hidcote Manor Hidcote Bartrim, near Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, GL55 6LR Tel: 01386 438333 Thoughtfully planned borders inwhich annuals are moixed with perennials and shrubs. Opening times: Daily except Tuesday and Friday, 27 March to 31 October, also Tuesdays in June and July, 11am-7pm (closes 6pm in October). Location: 4 miles north east of Chipping Campden, off B4081. Old Vicarage East Ruston, near Stalham, Norwich, Norfolk, NR12 9HN Tel: 01603 632350 Impressive new garden made by disciples of Christopher Lloyd and which thumbs its nose to its exposed situation. Opening times: Sundays and Wednesdays, April to October, 2-5pm. Location: opposite East Ruston church, off the A149. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB Tel: 0181 840 1171 The summer bedding has been impressive for decades; unusual species can be seen with perennials in the 'order' beds. Opening times: Daily, except Christmas Day and New Year's Day; 9.30am-4pm/6.30pm/7.30pm depending on the season. Location: Near Kew Bridge, and Kew Gardens and Kew Bridge stations. Nymans Handcross, near Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH17 6EB Tel: 01444 400321/400777 Interesting summer plantings - to follow sparkling spring pieris and rhododendrons. Opening times: Daily except Monday and Tuesday (and Bank Holiday Mondays), 3 March to 31 October, 11am-6p or sunset if earlier. November to March 2000 11am-4pm. Location: 5 miles south of Crawley, on the B2114 at Handcross. Sissinghurst Castle near Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 2AB Tel: 01580 712850 Every year the integration of annuals into thoughtful mixed plantings is worth seeing - worth a visit every year. Opening times: 27 March to 15 October; Tuesday to Friday, 1-6.30pm; weekends and Good Friday 10am-5.30pm. Timed entry system in operation, visitors may have to wait. Location: 2 miles south of East Grinstead, off the B2110 The Priory Kemerton, Worcestershire, GL20 7JN Tel: 01386 725258 Luxuriant borders with surprising colour combnations in which seed raised annuals are mixed with tender perennials. Opening times: Thursdays, June to September, 2-6pm; also, Sundays 23 May, 20 June, 11 July, 1 August, 22 August and 5 September. Location: 6 miles south of Pershore off the B4080.. Wisley Garden Wisley, near Ripley, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB Tel: 01483 224234 The subtropical borders are always inspiring, the other summer bedding varies in quality from year to year. Opening times: Daily, 10am-6pm; Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays 9am-6pm. Sundays - Royal Horticultural Society members only. Location: Off the A3, 1 mile south of Junction 25 on the M25.   Back to Where to see Annuals     ©copyright 1999 Graham Rice. All Rights Reserved. All Images Digitally Watermarked.