The Year (What a Year!) In Review – Well, The UK Garden Adventure Part Anyway

It’s the last day of 2024, and I’ve given myself one job.

This post. In two parts.  One today in 2024. One tomorrow in 2025.

Thus I have plopped myself down in my dining room (where I can’t be distracted by the stacks of admin in my office), opened the laptop, made a strong cup of tea, and forced myself to stop thinking about the pruning jobs I need to get a jump on, or the seed order I need to place with Jelitto before my available chill hours have dwindled down to 10, or the snowdrops I need to photograph before weather takes its toll.

Photo of a similar forced office-exodus — usually keeps me undistracted.

Much has happened this year – in the garden, in my writing life, and most recently, in my podcasting life.

There’s a new garden podcast in town…

There’s even news in the puppy-life department that Mungo and Nessa have yet to hear (and complain) about, but all that will have to wait for tomorrow, or next year, or both; because one of the most important experiences this year was joining forces with Andrea Gasper to share the magic and culture of a country I love with 17 fellow travelers over the course of nine days: our UK Garden Adventure.

That’s right – we actually did it.  And it was amazing. And it suddenly occurred to me this week that, with all the things that keep one distracted and busy from June in the garden until we end up here, in December, exhausted but happy — I never actually posted about it.

Those of you who follow me on Instagram @marianne.willburn may have already had your fill of the trip in real time; but that’s the clever wickedness of Instagram – it’s so easy to post, that I do – and then I wake up and realize that I not only owe readers and subscribers a report of that UK Garden Adventure, but give them news of Part II (!) to come in September of 2025.

If you can’t stand to read about what you missed, you can skip to the end of this post for more details of the latter. This one’s photo-heavy folks.

First let’s see a snapshot (well, 35) of the sorts of things our intrepid group of travellers experienced. The trip was intimate and memorable in the very best sense of those two words – even better than Andrea and I had imagined. And while the itinerary was a good one, much of that had to do with a joyful, curious, and adventurous group of people. To a man (or a woman) we couldn’t have asked for a better group of people.

We Gathered

With gardens on the brain from the beginning, many of us arrived at the quiet luxury of The Petersham Hotel at the top of Richmond, only to sneak off to nearby Kew Gardens and Petersham Nursery. Best way I know to start the trip garden-primed (and to beat jetlag).

Mary B and I at the top of Richmond Hill

A view at Kew

Vast quantities of Prosecco got us mingling and sharing backgrounds and stories over an excellent dinner that first night.

Andrea, Mary-Lou, and Mary S.

We Chelsea’d

We successfully, excitedly, and exhaustively ‘did’ the 2024 Chelsea Flower Show the next day, enjoying some celebrity spotting right along with our plant spotting; and, Pimm’s in hand, elbowed our way to the front of many spectacular and fantastic designs by the world’s top designers.

Protea madness in The Great Pavillion

A glimpse of Adam Frost in the Great Pavilion

A very happy Leslie, Jane and Mary

We Gardened

Over the next eight days, we visited a diverse group of exceptional gardens in their prime.

Oxford Botanic Garden

Kiftsgate, Iford, Waterperry, Buscot Park, Oxford Botanic, and many more throughout Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Somerset.  We even snuck across the border to Wales to visit fellow GardenRanter Anne Wareham,  and husband/photographer Charles Hawes at their astonishing home garden The Veddw.

From the rolling estate of Rousham to the intimate courtyards of Iford, to the secluded retreat of The Veddw, the gardens on this trip did not fail to deliver – each in a different, thought provoking, and inspiring way.

The Cloister at Iford Manor

A shrubtastic tapestry at The Veddw

A topiary Stonehenge at Waterperry Gardens

Amelia at Waterperry

Kiftsgate Garden tennis court garden

Jane at The Temple of Echo at Rousham Gardens

Harold Peto’s water gardens at Buscot Park

Throughout the trip we met and talked gardens with owners, designers, head gardeners, and docents, and came away with excellent ideas for our own gardens at home – one of the prime reasons for leaving our gardens at such a busy time of year: Global Garden Inspiration!

Mark Brent, Curator at The Oxford Botanic Garden speaks to the group

The very funny, and informative Steve Lannin. Head Gardener at Iford Manor

The indomitable, and adorable (she’d hate it if she heard me say that) Anne Wareham.

We Cultured

We were awed by the scale of Blenheim Palace and Grounds, got lost in the maze, and found some of the best homemade ice cream ever created during the extensive food fair held that weekend.  Some of us also found the Pimm’s vendor. Twice.

Nick and Margot having conquered the dreaded maze!

We had many laughs over memorable, yummy, meals and drinks in some pretty terrific (not to mention historic) hotels.

A group dinner overlooking The Thames

We ambled the streets of Oxford with our able and affable guide Alastair…

Drank prosecco on river boats as the sun went down and the day’s races ended…

And had late night conversations in the deep armchairs of The Randolph Hotel.

We walked through the historic city of Bath in the footsteps of Jane Austen, gathered for dinner with Anne and Charles in preparation for our visit to The Veddw, and snuck in some shopping with our sightseeing.

And on our way back to London, we arrived at Stonehenge before the crowds and were able to absorb the quiet magic of this spectacular World Heritage Site without paying the price of its fame.  Posing for silly pictures on a vast open plain, then watching a stream of buses arrive as we left, is one of my favorite memories.

We give you…. Stonehenge!

On our last day, we wandered the vast expanse of RHS Wisley, and had a chance to see the newly re-installed Piet Oudolf borders before browsing the extensive gift shops for some last-minute finds.

Dressing up for one last dinner together and a final picture on the grounds of the spacious Edwardian mansion, The Woodlands Park Hotel was a high point for both Andrea and me.

We Connected

Touring as a small group on a fully customized trip has huge advantages.  Though it’s a little more expensive, it’s a good middle ground for those who’d like to have the details worked out, but shudder at the thought of being one of fifty tourists on a bus. There was time to be together and time to strike out alone or with a friend or two, coming back together for a happy hour glass of wine on the bus or a robust full English breakfast to get the day started well. We got to know each other and truly enjoyed the many perspectives that such a fun group of people from different walks of life brought to the trip.

Laura and Jane looking at the day’s photos

We’re Looking Forward….

The good news is, in the new year, there’s no need to trade the sights of your spring garden for the inspiration found in those of others.

Our UK Garden Adventure Part II will take off at the beginning of September for eight nights and nine days, when crowds are low, but gardens are mature and glorious. As this will be the only trip we are hosting in 2025, spaces will be limited – but what a trip it will be, combining the romance of the moors with the mystery and allure of the Cornwall coast – all through the lens of extraordinary gardens.

From the exciting and innovative garden that is Keith Wiley’s Wildside perched on the edge of Dartmoor, to the hidden 17 acre gem of Tresco Abbey Garden located on the Isles of Scilly, this will be a trip for the bucket list books.

Wildside Garden in Devon

We’ll also visit the evocative Lost Gardens of Heligan, walk through the Tudor house and gardens of Cotehele, wander through the subtropical gardens of Trebah and meet the sea where many American troops departed for DDay in 1944.

We’ll sneak across the causeway at low tide to see the gardens at St. Michaels Mount in Penzance (no pirates to be concerned about), and explore a private garden built into the cliffs at Chygurno.  A snapshot of Victorian life upstairs and downstairs awaits us at Lanhydrock, while tea overlooking the River Fal after a garden walk at Trelissick will have you rethinking your long garden views at home.

Bathed in the gentle Gulf Stream, the gardens of Cornwall contain a fascinating mix of subtropical and temperate plants, many set against the backdrop of churning, rocky coastlines, or gentle, sandy beaches.

I have a great fondness for this region of the UK and have spent much time here in pursuit of outstanding views, seafood, relaxation, moorland walks, and of course gardens.

This will certainly be a trip for lovers of the coast – our hotel picks will capture the essence and charm of Cornwall, whilst providing the all the comfort and luxury of 4 and 5 star accommodation.

If you are intrigued and wish to save one of the limited places available – please reply to this email with a quick “I’m interested.”  We’ll have a pricing package soon after the New Year with more details.

And Then What Marianne?

We’ll be venturing out of the UK, but not until 2026.

Entranced by Andrea’s connection to, and love of, Portugal; and her recent exploration of Madeira, I decided to make that our next destination for a small group garden tour in late March or beginning of April 2026. This trip will most likely be under 18 guests. We will also add a new region to our UK Garden Adventure in May of that year, and once again, add Chelsea Flower Show to the mix.

In The Last, Quiet Hours of 2024

I want to wish all of you a productive, happy, and above all, healthy 2025.  Working with one’s hands, body, and soul in the garden is the best way I know to make all of those three things happen.  May you live fully distracted in the joy of our natural world.

xo