Thursday 28 August 2014

Garden Visiting In August

The weather forecast for Bank Holiday Monday was better in North Yorkshire than West Yorkshire so we decided on a trip to Yorkshire Lavender. Fourteen miles north east of York, it's well signposted along the way. We've visited before, back in 2010, but it was earlier in the year, before the lavender was flowering, so I thought we'd make a return trip to see how it looked in bloom.

Yorkshire Lavender is set in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside, it's not hard to see why I love this county so much.


The first thing you encounter is the scent of lavender, not surprising really as there are so many plants here, a real lavender lover's delight. They're well labelled too so that you know which varieties they are.


A sign you don't see in many gardens. It's nice to know you're free to have a little touch as lavender plants are so tactile.


There's lots of lavender tips too, I didn't know this one but I shall be giving it a try as I'm not a very good sleeper.


As you would expect, many of the gardens focus on lavender.




There are some mixed borders too. I didn't think they were so well kept, they didn't wow me, but perhaps they're just a little bit tired now that it's coming to the end of the season.



There's a maze made out of lavender which the visiting children were enjoying very much.


You can see the paths of the maze better in this photo.


There's a warning that the bees enjoy using the maze too, but I doubt they'd bother you, they're too busy enjoying the lavender.


It isn't just bees that can't get enough of it either, this ladybird was enjoying it too.


I loved this idea of using broken pots to display sempervivums, I think I may do this myself. I'm always inspired when looking round gardens.


There's a well stocked nursery, though I found it quite expensive, but they do have a very good range of herbs.


There's also a shop which sells all manner of things lavender related, but again, rather expensive.

We knew before we set off that dogs aren't allowed in Yorkshire Lavender so our visit was quite a short one as Archie had to stay in the car, but to be honest, I had enough time to see what I wanted to see. I think if the lavender had been in bloom on our first visit we wouldn't have returned, it was only a case of wanting to see it in flower, but now that we have, it's a place I won't bother with again. I can recommend it if you're a real lavender lover but I have to say that I've preferred the other gardens we've visited this year.

36 comments:

  1. Looks like a great place to see and I bet it smelled wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I couldn't believe the scent. Lavender filled the air as soon as I stepped out the car.

      Delete
  2. I think we saw it at its best, see http://thirdageblogger.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/yellow-and-lavender.html
    Next June/July I would also like to see Wolds Lavender which is not fr from it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think from your post I'd say that you saw it in a much better light than we did. Wolds Lavender looks like a great place too.

      Delete
  3. It looks like a lovely place to visit. Like you I like the use of the broken pot for the sempervivums. I don't know about on the soles of the feet, but I can definitely recommend the lavender oil for helping you to sleep, a few years ago when I was suffering from insomnia I had a rollerball thing that I think you put on your arm and I slept like a log! I hope it works for you. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really must try the lavender on the soles of the feet, I'm a terrible sleeper, no problems getting off to sleep but I wake up in the early hours and can't get off again.

      Delete
    2. I do that, wake up in the night, if I am dehydrated ;)

      Delete
    3. It happens nearly every night to me, I really must try this lavender trick and see if it works.

      Delete
  4. Hi Jo, I love lavender but like you I was a bit disappointed - we did find the biggest puffball mushroom on the drive though! Have you been to Scampton, it just over the road and we'll worth a visit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad I'm not the only one. I haven't been to Scampton yet but it's on my list.

      Delete
  5. I love lavender, shame the place didn't really inspire you but the aroma must have been quite heady. xcx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I realised, looking round this garden, that I like lavender in small doses. The scent of so much lavender en masse actually made me feel quite nauseous.

      Delete
  6. As I struggle to grow it, the sight of all that lavender would be bliss for me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There's plenty here to get your fix. I find that lavender tends to go woody when I grow it so I'm always replacing my plants.

      Delete
  7. So interesting! It must be a very beautiful place to be visited. The lavenders are so stunning. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The gardens are in a beautiful part of the country and there's some fabulous views from them. They certainly know their stuff about lavender, the plants are beautiful.

      Delete
  8. We've passed signs for this but thought if it was only lavender we wouldn't visit. We once stayed in a gite in southern France set it lavender growing area, The fields were in full flower and the lavender was being cut using special machines. Tractor loads of lavender were constantly being driven to the distillery from which lavender scent was being pumped out. The air was thick with the scent of lavender so we should have been permanently relaxed or asleep.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's worth a visit if you haven't been before, but I'd make it when the lavender is flowering as there isn't really enough to see on a second trip. That must have been a very relaxing holiday, though I have to say that I found the scent of so much lavender in the air quite nauseating. Perhaps that's just me.

      Delete
  9. We often stop off at Norfolk Lavender on our way back home from our hols. There are so many varieties and colours now aren't there - but I prefer the good old-fashioned dark purple. They sell all sorts of things there with lavender in it - beer, chocolate etc. I think I'll just stick to the plants. Which reminds me that mine really need cutting back.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are lots of different varieties but I'm the same as you, I prefer the old fashioned types. My garden is without lavender at the moment, I pulled the last lot up when it went woody so I'll have to get another plant to replace it.

      Delete
  10. An enjoyable post and good photos. I'd agree that those borders have an end of season look. Having been twice and from else you say I'm not surprised it's somewhere that you won't probably won't visit again. Flighty xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've enjoyed the other gardens I've visited this year more than this one, but I wouldn't rule it out completely. I think if you're a lavender lover or you're calling in on the way to somewhere else, you'd probably enjoy it.

      Delete
  11. I bet the smell was intoxicating Jo! I love lavender but it doesn't love me and always dies in the garden. I'll definitely try that trick with the oil on the feet though, I've only ever used a scented sachet to help with sleep before.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The air was totally filled with the scent of lavender. I'm going to try that trick too, it would be great if it worked.

      Delete
  12. I have never been to a lavender farm tho' I have read lots of posts about them this year. They do sound like wonderful places to visit but this one does not sound like it would be worth the long journey for the day?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't think I'd recommend a long journey to visit it, but it's ok if you're passing. Lavender farms seem to be springing up all over the place now so you may have one much closer to you.

      Delete
  13. Thanks for taking us around the Yorkshire Lavender site which I've noticed on the way to the coast and wondered about. I love the plant and want even more in our garden since the bees are still going mad for the ones we have. For that reason I haven't cropped mine yet to make this year's lavender bags. We have one lovely big plant of English lavender so our DiL took a big bunch home when she came to visit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bees do love lavender, there's so many buzzing around Yorkshire Lavender. I really must get a new plant for my garden, though I always seem to have problems as they end up growing so woody.

      Delete
  14. We once visited Norfolk Lavender, a somewhat similar place, and saw the manufacture of Lavender oil, which was fascinating. I remember what it felt like in the Lavender fields on a very hot day - the scent was wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I bet that demonstration was interesting. I do enjoy the scent of lavender, but it can be very overpowering too.

      Delete
  15. One of my favourite aromatherapy oils is lavender.
    I always say I would die happy if it was in a field of lavender :)
    Someone had a wonderful idea using lavender for a maze..........gives the children a chance to see bees at work.

    My nearly daughter in law is a Yorkshire lass.
    I visited the area a few years ago now, it is wonderful. My son gets married to his girl this year, so I will be travelling up North for the wedding :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The children were really enjoying the maze. Although there's a warning that bees are at work, I doubt they'd bother anyone, they're far too drowsy from the heady scent from the flowers. How lovely that you'll be travelling back to Yorkshire for your son's wedding. I wonder which part of Yorkshire you're soon to be daughter in law is from. I hope you have time while you're here to see a few of the sights.

      Delete
  16. I'm wondering how lavender oil rubbed on your feet would help you to sleep so will be interested to hear how you get on Jo. Have heard of using a drop on a handkerchief under a pillow. Looks an interesting place to visit especially for lavender lovers. Will mention it to one of our garden club members who gives talks on growing lavender and who collects all manner of lavender paraphernlia.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've heard of dropping lavender oil on a handkerchief too but never on your feet, I wonder if your garden club member knows of this trick. It would be great if it works.

      Delete
  17. Being such a fan of all things lavender I simply loved this!
    I can't wait for the day I can distill my own oils....wonderful post!xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think if you're a huge fan of lavender, then this garden's for you. There's so many varieties, and they come in so many different colours and shades these days.

      Delete

 
!-- Start of StatCounter Code for Blogger / Blogspot -->