I first visited the garden house at Yelverton, Devon in the spring of 2018 after one of my dog walking friends recommended it to me, after my first visit i then returned to photograph the first show of the autumn colours that same year. I have returned several times since and even though, as a rhs member i am entitled to free friday admittance, i have purchased a yearly membership. I dont think that it is a bad deal for providing me with such fantastic subject matter. The membership also gives me access to two other gardens in Devon and Cornwall.
Set in eight acres of stunning colour, you will find the garden house at Buckland Monochorum, which is just of the main road between Plymouth and Tavistock in Devon, It is well signposted and ample parking is also available. There is excellent access for wheelchair users throughout the garden, a map is provided on entry so decisions can be made whether to go through the acer glade, straight down to the walled garden, the lake, or if need of refreshments to visit the cafe, but once inside take time to admire the naturalistic planting, beautiful colours trees and buildings as you meander through the garden pathways. Again it is very well thought out , the paths are nice and wide for wheelchair ease and benches are well placed for that little sit down and rest. There are refreshments available in the cafe which also does a line in lovely home made cakes and a little shop by the cafe for a few souvenirs, on returning to the car park there are reasonably priced plants available to purchase.
As i mentioned earlier, my second visit was in October when the first flush of Autumn was upon us. It was a beautiful day and on entry, I headed straight to the acer glade to start taking my photographs. There were some stunning colours on display with the onsett of the autmn foliage on the trees and after spending time to admire the scenery out came the camera and many photographswere taken. I then proceeded to the walled garden to take in the display of dahlia’s which put my own to shame, but a year later I have been delighted with the results of the new dahlia’s that have been planted in my own garden. Looking through further photographs i have found quite a few more types that i would like to plant. My wife thinks i have gone a bit dahlia bonkers.
I then proceeded to the lake and just sat there admiring the light on the water and the dazzling colours of the dragon flies going about their days work. In May 2019 I attended a photography course ran by well known garden photographer Phillip Smith, the course was very informative and i hope i have learned a lot. It was worth the fee just to see the display of rhododendrons and the amazing wisteria trees.
The garden house is open from March until October daily and Friday Saturday and Sunday in the winter, it really is a little jewel on the edge of dartmoor national park and well worth a visit, I try to return as often as possible, as there are always new things to photograph and all the time in the world to try to achieve a great shot, plus get idea’s to develop my own garden.
