Derry Watkins & her Special Plants

I’ve nearly visited Derry’s garden and nursery several times and this week I finally made it.  I can’t imagine why I delayed  so long – think of the most delicious box of chocolates that has you dithering over which delight to sample next and you get a flavour of the nursery.  And then imagine a garden in a beautiful setting planted with all these delights and you get the picture.  Add Derry’s passion and enthusiasm for what she does and it is any plantaholics idea of heaven. Readers I was transported – and so conveniently close to junction 18 of the M4 too!   Derry sells seeds online, but to buy the plants you have to go there.  Choose the right day and the garden will be open to visitors and you can catch one of Derry’s topical weekly talks. Details can be found on :  www.specialplants.net . If, like me, you live too far away for a day trip, her next door neighbours at Hill Farm have a twin bedded b&b room with its own little kitchen, so you can self cater or pop into Bath for an evening meal.

The garden encompasses all growing conditions from sunbaked to cool and shady – and the views are pretty spectacular too – it’s just that I was focused on the planting.