Elmton Gardens

Our latest round of National Gardens Scheme (NGS) garden visits took us to the Derbyshire village of Elmton. We went a couple of years ago and the whole weekend really brings this ancient village alive.

As always the weekend coincides with the village's well dressing. This year the design has been based around Noah's Ark.

There were four gardens open for the viewing and as usual all completely different in size, layout and plant content. We started off at Pinfold. The name comes from the village pinfold that is the other side of the back wall. At one stage any stray animals found would be rounded up and put in the pinfold until their owner came and paid the fine to release it.

It really is a beautiful garden with stunning displays of lupins, roses, delphiniums and heucheras.

Over in the fruit and vegetable garden the soft fruit is protected in a special cage. I really need a system like this at my allotment!

Across the road is Elm Tree Farm. The house and land forms part of the Chatsworth Estate and is painted accordingly. Overlooking things is a Green Man.

You can't have a farm without some animals and the chicken were happily scratching around the ground.

You also can't have a garden visit without a cup of tea only in this case the tea had been replaced by flowers.

Next to Elm Tree Farm is Wilmots. The house couldn't be more different being a bungalow. The front garden has a selection of roses hanging over the paths and arches.

Down the side is a small vegetable garden with a miniature rose shrub at the end.

Back into the village is the impressive Elmwood House. Out the front was a lineup of vintage cars but my interest took me round the back.

The afternoon light provided a perfect glow for the fuchsia dependens.

One last look at the borders and it was time to head off for the day until our next garden visit.