Botanical gardens

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Wales's Botanical Garden

Just a few miles east of Carmarthen one comes across Wales' finest new bit of gardening 'kit'. It is the new 'National Garden of Wales' and is conveniently situated about an hours drive from Cardiff. It is set in the former 18th century regency park of Middleton Hall in Carmarthenshire, a 568 acre estate on the edge of the beautiful Tywi valley.

In the summer of 2002, Jean and I took a look at the site, about which we had heard mixed opinions. Some said it needed longer to mature, and there is no doubt that as time goes on, it will continue to improve. But my opinion is: don't wait any longer, get on down there, it is quite stunning in both conception and execution. I took lots of photos and have only just got round to processing them. From the moment you arrive in the unusual entrance hall to the time you load exotic plants into your boot from the adjacent garden centre, its a great trip. Just allow plenty of time, at least half a day. The on site catering is also very good.

It has its own informative web site at: www.gardenofwales.org.uk

As always, clicking on each 'thumb nail' picture will bring up a larger image.

	This is an atrium with a difference; water runs down the inside (or is it outside) of the inverted glass cone in the entrance hall.		This is the first view of the gardens beyond.
I don't know what most of these plants are, so I'll just put up the pics and say 'nowt' as they say in the North of England.		Lovely water features and a first glimpse of the dome, Europe's biggest, I believe.
	This little 'natural' pond is the source for a little stream that runs gently down the path, criss crossing a number of times before becoming part of another water feature.	Jean inspecting some shrubs just by the huge walled garden that is presently being restored.
The colour and planting schemes are just so well thought out.			Red just doesn't come any more intense than this.
	The tree that Jean is alongside looks like a giant Bonsai!
There's an interesting aside, it's an old pharmacy full of genuine objets d'pharmaceutical.