Yarty Gardening Club

NGS visit to Hillcrest, Curload, Stoke St Gregory. TA3 6JA
2025-05-15 14:30 - 16:30 (Europe/London) | TA3 6JA
Owned by Charles and Charlotte Sundquist

Hillcrest, Curload, Stoke St Gregory. TA3 6JA

Hillcrest is open by arrangement as part of the National Garden Scheme. With stunning views of the Somerset Levels, Burrow Mump and Glastonbury Tor, this 6 acre garden offers plenty of interest, including a standing stone. Enjoy woodland walks, varied borders, flowering meadow and several ponds. There are greenhouses, orchards, a new produce garden and newly built large gravel garden. Garden is mostly level with gentle sloping paths down through meadow.

We have arranged a guided tour of the garden, after which there will be some time to wander at your leisure. There will, of course, be an opportunity to enjoy tea and cake afterwards.

This is a self-drive event and we encourage members to car share where possible.

Directions: From A358 turn L along A378, then branch L to North Curry & Stoke St. Gregory. L ½ mile after Willow & Wetlands centre. Hillcrest is 1st on R, with parking directions.

Garden visit in Wellington in support of the Parkinson's UK charity
2025-06-19 14:30 - 16:30 | 16 OWEN STREET, WELLINGTON TA21 8JY
Garden owned by Carole Lomas.
Carole is opening her garden to raise funds for Parkinson’s UK. We suggest a minimum donation of £5 per member. The club will also be making a donation from club funds. garden tour will be accompanied by by tea and cake
16 OWEN STREET, WELLINGTON TA21 8JY
A visit to Carole’s garden in Wellington in aid of Parkinson’s Disease. To learn more about the work carried out by the charity, click here: https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/

This is a self drive event. Please car share where possible

Summer BBQ at BSM village hall
2025-07-17 18:00 - 20:00 | Buckland St Mary Village Hall. TA20 3SP
A relaxed social event to celebrate the Summer.
We’ll provide the burgers, sausages and drinks – we ask that you bring a salad or a dessert to share.
All welcome. Visitors £5 per head

Plants of Extremes: A Journey from Desert Resilience to Jungle Abundance - A visit to "Desert to Jungle" Plant Centre, Henlade
2025-09-18 14:00 - 16:00
About Desert to Jungle:
Desert To Jungle is a small unique specialist exotic plant nursery based within Somerset, only 5mins from junction 25 of the M5. The plant centre is based around a victorian walled garden, which we have started to plant as a jungle. Visiting us is different to most plant centres and is an adventure. The nursery is run by Rob Gudge who started the business 10 yrs ago . We are extremely Passionate about exotic gardening. We are always available on the phone or in person to provide care and protection advice we can also give help deigning a new exotic bed or even your whole garden. Within our car park is a large exotic border full of some of our favourite exotic plants to help inspire your next exotic scheme.
We have thousands of plants from the normal to outrageous in particular we hold a large variety of Agave’s and Succulents with over 80 Varieties of Agave. We also hold the largest selection of Bamboo’s within the South West with over 80 Varieties. We have a large variety of Ferns and Tree Ferns with over 50 varieties of ground Ferns, and a large selection of Tree Ferns mainly Dicksonia Antarctica from potter to 10ft tall and having over 100 in stock at anyone time. We also are Proud to have a wide selection of other Dicksonia’s and Cyathea’s. On the jungle side of things we have many types and sizes of Banana and a large collection of Canna’s with up to 30 varieties of virus free plants. We Also stock over 25 varieties of Ginger. We have a wide variety of Palm trees from small to large with over 20 varieties available.
Tea and cake will be available at the end of our visit.

New Tricks for Old Gardeners; Clever Tips and Tools
2025-10-16 19:15 - 21:00 | Otterford Parish Hall, Bishopswood. TA20 3RS

Weaving Christmas Magic: Creating Beautiful Festive Stars with Somerset Willow
2025-11-20 19:15 - 21:00 | Buckland St Mary Village Hall. TA20 3SP
Join us for a demonstration of festive willow weaving with Amanda Webb as she shows us how to weave beautiful christmas stars to decorate your home or garden.
Due to limited numbers, this is a MEMBER ONLY event
Please bring a pair of secateurs if you would like to have a go at weaving a star; if not, sit back with a cup of tea and watch the demonstration.
Link to Amanda’s website: https://www.amandawebbmakes.co.uk/about

Xmas Social (& AGM)
2025-12-18 19:15 - 21:00 | Otterford Parish Hall, Bishopswood. TA20 3RS
Join us for our annual Christmas social event. There will be music and a quiz, plus mulled wine, tea or coffee..
Please bring a plate of festive nibbles to share.
A short AGM to start!

Veg Out! Growing a Garden Full of Flavour with Laurence J Smith
2026-02-19 19:15 - 21:00 | Buckland St Mary Village Hall. TA20 3SP
Join us to hear how to grow vegetables successfully for a veg patch full of flavour and potentially prize winning specimens!
Laurence moved to Cossington, Somerset on the Polden Hills from Blackborough Devon 10 years ago and he is a former Physical Scientist, Quality Manager and Environmental Manager.
Now retired, apart from marrying people on a part time basis, he enjoys watching cricket, holidays, DIY, entertaining his 6 grandchildren, weather forecasting and gardening …… especially growing vegetables.
He is passionate about helping vegetable gardeners avoid the mistakes he made when he started growing vegetables and to this end, he has a Vegetable Growing Blog on Facebook with over 1500 followers and gives talks to gardening clubs.
Laurence often exhibits vegetables in local village shows and has had a lot of success ……. winning many trophies and ‘most points in show’ in the vegetable section.

From Green to Gorgeous: The Joy of Growing Hostas, with Peter Savage from Bowdens Nursery.
2026-03-19 19:15 - 21:00 | Otterford Parish Hall, Bishopswood. TA20 3RS
Bowdens is a family business run by Tim and Ruth Penrose specialising in mail order plants.
They have dealt with hostas for over 30 years and are acknowledged as a leading hosta nursery in the United Kingdom.
Bowdens have displayed continually at Chelsea Flower Show since 1996 in the Grand Floral Marquee, and we have won numerous gold medal awards from all the major flower shows in the country.
From 2007 to 2015, Bowdens held a Royal Warrant for the supply of hostas to HRH The Prince of Wales.

Devon Dig and Donate with Rhiannon Alcock
2026-04-16 19:15 - 21:00 | Buckland St Mary Village Hall. TA20 3SP
Devon Dig and Donate CIC is a new community project based at Heathfield Farm in Broadclyst near Exeter, with a mission to provide fresh produce to donate to food banks and community organisations supporting vulnerable people and those experiencing food poverty within Exeter and the surrounding local communities.
Their aim is not just to provide produce for families and individuals, but to equip and empower the community with the skills needed to be able to grow, harvest and use fresh produce themselves.

Plant Sale at Otterford Parish Hall
2026-05-02 10:00 - 12:00
Our ever popular plant sale!
Please come along and show your support.
All the plants are raised/potted up by gardening club members and sold to support our chosen charity, and raise funds for the club to allow us to subsidise visits/social events during the year.

NGS visit to Bradon Farm, Isle Abbotts, Taunton, Somerset, TA3 6RX
2026-05-21 14:00 - 16:00 | Bradon Farm, Isle Abbotts, TA3 6RX
Bradon Farm boasts a classic formal garden ,demonstrating the effective use of structure with parterre, knot garden, pleached lime walk, formal pond, herbaceous borders, orchard, and wildflower planting.
Cost to members is £3.00, which includes tea, and homemade cake.
A self drive event to visit a garden, in support of the NGS

Visit to Carol Jones' garden,
2026-06-18 14:30 - 16:00
A visit to Carol’s beautiful garden in the Blackdown Hills, with homemade cake and tea!

Summer BBQ at Buckland St Mary Village Hall
2026-07-16 18:30 - 20:00 | Buckland St Mary Village Hall. TA20 3SP
A relaxed social event to celebrate the Summer.
We’ll provide the burgers, sausages and drinks – we ask that you bring a salad or a dessert to share (or both!)
Free for members.
All welcome.
Visitors £5 per head

Bowdens Nursery visit.
2026-09-17 11:00 - 16:00
We will be organising a visit to Bowdens Nursery to enjoy their tranquil gardens, and browse their collection of plants for sale.
Bowdens is home to an acre of mature garden and a whole host of beautiful plants. You can see their National Collection of Hostas (Halcyon and sports) and Agapanthus (Pine Cottage cultivars), plus ferns, bamboos and other plantings.

Bowdens are proud to host two National Collections:

The National Collection of Hostas – ‘Halcyon’ and Sports
The National Collection of Agapanthus – Pine Cottage Cultivars

This unique garden was established by Roger and Ann Bowden in the 1990s on land adjacent to the Sticklepath nursery. After collecting hostas for many years, they were awarded a National Collection of Modern Hybrid Hostas by Plant Heritage – the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens.
Transport by minibus is being arranged and places will be offered to members on a first come, first served basis. Any spare places will be available to non-members at a cost of £10.

2000 years of British Garden History
2026-10-15 19:15 - 21:00 | Otterford Parish Hall, Bishopswood. TA20 3RS
A tendershoots zoom talk with Tony Russell
2,000 years of British Garden History – From the Romans to the Victorians
In this talk, Tony charts the history of British gardens from the very first Roman Gardens right through to the Victorian era. He shows how many of the current trends for plants and garden designs have their origins way back in time.
Tony explains how all our gardens have been influenced by historical events and shows how gardening – which was once just a pastime for the wealthy – became a national obsession for millions of British citizens.
Each year BBC garden writer and broadcaster, former Head Forester of Westonbirt Arboretum and editor of the annual publication ‘Gardens to Visit’, Tony Russell, undertakes a series of enteraining talks and lectures to garden clubs, horticultural societies and other groups around the country.

Seasonal Colour & Interest in the Garden - Gold Club Talk, with Adam Wallis
2026-11-19 19:15 - 21:00 | Buckland St Mary Village Hall. TA20 3SP
Our favourite speaker, Adam Wallis, from The Gardens Group Gold Club will be speaking to us again.
Join us for lots of helpful advice on how to keep our gardens looking colourful throughout the year, season by season.

Christmas Party at Otterford Parish Hall
2026-12-17 19:15 - 21:00 | Otterford Parish Hall, Bishopswood. TA20 3RS
Join us for our annual Christmas social event.
There will be music and a gardening-themed quiz, plus mulled wine, tea or coffee..
Christmas jumpers encouraged but not mandatory!
Please bring a plate of festive nibbles to share.
A short AGM to start!
