Labour of love that’s bursting with colour (From Worcester News)

Labour of love that’s bursting with colour

10:37am Monday 11th May 2009 in

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IF POTTERING around an English cottage garden is your idea of a perfect spring day then Red House Farm could be just the ticket.

The traditional farmhouse setting was nothing but a patchy, overgrown muddle before Maureen Weaver turned her efforts to creating her perfect garden during the 1970s.

Now, with the onset of a warm spring the last of the hellebores are hanging on with a huge variety of perennials, and shrubs in flower.

But as Mrs Weaver explains with so much colour and beauty in flower it’s hard to pick a favourite.

“I shall say what a wellknown gardener says; that your favourite flowers are the ones out at the moment,” she said.

“I do like the old roses but on the whole I plant what I like as it is.”

Having lived in the house since 1953, Mrs Weaver always knew what she wanted from her halfacre garden but only had the time to begin her creation after her children had grown up.

Since then, the planting has been a labour of love which she now shares with the public for the National Garden Scheme’s annual open gardens events for charity.

“I was asked to do it first off. It is encouraging to hear from members of the public who like your garden,” she added.

She always planned for the garden to sit well with the farm cottage and explained she wouldn’t have the time to keep a tightly manicured garden.

“It’s evolved over time, gradually. It isn’t everybody’s kind of garden because it isn’t manicured but I work all day and work at the garden in the evenings. It is a peaceful retreat from the working farm next door.”

New for the garden this year is the sanguisorba with viburnum also springing up with the warm weather, as well as some late tulips still holding on.

Red House Farm, Flying Horse Lane, Bradley Green, near Feckenham B96 6QT. Admission £2, children free. Open Thursdays until October 29, from 11am until 5pm.

01527 821269.