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UNITED KINGDOM - This past October, my husband and I flew to London, rented a car, and spent two weeks driving through England, Wales and Scotland. While planning our trip, I dreamed of touring some of their famous public gardens. However, that was not to be, but it didn't take me long to realize that gardens were everywhere thanks to a culture that values horticulture.
According to online information, 27 million people garden in the U.K. with 57% of them female. More than half of those gardeners are over 55. As we do here, many U.K. adults feel that gardening improves their overall health.
The Royal Horticultural Society has developed a plant hardiness model similar to our own USDA model. Unlike ours, their model is based on absolute minimum recorded temperatures while ours is based on long-term averages. The U.K. has a mild maritime climate that places most of it in a USDA zone 9.
Our adventure started at the Tower of London. In 2022, 20 million seeds of 29 species were planted in the previously lawn-covered moat to transform it into a pollinator garden. Nicknamed "The Superbloom," the planting initially commemorated the Queen's Jubilee. This is a permanent installation with plans to increase its biodiversity in the coming years.
As we walked toward Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guard, I noticed more pollinator gardens planted along the mall. A lone Buckingham Palace gardener, ignoring the thousands gathered, readied beds for the planting of spring bulbs.
A stop in the Cotswolds showed us a colorful variety of beautiful roses trained to climb on stone buildings and walls. As they do here, the roses seemed to thrive in the cooler fall temperatures while many other perennials had finished blooming.
Traveling southwest, we reached Cornwall. The mild climate is obvious here with an abundance of palm trees and other tropicals. Walking the village of Mousehole, I happily recognized many plants found in my own gardens and others that wouldn't survive Ohio winters. Nasturtiums tumbling over a wall had the largest leaves I had ever seen. Big leaf hydrangeas were common as were shrub-sized fuchsia. Many cottages had thriving pots of succulents. Huge rosemary shrubs were common.
Driving through Wales, we stopped to tour the village of Portmeirion on the north coast. The maritime climate is evident in the palms and other tropical plants throughout the property. Large cape fuchsia, heaths, heathers and monkshood caught my eye.
Window boxes and containers overflowing with late-season growth were everywhere. In St. Andrews they helped direct traffic. Some of the cathedrals displayed beautiful fall arrangements, brightening their stone interiors.
As it is in the United States, butterfly bush is an invasive problem in the U.K. It could be spotted growing along train tracks and roadsides. A favorite of mine, red valerian, has naturalized everywhere. It is a beneficial nectar source.
It was an amazing trip. If we ever return, those famous gardens will be at the top of my list!
Steffen is an Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer in Mahoning County.