Homes & Gardens

Back in the autumn of 2011, the quest began to uncover parts of the garden at Overbeck’s that had been closed for over 30 years. After nine months of hard work by the garden team a path 103 meters long has been re-opened. It follows the line of an old route through the woodland which leads to an area beloved by Otto Overbeck – his 50ft high natural rock garden. The area is particularly sheltered, even by Overbeck’s standards, and Head Gardener Cat Saunders has started planting palms and other sub tropical plants down there already. "As I led my team through the undergrowth I didn’t know...

It may be too late to get tickets for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show but there is still plenty visitors can do to get into the Chelsea mood at RHS Garden Rosemoor. The garden is looking wonderful with cheerful daffodils, woodlanders such as Trilliums, alliums, and fresh new growth unfurling in the Rock Gully. The many fruit trees are putting on exquisite blossom displays, too. If you were thinking about seeing the show gardens at Chelsea take a trip to the model gardens at Rosemoor instead. They share a similar focus on garden design and future similarly intricate planting. Irises are also...

Following the recent good weather spring is finally taking hold at Killerton. The garden and surrounding countryside, after enduring a long winter, have quickly adjusted to the warmer weather almost overnight. Gardeners and countryside team members have been stunned by the sudden appearance of spring flowers and abundance of wildlife in a burst of spring activity.

As a result of the sudden weather change, the swallows and house martins are finally back, and are even more active than normal. After months of little or no sightings, the sudden appearance of these birds have delighted...

Cadhay House and Garden, located a short distance from Ottery St Mary, is open every Friday afternoon from May through to September.

In addition, during the late Spring and the Summer Bank Holidays it is open on Saturday, Sunday and Monday afternoons. 


Guided tours of the house recount its history dating back to the early 15th century. Visitors will see the Long Gallery, the Roof Chamber with its Elizabethan timbered roof, and the Court of the Sovereigns, described by Simon Jenkins as one of the “treasures of Devon”.

Visitors are also invited to explore the garden...