Visited on September 16, 2007
When we planned our itinerary for the garden centre tour, I was aware of the Weeping Ash Garden associated with the Bents garden centre. I made sure to schedule our trip to Bents for the third Sunday of the month so that I could tour this garden.
Weeping Ash Garden was begun in 1990 when John Bents retired from the family business. Since then he has nurtured Weeping Ash Garden which is located directly across the side parking lot from the main facility.
It is open to the public on every 3rd Sunday of the month from January to November. When we visited Mr. Bents was there in the garden visiting with the public, telling stories of the family and the business.
On Sundays, John Bents, second generation owner of the business, opens his garden to the public on that day. John Bents retired from the business in 1990 and created two acres of garden where their former garden center used be. He was in the garden with his garden tools but mostly taking the time to chat with visitors.
Being new to English gardening, I inquired as to Plant Hardiness Zones in the UK. With a twinkle in his eyes he replied that there were two zones in Britain – Wet and Wetter.
He also told me the story of his father, Alfred, who founded the business in 1937, by growing and selling the roses that he grew on his terraced garden. The industrial revolution in England had caused tons of sulfur chemicals to be released into the air due to the coal- fired furnaces of that time. In the 20th century. When England confronted this pollution problem and took steps to remove the sulfur chemicals from the environment, the roses had more problems with fungal diseases. The sulfur in the air had been preventing black spots on roses. He stated that his father’s roses and business did not do as well with the cleaner air quality.
Being an avid photographer John Bents has used an artist touch of light and color to frame his stories of the garden.
He makes use of classical motifs along a tree-lined pathway.
Bordering the shade garden a woodland path with ferns, hostas, rhododendron, azalea, and coral bells led us to an unexpected whimsical delight.
Another pathway opened into the vista of a sunny garden with sedum, dahlias, cannas with salvia, Black Eyed Susans, Lily of the Nile, and Smoke bushes.
This makes the American feel right at home in an English garden!
Visit this site at: www.bents.co.uk