Flower lovers should put the weekend of 17th and 18th September in their diaries – it’s a great time to visit South Oxfordshire and see some lovely daisies. Waterperry Gardens will host Michaelmas Daisy weekend on the dates listed above; opening its gates at 10:30 on the Saturday and the Sunday to let visitors see, touch and smell its herbaceous border in all its late summer glory.
The star attraction of the border will be its Michaelmas daisies (also called Asters). The Asters’ purple colour really is a sight to behold – catch them while you can as they only flower in September and October.
I’m told that they are best planted in spring or high summer but don’t take my word for it; Waterperry’s nursery experts will be giving a talk each day of the Daisy Weekend at 2:15 where you will get the chance to quiz them about cultivating Michaelmas daisies.
And don’t just visit the herbaceous borders when you go to Waterperry; the gardens have so much more to see. Free tours of the garden will be provided throughout Michaelmas weekend and a Michaelmas-themed menu will be available in the teashop.
Thoughtfully, the organisers have decided that all entrance money from the weekend will go to the National Gardens Scheme; an organisation which raises money for nursing, caring and gardening charities.
With Midsomer Murders (much of which is filmed in South Oxfordshire) returning to our screens in the autumn and purple daisies about to flower, events in South Oxfordshire are giving us much to look forward to, especially now the nights are getting shorter!