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Tour highlights of Italy, England and the Chelsea Flower Show in 2006 with Annette McFarlane

Amalfi Coast and The Island of Ischia
Breath taking views as you wind your way around the coastline to Sorrento. The famous garden La Mortella on the island of Ischia features rare trees, palms, shrubs, ferns and bulbs.

Giardino e Rovine di Ninfa
Fragrant flowers and trees adorn the ruins of a medieval town, reclaimed as a garden in 1921. Streams and waterfalls punctuate these romantic gardens, which contain an astonishing collection of plants from all over the world.

Villa d’Este
Renowned for its spectacular use of water which is supplied through a tunnelled aqueduct from the river Aniene. The garden was created by the architect Pirro Ligorio for Cardinal Ippolito d’Este.

Villa Chigi Centinale
Built in the 15th century by the Chigi family, bankers and money lenders for popes and English kings.

Other Italian Gardens Visited Included:
Le Balze-Designed by the British architect Cecil Pinsent for the American philosopher Charles Strong. The main garden, laid out in four compartments, is decorated with lemon pots, urns, statues and niches attracting the eye and encouraging further exploration.
Villa Gamberaia-The main terrace is laid out with parterres. In the early 1950s the property was purchased by Marcello Marchi, who restored the villa and gardens, both of which had been damaged during the war. There are many topiary shapes and yew pillars.
Roseto Carla Fineshi-This garden has hundreds of roses grouped in areas by origin and charts the development of the modern rose.

Goodnestone Park
This highly rated, fourteen acres of garden was first set out in 1700. Sir Brook Bridges, the third baronet, rebuilt the house and redeveloped part of the garden. There is a broad terrace in front of the house planted with a parterre for the millennium. A cedar walk leads between spring borders on the left and roses on the right to a walled garden overlooked by the church tower.

Great Dixter
This is one of the most well-known gardens in Britain, belonging to the 15th century house bought by Nathanial Lloyd in 1910 and restored by Edwin Luytens. The sunken garden was designed and constructed by father and son Christopher and Nathanial Lloyd.

Long Barn
Home of Vita Sackville West and Harold Nicholson before they moved to Sissinghurst. The current owners have lovingly tended the garden and it is always a delight to visit.

Sissinghurst Castle
Created by Vita Sackville West and Harold Nicholson. This romantic garden is one of the most outstanding gardens in the world.

Hampton Court palace and garden
The garden is most famous for its Great Vine, planted in 1768, which still produces hundreds of Black Hamburg grapes each year. The Pond Gardens offer a magnificent display of bedding plants and the newly restored Privy Garden of William III is a spectacular example of the baroque, with parterres, cut work, yews and spring and summer displays of 17th-century plants.

Chelsea Flower Show
The show is the main event in the English horticultural calendar and boasts fine displays of flowers, plants, trees and interesting special garden layouts.