guildfordcycads

The Newt (Somerset, England)

The Newt (Somerset, England)

After Stourhead, the second garden on the tour that day was “The Newt”. Talk about a change in garden styles!

As I review my photos, I can appreciate the beauty and style of this garden, but I must confess, it was one of my least favorites.  I remember mostly the heat (it was one of our warmer days), the glaring sun with few trees in sight, and the commercial feel of the whole enterprise. But then again, this was mainly a vegetable garden and I was having an “off” day (I had just toured Stourhead, where I missed some of the main landmarks).
The entrance took us through an area with gift shops and display areas (nice thing about photos is you see things you missed – I had not noticed the intricate ceiling design) –
We did have an actual tour guide at this one, and he led us through the entire garden –
Down a winding, blinding white walkway, towards the large vegetable garden –
Leaving one vegetable garden, we headed up a grassy avenue with water features. 

Along the side, were more vegetable and herb areas, this time color-themed –

A cool water feature featuring the newt! I believe the tour guide said that there were lots on the property when the gardens were being made.  

Winding our way back toward the central part of the garden, a large area composed of circular, square and triangular garden rooms –

The building on the hillside is the restaurant where we were treated to a delicious lunch. It was fantastic with a panoramic view of the gardens (and air-conditioned!) –

When having group dinners, we would choose our selections from a previously e-mailed menu.  I usually went with fish or vegetarian to avoid any rare-meat surprises. I chose vegetarian here and this cauliflower-based dish was fantastic.

(Visited May 10, 2025)

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

The Newt (Somerset, England) Read More »

There are just 150 of these creamy-flowered shrubs left in the world – and a Victorian fire break could destroy dozens

There are just 150 of these creamy-flowered shrubs left in the world – and a Victorian fire break could destroy dozens

More than 40 round-leaf pomaderris discovered by environmental community group inside the area earmarked for fire break in July

A mere 150 round-leaf pomaderris were thought left in the world in 2021 and now a planned firebreak in Victoria could destroy dozens of the plants.

The critically endangered shrub, which bursts into cascades of creamy flowers, is known to exist in only a handful of locations in central Victoria’s hill country.

Continue reading…

There are just 150 of these creamy-flowered shrubs left in the world – and a Victorian fire break could destroy dozens Read More »

BioMar, Innovafeed and Auchan Announce Landmark Partnership to Accelerate the Commercialization of Insect Meal

BioMar, Innovafeed and Auchan Announce Landmark Partnership to Accelerate the Commercialization of Insect Meal

By Innovafeed On the opening day of the Global Shrimp Forum, BioMar, Innovafeed, and Auchan are proud to announce a significant industry commitment: the large-scale integration of insect protein into commercial shrimp feed in Ecuador. This milestone marks a turning point for both the insect and aquaculture industries, demonstrating that insect protein is a viable […]

The post <em>BioMar</em>, <em>Innovafeed</em> and <em>Auchan</em> Announce Landmark Partnership to Accelerate the Commercialization of Insect Meal appeared first on Aquaculture Magazine.

BioMar, Innovafeed and Auchan Announce Landmark Partnership to Accelerate the Commercialization of Insect Meal Read More »

Meet the Editor: Alison K Brody

Meet the Editor: Alison K Brody

In this blog post, we hear from Associate Editor Alison Brody, Emeritus Professor of Biology at the University of Vermont. Walking along a trail at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Gothic, Colorado, USA, a foul, rotten smell caught my attention. I looked around to find the source and noticed a large plant – Heracleum maximum (Apiacea) also called “Cow Parsnip” – covered in flies which …

Meet the Editor: Alison K Brody Read More »

September in the Garden 2025

September in the Garden 2025

  In UBC Botanical Garden, it often feels like September is the beginning of the end of summer. This year in particular, autumn seems to be approaching more rapidly than usual (but then, what is usual?). September is more of a beginning at UBC. The start of classes for the university heralds much activity related […]

The post September in the Garden 2025 appeared first on UBC Botanical Garden.

September in the Garden 2025 Read More »