Sue Woodcock: Seeking inspiration in gardens of delight

We have achieved a lot while he has been here and my front bedroom, which has been barely a store room until now, looks almost respectable.

Another friend came and fixed the floorboards that were unsafe, and my next task is to get the room clean and organised.

It has not been all work and no play, however. We have been out and about, too.

My brother, having purchased a coastal house in Australia with a big plot of land, has decided to become an avid gardener. Of course, the only place to go to get ideas and inspiration was Harlow Carr, which I had never visited and which was on my list of things I wanted

to do.

Although I do not have a garden at the moment, I like gardening and have, in the past, kept some pleasant gardens as I moved around in the police force. I am no expert but can appreciate a well laid-out and stocked garden.

At Harlow Carr, we paid our money and went in. What a delight the place was. We wandered through the 'Gardens Through the Ages' and found rare and interesting plants.

Then on to the main gardens, past the kids' adventure area and into the woodlands with ancient columns of what I presume is a temple with two rather fine lions in front of it.

The main garden stretched out in a vibrant display of colour and design. The lawns were almost perfect.

The art exhibition we found was fascinating but too expensive for my purse.

Eavesdropping on conversations as we walked round told me that there were many expert gardeners there, earnestly discussing alpines and roses.

There were some magnificent trees to be seen, and my brother came away with many ideas and thoughts for his project.

From there, we went into Harrogate where we found some good music and bookshops and a great little caf where we ate before heading down to the Royal Baths and the magnificent buildings there.

Back through the shops and, laden with various purchases, we drove home.

As soon as we got back, we headed over to Grass Woods to take the dogs for a walk. I had told him about them and he was determined to see them before he went.

The weather was cloudy and showery but the woods were delightful and we climbed up the path and did a long loop, finding the old fort and then came across a sign telling us there was a national monument ahead

of us.

I think we managed to identify it and, moving on, we met a fellow with two labradors. My dogs had been having a great time, and were delighted to make friends.

Then we came back through a stand of mature trees, mainly beeches, just as the sun came out and there were pockets of light dappling through the canopy of leaves that made the place seem almost magical. We had had quite a botanical day.

Before he left to fly back to Australia the next day, my brother helped me with moving things round and, having packed, he drove off to explore Manchester before he flew out.

Ban, my black and white cat was so besotted with him that he kept getting into the case and had to be removed at least three times before we shut him out of the room.

My brother intends to come back to England for the London Olympics in 2012 and pressed me to meet him there for at least a couple of days. I might just do so.

CW 14/8/10