On a lovely warm May evening, 45 members of the Society visited the garden at The Ridges, once a cotton mill-owner’s house and now the home of John and Barbara Barlow. By sheer coincidence, John told us he was born in Edgworth and brought up in Bromley Cross!

We wandered round the garden to soothing classical music with Barbara on hand to explain and answer our various questions, ending up in the central formal lawned area with a tea room, where we all enjoyed a welcome cup of tea or coffee and biscuits.

Barbara’s cottage garden covering a little over three acres has been lovingly restored over the past 20 years and features a planned walk through a formal archway, along old brick-laid paths, some of which have recently been uncovered.

This quiet & secluded garden is shady in parts, surrounded by natural woodland with rhododendrons and, particularly at this time of the year, features a Handkerchief Tree( Davidia involucrata), displaying its white “hankies”. A bog garden, planted with Gunnera manicata etc., and a herb garden complement the walled orchard garden with its stream and many herbaceous borders which are packed with a wide variety of flowers and foliage plants.

Davidia involucrata is best known for its flowers. The Latin name "involucrata" means "with a ring of bracts surrounding several flowers". These form a tight cluster about 1–2 cm across, reddish in colour, each flower head with a pair of large (12–25 cm), pure white bracts at the base performing the function of petals.

These hang in long rows beneath the level branches. On a breezy day, the bracts flutter in the wind like white doves or pinched handkerchiefs, hence the English names for this tree.

Altogether a very enjoyable evening!

Pat Whalley