Question
Hi Fredricka,

  I am planning a trip to England, Scotland and Ireland either this year or next year. (I live in Mississippi (USA)).  I would like to go when most of the flowers are in bloom.  Can you tell me when would be the best time to visit?  Also, if there are gardens that would be of interest.

Thanks

Danny McAlpin

Answer
Hello

I do apologise for the delay in responding to your question.  I am the Sales & Marketing Director of a well known leisure resort in the English Lake District and unfortunately Britain at the minute is suffering from a very serious outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

As such, I have spent most of today trying to discourage visitors to this most precious of areas to avoid contributing to spreading this most contagious disease.

If you are interested in wildflowers, May and June would be times when the greatest variety are in bloom. However, you would miss the spectacular sight of daffodils and most of the bluebell season.

I am very sorry to advise, but already many of the best gardens are closing as many have herds of deer, sheep etc. As of today, we do not have any estimation of how long it will take to eradicate the disease and re-open much of the countryside.

What we are advising is that you visit virtually...which you can do from our website at www.langdale.co.uk where you will find several downloadable screensavers of English wild flowers.

Again, my apologies for not being as helpful as I would like and a few other websites worth visiting would be:http://www.visitbritain.com/ if you search for attractions and quick search for gardens you will get a comprehensive list.

Kew Gardens near London are famous...along with the gardens at Hampton Court with a maze.  Levens Gardens in Cumbria are famous for topiary...but closed at present.

We do have an update on the foot and mouth situation on our website with links to the BBC news service which is well worth regular visits to keep an eye at http://www.langdale.co.uk/foot-mouth.htm

I'm really sorry to be so discouraging but Britain has some of the most beautiful gardens and wildflowers I've ever seen, but right now many would not be available to you.

I hate to say it but I would recommend you might wish to visit Maderia which is fabulous in May and June and has some of the most interesting and beautiful gardens in the world.  I went a few years ago with Jules Verne and had one of the best holidays ever.

You could always come to Britain next year when things have improved!

Fredericka