Description

There’s a colourful floral theme to this month’s issue as we celebrate great gardens and inspirational planting with blooming displays in abundance.

Caroline Bingham enjoyed a visit to the glorious gardens of Gunby Hall, described as a “town house in the country” and met senior gardener Tasha Johnson on the eve of Rose Week, which celebrates 80 varieties on display (page 22).

Here, there’s plenty to delight for the whole family, including guided visits around the house, as well as a tea room and shop, plus many special events in the calendar.

Caroline also visited Skellingthorpe Hall with members of the Lincolnshire Gardens Trust for a guided tour around the home of Charles and Anne Coltman (p.84).

Lincolnshire Gardens Trust holds a series of events throughout the year including visits to gardens which may not be open to the public – new members and visitors are always warmly welcomed, so make sure you book ahead for a great day out.

Keeping with the outdoor theme, Kate Chapman met artist Geraldine Segre, whose popular seascapes and landscapes have been inspired by her local surroundings since moving to Anderby, near Chapel St Leonards (p.36).

“The Lincolnshire landscape is full of joy, nostalgia and wonderful memories for so many people. I try to capture that in my paintings.”

Talking of nostalgia, Kate also looks back at the history of Boston’s iconic music venue, the Gliderdrome, which hosted many super groups and singers of the 1960s/70s (p.98).

She chatted to Andrew Malkinson, grandson of one of the Gliderdrome’s founders, who is urging the community to support the concert hall, which in its heyday saw stars including Elton John, Stevie Wonder, T-Rex, Jimi Hendrix and Otis Redding topping the Saturday night bill.

“Even David Bowie performed, although we didn’t know about that until after he’d died. A lady came in with a poster from when he appeared – as a third support act!”

Today, the Gliderdrome is doing everything it can to keep going, but needs the community to support it, so if you want to be part of its history, make a date for a special night out!

However you plan to relax and switch off this summer, enjoy all that the county has to offer – see you next month!