PLACES TO VISIT

Recommended places to see seasonal plants at their best both in Europe and the UK The specialised nursery Tuingoed Foltz run by Bob Foltz and his partner Andries Bierling is one of the best perennial nurseries in the Netherlands. It also has a very beautiful garden, including a new exotic garden that is very lovely to explore in late summer Both Bob and Andries are keen plant collectors, and among the many thousands of perennials on display you will find the Dutch national collections of Salvia and Echinacea. The nursery itself offers a wide range of ornamental grasses, herbs and annuals, and offers a wide selection of agapanthus, geraniums, and dahlias. It also has many plants ideal for a shade garden including hostas, epimediums and some spectacular-looking arisaemas, alongside other botanical rarities. Hereweg 346, 9651 AT Meeden, the Netherlands. Tel +31 (0)598 635 000, tuingoedfoltz.nl

Another Dutch nursery with a beautiful garden is Kwekerij en Tuin De Boschhoeve, near Arnhem. Set amid farmland and hidden by enormous deciduous trees, this large idyllic garden behind an old farmhouse, is divided into several areas, including colourful summer and autumn borders, a shade garden and an orchard with spring bulbs. But what makes the garden stand out for us is its decorative and inspiring vegetable garden where unusual vegetables are combined with flowers, including many summer bulbs and dahlias. Every year the garden hosts various events, of which