Study Days at Great Dixter Gardens

We are very lucky to be near to Great Dixter, the home of the late Christopher Lloyd, where he cultivated some of the most daring and beautiful gardens in the country.

Their Head Gardener, Fergus Garrett, continues Christopher's work, and in between tending to the grounds, he hosts some extremely popular study days for keen gardeners: they are accessible, informal practical, to help you get real results with your garden. We have teamed up with Great Dixter for a Gardening Study Break, which offer guests of The George in Rye a special accommodation rate when you attend one of their events.

Here are some upcoming events:

Nursery Propagation Day
Monday 13th September 2010
The nursery at Great Dixter will host a day on propagation. You will be taken through each stage from making your own compost, to taking cuttings, sowing seeds, splitting perennials and looking after potted plants. Places are limited to 12 for this study day but further dates will be available. Refreshments and lunch included. We are offering a 10% discount on all plant sales in the nursery on the day. Starts: 10.00 Ends: 16.30 Price: £125 per person

Exotic Gardening
Monday 20th September 2010
Get an insight into Great Dixter's Tropical Garden. From design, plant choice, the act of planting, maintenance, to the winter care of plants Fergus Garrett will take you through the process step by step. The day will include slides and talks in the Great Hall and practical sessions in the Exotic Garden. Refreshments and lunch included. We are offering a 10% discount on all plant sales in the nursery on the day. Starts: 10.00 Ends: 16.30 Price: £100 per person

Choosing and Using Good Plants
Monday 1st November 2010
With a mind boggling choice of plants - how do you choose superior ones? The day will give you an insight on how the experts assess plants. Using a wide variety of examples from shrubs to annuals the day will include choosing which ones give you better flowers, are better proportioned, have superior foliage, have a longer season. With an insight into the Award of Garden Merit process Fergus explains this critical process of separating the good from the bad and mediocre. Starts: 10.00 Ends: 16.30 Price: £100 per person


The Garden Study Break at The George is priced at the following rates:
- for Monday events: dinner, bed and breakfast rate of £150 per room for a Standard room (based on two sharing), £175 for a Deluxe Room and £200 for a Junior Suite; a discount of £25 per room for single occupancy. The rate includes a spend of up to £50 per couple in the restaurant for dinner.

The courses at Great Dixter are £100-125 per person, bookable and payable direct to Great Dixter - please call on 01797 252878 or see their website for more details. This price includes refreshments, lunch, and 10% off plants in the nursery on the day.