Day Trip from London: Late Autumn at RHS Wisley

Day Trip from London

Just a sampling of the late autumn colors at RHS Garden Wisley.

I always find something interesting to see in the English gardens – no matter what the season.

By the first week in December, I was finally able to book a weekend time slot to visit RHS Garden Wisley, a 240-acre botanical garden located southwest of London in Surrey. It wasn’t raining for once, so we decided to bike part of the way to the gardens and organized another day trip from London. 

I’ve visited the gardens a couple of times, but hubby had never been. Normally, we would have planned our day so we could do something outdoorsy and then have a pub lunch, but alas, all pubs were closed because of new Covid-19 restrictions.

Even during a late English autumn, you’ll still find plenty to enjoy at RHS Wisley. Upon entering, there’s also a sign indicating which areas look interesting or have something currently blooming. I took a photo of the sign as well as the map so we could plan our afternoon.

Throughout the gardens, you’ll find several water features that are perfect for autumnal reflections. You may even spot the large koi in the pod or the grey herons that sometimes roost in the trees.

 

You’ll also find pretty berries such as the bright orange sea buckthorn as well as the peculiar purple berries on the “Imperial Pearl” (callicarpa bodinieri).

The Mixed Borders by the Glasshouse provides something of interest in every season – currently seedheads of perennials, some fennel-like plants and tall, golden grasses.

Surprisingly, the Rose Garden was looking exceptionally lovely even during the first weekend in December. I was surprised to see so many roses still blooming that we wondered if Wisley had a strange microclimate or if even hot water was pumped underground around the roses.

Check out the interesting purple color of the Rosa Rhapsody in Blue “Frantasia.”

Special Sculptures at RHS Wisley

Also, you can’t miss the four larger-than-life sculptures – called The Four Seasons by contemporary American sculptor and filmmaker Philip Haas. The figures are 3-D interpretations of paintings by 16th-century Italian artist Giuseppe Arcimboldo and re-imagine the four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter in human form. The exhibition has been extended through May 2021, so you should have time to see it.

What’s your favorite season in England?

 

How to Reach RHS Wisley

Honestly, you need a car or a bike to easily reach Wisley. By public transport, you could take a train from Clapham Junction to West Byfleet and then walk 3.5 miles to the gardens. Our best option was to take the train to Weybridge and then cycle about 6.5 miles, one way, on fairly quiet country roads. Maybe next time, we’ll try cycling the entire 50-mile roundtrip to the gardens.

Christmas tree in front of the Glasshouse, which was unfortunately closed
due to Covid-19 restrictions.

A strange plant that looks like fennel, but doesn't smell like it.

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Day Trip from London: Escaping to Wakehurst Gardens

 Day Trip from London

This year, cycling has become one of my ways to escape from the real world. Just me and my bike on the road or a muddy trail.

The day after the U.S. 2020 election on the 4^th of November, I needed an escape. At that point, I was devasted. Honestly, I was pissed off at America and couldn’t believe the election results. I had to get out of our flat, out of London and away from the news.

My escape plan was to take my bike on the train partway and then ride out in the English countryside. I was able to book a timeslot to Wakehurst – a beautiful botanical garden consisting of 500 acres set in the heart of West Sussex. The gardens were donated to the National Trust in 1963 and then leased to the Royal Botanic Gardens, part of Kew Gardens, starting in 1965. With our Kew membership, I was able to enter the gardens for free.

The weather that day was perfect with a slight autumnal chill in the air, but bright blue skies. Getting out of the city and escaping to nature was the exact antidote I needed at the time. 

I avoided getting too close to the 16th-century mansion on site because there were too many people gathered around there. Instead, I wandered through the garden paths and into the woodlands.

The gardens were filled with brilliant shades of red and gold. Maple trees were at their peak. Even some camellias and rhododendrons were already blooming since we had experienced a mild autumn.

Westwood Valley at Wakehurst 

The Westwood Valley is supposed to represent the landscape of the eastern Himalaya below the tree-line, with semi-evergreen forests of rhododendrons, limes, magnolias, maples, alders, oaks, birches and pine trees. The valley has a large pond as well as a wetlands area.

After walking around nature for two hours by myself, I was able to feel more peaceful. However, I was able to take my anger out again later when I had to ride up some steep inclines by an area aptly called Turner Hill.

 

So, how are you coping with this crazy year?

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An Autumn Walk in RHS Wisley’s Garden

Day Trip from London

Even though I’ve been short on time lately, I wanted to enjoy the autumn colors here locally before they all fade away.

Two weekends ago, I decided to go to RHS Garden Wisley, located in Surrey, southwest of London. Trains depart about every 30 minutes from Clapham Junction, so I left from there with my bike. I exited at West Byfleet station and cycled along a wonderful (albeit very muddy) bike path that follows River Wey for about 20 minutes before I arrived at the gardens. The weather was a chilly 5C (about 40F), and even though I had lots of layers on, the English weather is always damp and seems to seep into my bones no matter what!

My muddy bike path along the River Wey, leading to the gardens.

Alas, because of the cold weather and fading sunlight, I didn’t spend as much time wandering around Wisley as I would have liked. But I managed to see some fabulous foliage around the lake in the Seven Acres section and near the Glasshouse.

The lake at Seven Acres provided some beautiful water reflection photos. There was a bonfire of rusts, golds and browns.

And lucky me, I even saw a pretty grey heron that kept gliding through the air and resting around the water. When I see wildlife like this, I wish I had a better telephoto lens.

Near the lake, don’t miss the Chinese Pavilion, originally built in the style of a Chinese temple for an exhibit at the 2005 Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. There’s also an interesting, gigantic tree nearby called the Wisley King, a type of sweet gum tree. The leaves smell kind of like eucalyptus when you crush them in your hand.

Throughout the garden, you’ll also find some pretty berries such as the striking red and green holly bushes and these bizarre purple berries on the “Imperial Purple” (callicarpa bodinieri), which I had never seen before.

Even though I spent only an hour at Wisley, the autumn scenes and photos were definitely worth it!

A cute English red robin near the Glasshouse.

Pop into the Glasshouse to warm up and for some lively, colorful flowers.

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