GARDENINGVENTNOR Botanic Garden is starting to look its best.
Boasting plants from all over the world, evening primroses, rock roses, palms and echiums grow in shallow soil on bare stone, which mimics the harsh landscape of the Mediterranean.
In the Americas Garden, a totem pole stands among cosmos, bamboo and salvias.
The New Zealand Garden is a sunlit glade, with senecious, palms and phormiums.
At the garden’s edge there are clifftop walks.
Open daily, entrance is free to the garden (admission to greenhouse £1).
Call 01983 855397 or visit www.botanic.co.uk.
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On Sunday, March 21, the National Trust is allowing free entry into Mottistone Manor Garden, as well as its other Island properties; Bembridge Windmill, Needles Old Battery and Newtown Old Town Hall (some are also open free on March 20).
Surrounding an attractive Elizabethan manor house, Mottistone’s garden, in the quintessential village of the same name, is full of surprises.
Set in a sheltered valley, this garden is experimenting with a Mediterranean-style planting scheme to take advantage of its southerly location.
Other surprises include a young olive grove, a small organic kitchen garden and a traditional tea garden where visitors can relax.
Browse the National Trust gift shop and take home a plant from the stall.
There are also walks across the adjoining Mottistone estate, plus a children’s quiz trail.
Call 01983 741302, or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk for details.
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On March 10, at 7.30pm, John Harrison, who is chair of the IW Gardens Trust, is speaking at Niton Village Hall on the Historical Gardens of the IW.
On March 27, the society will be holding its spring show in the village hall.
The show will open at 2pm and the society has appealed for as many local entries as possible.
Schedules are available from Niton Post Office and there are lots of different classes for all ages and talents.
The Island’s show season kicks off on March 13, with Brighstone and District Horticultural Society’s spring show at the Wilberforce Hall.
It opens at 1.30pm.