Beyond a North Herefordshire cottage garden gate, visitors at the weekend discovered a real taste of oriental magic.
The visitors in question were Midlands’ region members of the Japanese Garden Society who savoured the delights of Angela Pendleton’s own Japanese garden at Upper Hill near Leominster as part of a special visit on Saturday.
Inspired by her love for bamboo, garden designer Angela, a highly regarded Heart of England in Bloom judge, has methodically transformed what was just a field seven years ago into a much admired garden area.
Adding to the Far Eastern flavour were the gentle waterfalls, arched bridges and a little teahouse, and there was even a powerful display by a Hereford karate team whose sights are firmly set on Kyoto.
There was further flavour of the Land of the Rising Sun with a recital by Masayo Long playing the traditional taisho koto musical instrument.
The society’s Midlands’ chairman, Terry Bonham said: “This is our third visit to Angela’s garden and it is very vibrant with a wide variety of things.
“It was all empty when we first came and now everything’s blossomed and the difference is really striking.”
Angela’s drive and charisma were very much in evidence when she led Leominster in Bloom to its first gold award four years ago, and she was responsible for designing a popular plant feature in The Grange in Leominster, 12ft tall Mr Granger.
When Angela and her husband moved to the Swinging Gate Nursery she admits the space was a flat, plain field.
She developed a love for bamboo, becoming concerned at seeing plants contained in small pots, and evidence of this passion can be found in various parts of this flourishing garden.
Paths lead visitors among a variety of Japanese acers, statues and through little archways and everywhere there is the gentle sounds of running water.
Less gentle during the society’s prestigious visit was a display by Hereford Central Karate dojo led by the club’s senior instructor Tom Beardsley.
Training in Shukokai Karate since 1972, Tom has taught his craft to hundreds of students over the years.
He told his audience on Saturday that a number of the demonstration team had been on a visit to German y last year and next March a number of 13 to 18-year-olds from his dojo will be heading for Kyoto.
“Everyone can do our style of karate regardless of age or ability,” he told his audience in Angela’s Japanese garden.
As the team gave a flavour of their karate with a series of powerful moves, Tom gave a gentle warning. “Don’t worry if they get too close – they have perfect control!”