American in England seeing HUGE UK Garden Centre for the First Time!

[@KirstenJoerg]

Absolutely amazing Dara, thank you so much for sharing! While Bents might be huge we think you can find higher quality products at the Burford Garden Centre when it comes to accessories and garden decor. You are so incredibly kind to mention our channel - thanks so much!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

You are the queen of showing English gardens and English flowers in all their glory! And you certainly are a much better judge of decor than I am. I'm glad to hear that you are a fan of Burford Garden Centre too. Thanks for your lovely comment! XX

[@KirstenJoerg]

@@MagentaOtterTravels Gosh, you are far too kind! Sending much love.

[@xandra7986]

Garden centres at Christmas are amazing!!!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@xandra7986 I hope to see that one day!

[@xandra7986]

@@MagentaOtterTravels I hope you do too 😊 You’ll love it. x

[@kevinwhite981]

Two delightful American ladies, most welcome here in England 🇬🇧 anytime. 😊

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@kevinwhite981 thank you so much!

[@tracyglasgow5571]

I can’t wait to return to England!

[@chairmakerPete]

Agree entirely. Love visitors like these two classy ladies who get out from London to see a bit of England. Real pleasure and honour to have them here 👌

[@JC-gm3zs]

@@chairmakerPete Is London not a part (bit) of England?

[@chairmakerPete]

@@JC-gm3zs physically it is, culturally it isn't anymore. London's great - it's evolved and moved far away from the values and traditions of old England. That's to be expected with such a transient population, but the cultural gap is widening and it's not really an English city these days.

[@wencireone]

A piano in the loos, so you can have a little tinkle 😂

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Exactly!!

[@The_Brit_Girls]

I love our British garden centres 💚 We are a nation of gardeners. Garden centres have really re-invented themselves over the years. They are the perfect place for a spot of lunch. The one in Burford was no exception - yum! The food areas had such attractive displays with some unique foods on offer. Seeing the cactus (or cacti!) reminded me of Arizona 🌵🌵Oh wow, the vintage football table was interesting! Beautiful roses - with lovely names 🌹Thank you, Dara & Tracy for the fun tour! ❤

[@AldGregg]

British Garden centres are an experience. It's serious. Play centres, petting zoos, cafes. Anyone that says British food is bad, I challenge them to locally made produce made with pure passion. Yeah its expensive, but it's the best.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

British food is amazing!

[@truthseeker7794]

@@MagentaOtterTravels And very expensive at Burford garden centre.

[@truthseeker7794]

@@MagentaOtterTravels Some smaller garden centres have a lot more plants and varieties, but they are what we call "proper" garden centres and they're a lot cheaper.

[@griswald7156]

@@MagentaOtterTravels the irn bru ,Haggis, milky bars and Marmite especially so..

[@griswald7156]

@@truthseeker7794 it’s not inexpensive to put on a show like this..

[@free..to..air..]

Garden centres have been a tradition in Britain for many years...and very pleasant places to visit on a Sunday afternoon in late spring..early summer....you can get all you need for your plots ..and in many cases they will deliver items you cannot take yourself for a small charge..in addition most have catering facilities as good as anything on the High Street

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@free..to..air.. yes indeed! By the way, I like your KZbin name 😉

[@griswald7156]

@@free..to..air.. ive been to two garden centres recently for a cup of Rosy and in both establishments the decibels emanating from the drinks machine has been unbearable …so much so that im avoiding garden centre tea rooms now..i dont want to experience this ever again…ive had the same punishment at a rock concert….awful..

[@Sleepless64]

The UK has many large garden centres and its hard to say if it is bigger, but the biggest I have ever visited, is called Bents near Warrington. Its independent and has a similar vibe. I am sure you would enjoy if ever in the North West

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@Sleepless64 I spoke to a friend who has been to both of them, and she said that Bents is bigger, but Burford has better stuff 😉

[@Sleepless64]

Well, I’ve never been to Bents with a pianist accompanying my shopping!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@Sleepless64 right? Very posh!

[@tracyglasgow5571]

@@Sleepless64 We loved the pianist. It was such a nice touch!

[@gillfox9899]

​@@MagentaOtterTravelsthere are other large garden centres and 2 of the ones relatively near me are Gordale on the Wirral and Bridgemere in Cheshire

[@Distant394]

I take my dad (91) to a local garden centre every week or so just for a coffee …….well that’s that’s what I try to believe normally have a shopping trolley full , that coffee costs me a fortune 🤣 , have a great weekend x

[@elizabethcutrofello2572]

😂❤

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@Distant394 you are a good son! Bless you! I understand about how the coffee is so expensive. It's like going to Costco lol

[@jasonsmart3482]

Tracy or Tracey welcome to the UK. get a bit of sleep and then enjoy our green and pleasant land. Always enjoy your videos and love that you present the UK so positively.

[@tracyglasgow5571]

It is a green and pleasant land indeed. I'm already back home, but one of the most standout things to me about England itself is how green and beautiful the countryside is. I'm so glad that we had the opportunity to see a small part of it, and I can't wait to go back.

[@fayesouthall6604]

@@tracyglasgow5571very green because of the rain. 😂

[@christinehoughton8591]

We have Bents Garden Centre in the North West of England. They have coach trips visiting them and their Christmas display is amazing. If you want something on display you can buy it. Family run too.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@christinehoughton8591 I have heard it's amazing!

[@gerrymccartney3561]

Many a Burford fan has been made this day.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@gerrymccartney3561 awww, that's nice 😊

[@gerrymccartney3561]

@MagentaOtterTravels I confess to basing it on a line from one of my favourite films, Battle of the River Plate. The original line was, "Many a life has been saved this day."

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@gerrymccartney3561 you are far too literate for me! Of course that went right over my head 🥹

[@gerrymccartney3561]

@@MagentaOtterTravels More cinephile than literate.

[@Mark_Dyer1]

Well done for selling more of the UK to your American frends, Dara. Hope Tracy is able to see what you and Ian see about England and the Cotswolds.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@Mark_Dyer1 yes, Mark, she absolutely loved it! I filmed a video with her in Hyde Park right before she left to fly back to Dallas. She rec kept all of her impressions of England! Hopefully I will publish that video in the next couple weeks. I miss you! Think of you often. Including when we finally visited Yorkminster last week!

[@tracyglasgow5571]

Dara was a fantastic hostess along with Ian. We saw as many things as we could pack into our nine full days!

[@Mark_Dyer1]

@@tracyglasgow5571 Lovely to hear from you Tracy! You certainly had the right hosts for your trip to England. May the Lord bless you.

[@f3aok]

That's certainly one up market garden centre.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@f3aok yes it's very posh!

[@rtalbot87]

Why ever return to Dallas ? The Cotswolds is one of the most amazing places in England. Bourton, Bibury, Broadway, and many more picturesque villages in that area. Tracy will remember it forever.

[@tracyglasgow5571]

I completely agree. I forgive Dara already if she never returns to Dallas after this trip. We absolutely loved the charm and beauty of the Cotswalds, and I will remember it forever!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@rtalbot87 heading back to the scorching heat of Dallas is a difficult adjustment! All my American friends dread it!

[@andrewbarrett42]

Agree Cotswols is the best part of England also Herefordshire too where I come from.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@andrewbarrett42 we just drove through Herefordshire today! Left Cheltenham this morning and now we are in Wales! We love Herefordshire!💖 Have you seen my Vlog of Ledbury, and my family history video filmed in Herefordshire?

[@andrewbarrett42]

@@MagentaOtterTravels Yes I have, Ledbury is a very nice little town,I use to live not far from there about 14 miles away,a village called Bodenham,its on my videos,a flight over it.I have been to the States 14 times,been to 23 different states,amazing country and just booked a flight for going back next year.Want to go to New York.

[@bobbyxhilone9953]

Well Dara, this place was indeed amazing -- and as Tracy said, I too have never, ever seen anything quite like it. Wow. I'm so glad you were very thorough with your video, because there were so many interesting things to see. I hope Tracy finally caught up on her sleep; I admire her energy level to endure that jet lag!! 🥱😴✈👍

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@bobbyxhilone9953 they slept many hours that first night! We have had two more sets of visitors since then, and it's always interesting to see how quickly people adjust to jet lag. I'm glad you enjoyed seeing our little wander around the garden center 😊... thanks for watching!

[@jeanniewarken5822]

There are quite a lot of big comprehensive garden centres around the UK... but even the smaller ones are fun to visit and almost all put on amazing displays and goods in the months before Christmas

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I really need to be here one year at Christmas!

[@iankelly5387]

Aww, Burford one of my all time favourite places to visit in the Cotswolds (and Daylesford of course), brings back happy memories. Great job Dara as always, and your friend seems lovely too! Your weekly vlogs are gorgeous. Cheers

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@iankelly5387 thanks so much! Actually, I'm in Burford right now! On the High Street. I just posted a photo of the delicious treat I just devoured 😋

[@iankelly5387]

@@MagentaOtterTravels - Oh you get around so much young lady. Have a great weekend and best wishes to you and Ian

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@iankelly5387 yes! In the past week we've been in Yorkshire, Kent, Sussex, back to Gloucestershire, and now Oxfordshire!

[@iankelly5387]

@@MagentaOtterTravels - Blimey O'Reilly. You travel round more than I ever have in my own country😅

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@iankelly5387 it's insane! 😜

[@LADYDOBBS67]

What a gorgeous place. Thanks for sharing x

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks for watching! It was a fun experience to explore it!

[@RichardWells1]

Wow Dara! You've done a brilliant promo for Burford Garden Centre! It certainly beats ordering garden plants online 😁

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@RichardWells1 indeed! It's like going to Disneyland!

[@paulgray2387]

I can remember when it was a small nursery. Brings back memories of going there with my Mum.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Oh wow, it really has grown then!

[@vickytaylor9155]

I used to spend many a wonderful day there with my grandparents. I haven’t been there since, as it is very expensive, but I might have to revisit, to revive some wonderful memories.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@vickytaylor9155 yes! Go have lunch and have a mooch!

[@MrDaiseymay]

YEAH IT'S LIKE VISITING HARRODS, INDOOR WINDOW SHOPPING.

[@janettesinclair6279]

I always love a visit to a garden centre, and this one gets a Gold Star! A lovely day out for the family.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, a nice wholesome day out for the whole family!

[@paulconnett3654]

Go shopping with the wife at the garden centre and come back with a new living room decor? Lovely video. Cheers.x

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Exactly!! 😉🤑

[@MarkmanOTW]

OMG - going around a large garden centre after an overnight flight + jetlag. Credit to Tracy hanging in there, as graden centres are waring at the best of times.....Hope you're all fully rested and having a great time back in Cheltenham.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

We find it best to keep our friends very active on the day that they arrive from the overnight flight in the morning. If we drive them around all day, they just dose off and feel like zombies... it takes them more time to overcome jetlag. So being out in the sun (hopefully there is sun not rain!) and seeing interesting things usually is the best method ;-) Thanks for watching! Dara

[@MarkmanOTW]

@@MagentaOtterTravels Ah, that explains it,Dara. 😃 Sounds like you've got it all well planned out. 👏 A nice way to lull them into calmly adjusting their body clock - surrounded with plants and fresh food + cakes! 👍

[@jamesstevens1972-q2v]

Went to a garden centre, and took till 12:22 to see some plants - more intrested in looking at the food and tat inside - well they are Americans!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@jamesstevens1972-q2v 😂😂

[@Beejay950]

13 acres, that's nothing. Bridgemere garden centre in Nantwich, Cheshire, covers 50 acres and they have dinosaurs. :-)

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@Beejay950 well, that does sound special! Dinosaurs even!! 🦕 🦖

[@griswald7156]

Yabba dab a doooo! Barney..

[@griswald7156]

@@Beejay950 but er no piano ..and er no Fred or Wilma..

[@weejackrussell]

We have garden centres all over the UK. Many of them are massive. I live near one with several places to eat, animals for children to see, a maze and ornamental gardens, gift shops as well as plants for sale. There is a plastic skating rink at Christmas and a Santa's grotto. People will tell you their garden centre is the best but I don't know who judges them or what yardsticks are used to compare them!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@weejackrussell they all sound like great fun! What kind of animals are at the one by you?

[@BlackCatKitchen]

Japanese maples are one of my favourite trees as well! My local garden centre has a lot to answer for after this seeing this! We've had this garden centre on the list of places to visit for awhile, but now there's no doubt we have to go there! Might drive up this weekend! Mr. Editor wants to try the unusual tiramisu! 💖😻

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@BlackCatKitchen yes, I would love to hear a food review from Mr. Editor if you go! It shouldn't be that far of a drive from where you live?

[@DH.2016]

Loos with a piano! Ideal for a tinkle. [Nice touch, btw, Dara, taking your gardening fan friend to a garden centre on her first UK visiting experience]

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Lol great pun! 🎹

[@tracyglasgow5571]

She is a thoughtful friend indeed!

[@WITYTRAVELS]

The only garden centers we know of in the US are at Home Depot and Walmart, so yes, this is way better lol. Desserts look amazing

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

LOL no comparison!

[@TravelswithTanya]

I always visit Burford too. I was just there end of June. One of my favorite spots is a hidden path beyond the church cemetery. I have been visiting Burford since 2017! And if you ever need a great taxi service in the Area-Simply visit Burford's Post Office-They are super helpful. My all time favorite place in the Cotswolds and probably in England is Shipton Under Wychwood. It is just perfect. I saw Jeremy Clarkson just bought a pub in Burford.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@TravelswithTanya yes, I think we drove by that Pub Clarkson bought yesterday! I believe it's called the Windmill. Tell me why SUW is your favourite place. I've been trying to talk Ian into taking me there, but so far he has not agreed, lol!

[@TravelswithTanya]

@@MagentaOtterTravels To me the People of Shipton are just so relaxed and welcoming. I always stay at the Wychwood Inn, and I have to say it is one of the prettiest little Inns ever. The drive there is also quintessential England. It takes my breathe away. Finally, I think Shipton and Milton Under Wychwood are simply hidden gems.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@TravelswithTanya OK, I have just read your comment to Ian! Wish me luck 🍀

[@TravelswithTanya]

@@MagentaOtterTravels 😁

[@tracyglasgow5571]

@@MagentaOtterTravels it sounds like a good place to visit to see if you want to take your American friends next time they come!

[@grahamstubbs4962]

There's something about flying west to east where you really get the whole jet lag experience. Fly the other way and there's no issue.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

That has been a topic of much debate around here. But I agree with you.

[@grahamstubbs4962]

@@MagentaOtterTravels Yes - I used to commute from London to Boston (not the Lincolnshire one) on a regular basis. West to East was a killer and it was only seven hours at worst if the jet stream had gone walkies.

[@nicksykes4575]

Hi Dara, I used to collect rose bushes from David Austin Roses when I did a spell at Royal Mail Parcel Force, the staff always found time to make me a cuppa! It's at Albrighton, between Newport and Wolverhampton.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@nicksykes4575 that is so cool! I really do need to pay a visit.

[@cathnaylor2105]

Wow! What an amazing place, I love it

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

It's pretty spectacular! Posh and Becks shop there 😉

[@stevensmith7460]

Looks lovely, another great garden centre is bents, Leigh near Manchester, you could spend a day there.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I've heard it's massive!

[@cornwallglory]

That’s incredible, what an assortment of great quality stuff, definitely the best and biggest I’ve seen!!! Thanks for sharing ❤

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

It was quite amazing! Tracy loved it.

[@cornwallglory]

@@MagentaOtterTravels Tracy look amazed, can’t believe we have something bigger in Britain 🇬🇧!!!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@cornwallglory ha ha, yes I thought that was funny as well!

[@155stw]

That's cool! I love the garden centres there. The good ones we have in the Bay Area are Summer Winds or Yamagami (expensive, like $16 for a quart plant). The biggest one I've been to in the UK was Dobbies in Swindon. That was very big compared to what we have here in the Bay Area. BTW it's been in the high 90's to 100s here. God help those in Texas! Looking forward to the cool-ish weather in St. Ives....although I'm hoping for the sunny weather at the beach there.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I bet it will be sunny but not 100 F! Have a great time, and please report back after your trip! Bon voyage!

[@1Thedairy]

I used to go there regularly to have lunch with my niece but it’s grown beyond recognition. I find it a bit overwhelming now but everything is very high quality and beautiful.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes it is overwhelming! So much to see... and I'm sure a lot more people than what you remember from before.

[@what_im_eatin_uk]

Usually if you are in somewhere like a garden centre and wanting a pastry warming they will do it for you if you ask

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@what_im_eatin_uk I don't think they do that there... the frittata just was meant to be eaten cold 😉

[@davidrowlands441]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@davidrowlands441 fun day!

[@chrisginger3475]

Ottery St Mary Garden Centre, in Devon is a total destination, especially for Christmas time.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@chrisginger3475 well of course I'd love to go to OTTERy St Mary 🦦 and check it out!!!

[@tinastanley3552]

Sorry Bents is amazing to the extent your head is on a swivel theres so much to see and at Christmas just WOW

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@tinastanley3552 I've heard it's incredible!

[@amelia2656]

@@MagentaOtterTravelsOh yes. Bents is totally incredible. The best in the whole country for the last few years according to the signs outside. At least 5 cafes including tapas and a special one for dogs, plus at the moment a Christmas market with more food. Christmas displays are amazing. Oh and they do sell plants.

[@archiebald4717]

A beautiful place in stunning countryside.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

yes and yes!

[@carolineskipper6976]

Burford is definitely the King of Garden centres! As a Brit, none of the things on offer there surprised me- but it had ALL OF THEM!!! I love a day out at a good garden centre! Mind you, how to say you've reached middle age without saying you've reached middle age! 😂

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Lol, good point! I'm turning 60 next month, so yes I'm old!!! I have been to some nice garden centres before, but this one took the cake! Well actually, three pieces of cake ... 🍰🍰🍰

[@carmengiles456]

We do enjoy our garden centres over here 😊

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@carmengiles456 yes they are entertaining!

[@chimpy9823]

Go to Bents near Warrington, it is one of if not the best in the country. The biggest and best garden centre is Bridgemere in Cheshire.

[@jamesdawson2393]

I have 10 David Austin roses dotted about my front and back gardens and they smell amazing.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Lucky you! Are any of them magenta?

[@jamesdawson2393]

@@MagentaOtterTravels Yes I have a few in a red/violet colour, one is called Gabriel Oak, one is called Darcey Bussell and I forget the other lol

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@jamesdawson2393 how wonderful!

[@jamesdawson2393]

@@MagentaOtterTravels I’ve just had a count of the number of roses I have, I think I may have a problem lol I actually have 24 David Austin’s, a mixture of shrubs and climbers I didn’t realise I had that many 😂

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@jamesdawson2393 that's funny!😆

[@lisricketts9170]

I was taken there by a friend too…the most expensive garden centre I have ever seen! Definitely catering for the luxury Cotswold market…

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@lisricketts9170 yes, I agree! The only thing I would buy there is lunch 😉

[@deeboneham2738]

If you ever get to Norfolk visit the Bressingham Garden centre and the next door steam museum. Great to take kids to too

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@deeboneham2738 thanks for the recommendation! Is that the one with dinosaurs I've heard about?

[@user-zy5eb1sc5q]

UK food is top notch. So much variety

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@user-zy5eb1sc5q agree 👍

[@JC-gm3zs]

This video is not about the UK, it's about England.

[@suebradford890]

We Brits love our garden centres! Most have a cafe and people meet there for a drink and lunch! The Burford one you visited looks like a real (can I say it?) middle class garden centre - some expensive items there I would say. Smaller, cheaper centres are a bit more ordinary and affordable for most of us. I have never been to the Burford one but if I'm in the area I'll certainly make it a tea stop!!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@suebradford890 I would say it's an upper class garden centre 😉... the Beckhams and Jeremy Clarkson and others in their league. But it's fun to browse and stop for lunch or tea! 🩷

[@catherinewilkins2760]

Well you certainly have the weather for it. Love roses too. Unfortunately I have an old garden that has had roses in it. Roses don't take kindly to being put in ground, previously occupied by roses. So potted ones for me. Miniture ones.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I didn't know that about roses!

[@chrisoverman7551]

Also try the RHS gardens at Wisley.

[@rtalbot87]

Darla, There are some benefits of the rain in England !

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@rtalbot87 I always say, you can't complain about the rain if you want to have beautiful green fields and lovely flowers!💚💐

[@chrismchale543]

If you're ever in the great county of Rutland there's a gigantic garden centre just outside Oakham called Gates, at the moment it has a Circus in the car park.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@chrismchale543 oh wow! Sounds fun!

[@davidrawle3076]

Love Burford Garden Co - I’m biased as I live just a few minutes from it. Glad you enjoyed it

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@davidrawle3076 it is a delightful place to visit! Not sure I would shop there regularly, as it's a bit pricey, but it is a fascinating place to tour!

[@neilonguitar6258]

If you're ever in North Surrey our local garden centre in Esher, Garson Farm, is excellent. Has a very good food shop and cafe and one of the largest "pick your own" in the country. Also close by is RHS Wisley which is a brilliant day out if you've never been.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@neilonguitar6258 I still need to do a "pick your own" experience! And I love a good farm shop! Thanks for the recommendation.

[@lazyhazeldaisy9596]

Two lovely American rose's.🌹

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Cheers!

[@lizbignell7813]

As someone who considers gardening out door housework that is a garden centre l would be more than ok to visit! My mother’s favourite tree was the Japanese maple, the maple because she was born in Canada, and the Japanese… well, l just think she thought it was elegant. The lunch looked very good.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@lizbignell7813 that lunch was very good! Typical Ian and Dara, very healthy salads followed by very delicious desserts! Lol I'm not a fan of gardening either, but I do appreciate beautiful flowers and gardens that someone else has created!

[@lizbignell7813]

Yes, gardening is like baking, great when someone else does it but not amongst my few skills!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@lizbignell7813 😂

[@ElizabethHonoria138]

This is a 5-star account of beautiful Burford and its magnificent garden center, Dara and Tracy. Thank you for videotaping all of the beautiful flowers and giving us a truly intimate experience of this part of the Cotswolds. You've inspired me greatly to visit this wonderful place. Btw, I could literally smell the fragrance of all of the roses way up here in Minnesota. Cheerio!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Hello! I was just thinking about you today! Nice to hear from you. Yes, those roses were splendid! And very nice fragrance. 🌹 Tracy was a very good sport to let me film her when she was so jetlagged and fresh off an overnight flight wearing no make up! She is a true BFF 💖

[@ElizabethHonoria138]

@@MagentaOtterTravels Dara, will you and Ian be going to the Medieval Fayre in Tewkesbury?

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@ElizabethHonoria138 not this year, but we took our sons to it when they were little. So fun!

[@stephenwalker7870]

Lovely people I really hope you enjoy your visit holiday God bless

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@stephenwalker7870 thank you! They had a great holiday. Tune in this Friday to hear Tracy recap all of her impressions of England!

[@weedle30]

My local garden centre is one of my favourite “just wandering around” places to visit. It has an air of peace, calm and serenity (well, the coffee shop/cafe is always a hubbub of happy noise etc but no worries). Mine too sells all sorts of things that aren’t quite “gardeny” 😉 but that just adds to the fun of just wandering around and looking at “things” ☺️🥰 But the main thing is the knowledge that you are amongst people that share with you, a love of all things green, flowery, planty and growable! My GC is tiddy compared to Burford but it is still possible to while away three-four hours of just “looking around” at the special floral displays that the growers have created, or wandering around the shrubs, the garden furniture area, the posh sheds and sun lounges - thinking, “now, would that fit in the garden?” as you visualise yourself sitting inside a sun lounge eating a cream tea, reading a magazine…. Hubby went to our GC ostensibly to buy a simple and cheap plastic planter in which I repot my Swiss Cheese Monstera houseplant which is now so ridiculously overgrown and untidy it really ought to be put in a 🪣. He came home with a magnificent and huge gloss painted pot made from a very thick clay…he struggled into the garden with it and declared the problem with the Swiss cheese plant solved……so proud of himself and his excellent choice of planter….. I had to *very carefully* explain that whilst it was indeed ‘very lovely’ - once it had been filled to the brim with houseplant soil and the monstera safely caned and moss poled inside it - there would be no way of ever lifting the blimming thing back into the house!! unless the World’s Strongest Man is around to take it indoors, the planter is destined to spend its entire life, in the back garden, devoid of plant life….i suggested we take it back and exchange it for something for the purpose of… he gave a typical “deeply hurt man” face and said …. But I like it….. hey ho! 🤷🤷🤷

[@djlivvy46]

Lol! What happened to the pot?

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Oh my! What a story! Are you saying that your hubby is NOT the strongest man in the world?! I hope you found a use for the lovely heavy planter pot in your back garden...

[@weedle30]

@@MagentaOtterTravels hey! We’ve just got back from our *smallish* GC today! - moss pole returned and refunded …. Nearly £100 worse off, only because the painful squeals of plants etc crying out to me, “please take me home with youuuuuuu, I would look so pretty in your front garden..”😰😰” was too hard to ignore! The huge glossy painted ceramic pretty planter pot problem has been solved 🥳🥳yaaay! We (me) opted to buy a flowering dahlia shrub to put in it … once it’s bedded in, it should fill out the planter pot and will hopefully flower every year! And I just wish I could show you the photographic evidence but you would have fallen over with jealousy at my MAGENTA coloured dianthus that I have just bought 😍 I chose a deep magenta, a lighter coloured magenta and a magenta and white varicoloured one - they will look so lush as I mix the three shades together 🥰 And - with regard to the Swiss cheese plant triffid thing…I spoke to one of the “plant ladies” in the GC, she said I should take it to her and she would be able to “cut it right back” and sort it for me….hubby spoke up and said that the plant’s days are now numbered and it’s now going to be meeting the Great Big Swiss Cheese Monstera Plant in the sky! 😧😱🥺😰. RIP Swiss Cheese Plant… 🙏🏻🤣🤣

[@lulusbackintown1478]

I love garden centres full of things I didn't know I needed!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Haha exactly! Plenty of that in Burford!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Ah! This Garden Centre has a twin! Now owned by the same company and also in Burford - but another Burford, this time in Shropshire, but literally just a short hop over the river from Worcestershire (it is near Tenbury Wells) It has a great free garden to explore there and excellent tea room toom. There is another massive Garden Centre by Webbs (the seed people) at Wychbold (near the big transmitter) near Droitwich Spa - quite a specatacle there at Christmastime - just a short drive up the M5 (jct 5) from Cheltenham Spa. They can be good places to browse in. Great video Dara! Hope you are both well - take carem Paul

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@westcountrywanderings hi Paul! I've been thinking about you lately. I've done a horrible job of keeping up with my friends videos. It has been an insanely busy summer with all of my visitors! Thanks for telling me about other wonderful garden centres! They are fun to check out, fun to have lunch at, and fun to show to American friends! Thanks so much for stopping by. Enjoy the rest of the summer! XX Dara

[@westcountrywanderings]

@@MagentaOtterTravels hope you both have a really great summer too!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@westcountrywanderings we leave next week and head to Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany for several weeks

[@IamaDutch-Kiwi]

A true 'shopperholic' experience Dara. I thought our Garden Centres were large and they are huge - this surely beats them all hands down. This is a One stop Shop. I loved shopping here and having lunch. I never spent a cent or gained a pound or two 🤣! Love you discovered more Magenta items. 🩷 What a lovely way to spend a wet Saturday morning Dara. Yes, once again a wet Saturday. Loved the green leaf dishes. Awesome is a word that comes to mind. Thanks Dara for the insights into this Garden Centre. 👌🇳🇱🙋‍♀🥝

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I hope the rain takes a break when we come to the Netherlands... we would like a bit of summer! Or else we shall have to spend our days inside garden centres ;-) Thanks for watching, Anita! XX

[@IamaDutch-Kiwi]

@@MagentaOtterTravels if today is anything to go by, and yesterday too, then we are looking good. Actually got REAL summer clothes out and no cardigan all day. 😎😎😎

[@button1ginger1]

I can't drive One hot day, I went to Webb's of Wychbold from Birmingham on the bus down the Salt Road It was a magical, upper-middle class wonderland with all sorts of wonderful stuff my local Homebase would never had heard of. The bus doesn't travel down the Salt Road from Birmingham any more, I have to get the train to Droitwich and get the bus from there. 😞 I supposedly live near David Austin Rose Nursery, but there are no buses 😞

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@button1ginger1 I don't drive in England, so I know it can be challenging to get places on your own! Maybe you can get a friend who likes roses to drive you to see the David Austin Garden?

[@jmrafferty1]

Love the garden centres around the UK. The smaller indi ones are really important too but don’t have enough room for the generic lifestyle stuff that you get in the bigger ones.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@jmrafferty1 but if you honestly wanted to buy some plants to fill your garden, that's probably the better way to go! 😉

[@PinnedonPlaces]

What a beautiful garden centre! Nice to see one of the best garden centres and great to see Burford! wow. Japanese maples are so gorgeous, love the vibrancy of the leaves. I'm quite a flower nerd if i'm honest, there's something about a garden centre visit that makes a wonderful day out! So I really enjoyed this. The food selection was so yummy. The terrine and the prawn brioche rolls, wow! I think Tracy has the right idea, all the desserts hehe. Amazing placement of those hydrangeas in the bath tub! What a gorgeous centre outside, so many beautiful shrubs and plants. Think i'll need to visit here, thank you for taking us around. Beautiful!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@PinnedonPlaces yes, you must visit!! If it's in the summer let me know! I'd love to meet the famous Alessa... and Brett and Ian can discuss drone photography 💖

[@peckelhaze6934]

I have five different Japanese Acer (Maple) in my garden a bit smaller than those but they are gorgeous. Do Japanese Maple grow in Texas? There are several garden centres around my city, some large and some small. None as big as Burford though.

[@tracyglasgow5571]

They do grow in Texas, but it can be hard depending on location. I tried to plant one in a mostly shaded area a couple of years ago, but it just didn't make it through the hot summer. It was also getting too much sun. However, I have seen beautiful maples in other yards.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

We had a nice Japanese Maple at our old house in Texas... but the little one we planted in our current house is struggling to survive...

[@Purrrrrrr]

Where I live there is a very long road with garden centres all the way down on both sides of the road. Gardeners heaven.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Sounds like it! Does all that competition cause them to have more reasonable prices?

[@Purrrrrrr]

@@MagentaOtterTravels yes lots of bargains to be had.

[@tojomelville3120]

I have been to a few down south....my favorite is Paradise Park in Sussex with life size dinosaurs which the children , and me. love. But none of them can beat Burford Garden Centre.....it is amazing!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@tojomelville3120 I would like to see a garden centre with dinosaurs one day, though! 🦖 🦕

[@gillianmeehan3206]

I loved this garden centre trip. I think that I would have gone a teeny bit bonkers in there, and then gone bonkers with the plants too. I'm a new subscriber working through the older videos and finding them very interesting and informative. I don't know if you've ever done a video on this topic but I'd love to see what gifts or requests for family and friends that you take back to the USA and the other way around, what American things come over here as gifts or requests?

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@gillianmeehan3206 welcome to the magenta otter tribe!💖🦦 I used to bring things back to Texas, but I don't have that opportunity anymore. When we leave England, we go over to the European continent for a while and I have to travel super super light! I don't have any room in my suitcase for Cadbury bars 😂. I did do a video a while back of "foods I only eat in the US versus the UK". That's the closest thing I have to the topic you mentioned. You might be amused to know that this summer I've managed to go without peanut butter, but the one thing I can't live without is popcorn! I had to buy an American style air popper so that I could make popcorn on a regular basis here in England. It's a necessity for me! Ha ha

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@gillianmeehan3206 here's the food video I mentioned in my other comment kzbin.info/www/bejne/gIOkept3etN7p7csi=UciKye6nMlforKxf

[@CliveBilby]

Try Polhill Garden Centre in Kent, not only does it have its own Bus stop, Bakery, a Butchers, a fishmonger's, an Ice Cream Parlour, Grocery Store, Shoe Shop, Clothing department, Resturant, Aquarium, plus all the usual stuff you'd find in a Garden Centre, it sells American produce too!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

NOW you tell me! We were just in Kent last week, LOL! We did go to a local farm shop and get some delicious cherries, though ;-)

[@weedle30]

@@CliveBilby not quite “my local” GC but many a visit has been made to Polhill …. And many ££s has been removed from my debit card too… 😩🥲

[@stevepage5813]

Burford - yes. My Aunt and Uncle used to live in Burford when I was very young, but I remember going down to stay with them for a holiday (vacation) on numeroUs occasions.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

It is such a fun place to visit! I just discovered a fab bakery on my last visit there... and of course I'm a fan of the Cotswold Cheese Co. And Ian loves the ice cream!

[@MostlyPennyCat]

If you're looking for something to do (that'll also a great video), you're near many canals which you can hire boats on for a long weekend or longer. Highly recommended

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, we really need to do that! Thanks for the suggestion. Cheers! Dara

[@jennil7797]

Congratulations Tracey! Getting anything to grow in the heat of a Texan summer must be really difficult.I We take our gardens seriously....and, contrary to the opinion of American relatives who have never actually visited us, food too!

[@tracyglasgow5571]

Thank you! We had a magical visit to England, and I absolutely loved the gardens we saw. England is so beautifully green, and we loved all of the blooming flowers and vines everywhere.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@jennil7797 every one of my American visitors has absolutely loved the food! We show them that Britain really is a wonderfulfoodie destination 💖😋

[@markliebe]

Great place to visit at Christmas. I hope you went into the village, some great pubs.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, we have been to Burford several times this summer. It's a favourite place to take friends ;-)

[@djs98blue]

Great video. Thanks. Also quite like Blooms garden centre down by Gloucester. Not as good as burford though. Btw, you should review the Gloucester services on the M5. I’m sure other Americans would be quite surprised at how we can do rest areas when we try.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@djs98blue we love Gloucester Services! We actually did a video about it the very first time we went in 2020. It's here kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2rLlJ6rpdiXZ6csi=ixBYsiGkle0oc8MW And we have taken American friends there. Even Tracy! They love it.

[@Lily-Bravo]

it's so annoying where I live if you are going either North or South on the M5 you miss these services. We had to make a special journey to go and see what the fuss was about. Just got to the end of the Beef for Sunday lunch, on one side of the motorway but had the idea of detouring to the other side and managed to get some. It was very good.

[@tracyglasgow5571]

Awww it was so fun to watch this. You saw even more of the store than we did, and I was there with you! I had already forgotten about those delicious desserts that we ate, so I'm glad you had this visit documented through video. What a fun first day we had arriving in England. If only we could grow English roses here in Texas!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I know... I want those magenta roses with the great fragrance!!

[@elizabethcutrofello2572]

Ah, this was wonderful! I loved visiting this incredible place.💐🌸🩷

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks! 😊

[@chrisbingham3289]

Brit here, Oh to be in England in the summer time.👍Glad you enjoying our homeland.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@chrisbingham3289 summer is the best time to be here... and the best time to not be in Texas! Lol

[@goldenfd475]

There is a fantastic motorway service station on the M4 at Tebay just before Penrith in Cumbria and a partner one on the M5 near Gloucester run by family and stocked with great local produce. The one at Tbay has been going for years and provides a wide range of fantastic food and foodstuffs along with clothes etc. there was a tv series about them a couple of years ago. Made me homesick for the lakes.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, I have heard about that services at Tebay! We need to visit. Last time I was at Gloucester Services I saw they had a TV series... so funny!

[@goldenfd475]

@@MagentaOtterTravels this was a second series. The first one was all about Tbay; of course I'm biased as I come from Cumberland (the original name of cumbria)

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@goldenfd475 can I watch these series on BBC iPlayer or ITVX?

[@andirutherford2615]

Tebay is on the M6, the M4 is Bristol to London, Cumbria has just one Moterway

[@lottie2525]

I love, love, love garden centres, but this one is a stonker! The food looked amazing and loved the roses. Wish we had smellovision.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, this really is an incredible one!!

[@cketts8128]

Aww, I know Burford well having grown up in a nearby town. The garden centre there is fabulous….expensive but fabulous! 😂🇬🇧💚🧡

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes definitely pricey! But very impressive! Where did you grow up? We were just back in Burford yesterday!

[@cketts8128]

@@MagentaOtterTravels - I grew up 11 miles north of Burford in Chipping Norton. My ancestors have lived in that part of the world for at least 300 years! You could say it’s in my DNA 😂.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@cketts8128 wow that's great to have such deep roots! What are your thoughts on Jeremy Clarkson?

[@cketts8128]

@@MagentaOtterTravels - he’s not really liked by the locals unfortunately. He’s made the roads around his farm shop a nightmare with people parking everywhere. He actually blew up the house my grandmother first lived in to build a mansion in its place….that sort of gives you the idea 😂.

[@AdiSneakerFreak]

Well I’ve never been here and I spotted a garden globe there I might have to pop there this weekend😁. Great video as ALWAYS ❤

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@AdiSneakerFreak aw, thanks so much!

[@keithberry-u3c]

Dara the 'Magenta Rose of Texas' should be the next David Austin Rose.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@keithberry-u3c aww lovely idea

[@davidjones992]

This type of garden centre is pretty common in Australia, even the smaller nurseries generally have a café or coffee shop and they all sell far more than just plants.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

You are lucky!

[@emmafrench7219]

Yay! I used to work in The Mermaid and loved going to the garden centre. Maybe next time you're there you could have an orange juice with lemonade in The Mermaid for me.✌😊

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Oh! Where is The Mermaid?

[@emmafrench7219]

@@MagentaOtterTravels As you go down the hill stay on the left side and go past that bit stone cross memorial. Keep going and cross the little road towards the chemist. Just a little further along and you will come to The Mermaid. I am just about to subscribe as I love your videos.

[@emmafrench7219]

It meant to say big

[@hazelmeldrum5860]

The clyde valley in scotland has at least 6 garden centres all close to each other so it is interesting to compare them

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Haha, instead of having a pub crawl, you can have a garden centre crawl ;-) LOL

[@JohnResalb]

Take Tracey to the biggest gardening centre in the UK - 50 acres (getting on for 1 mile) - it's in Cheshire. One day required (an overnight stay might be advisable!!).

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I've heard it is pretty epic!

[@AnyoneForToast]

If this video were anymore sweet, it would actually be fluffy. Like a little kitten Curled up, in a sunbeam Tickling the wisteria with teasing tail From atop the white, painted, sill.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@AnyoneForToast why thank you so much! Beautiful imagery! Lol

[@dee2251]

You just can’t beat an English country garden. 🥰

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes indeed! I'll be working on an "open gardens" video soon. I hope you watch!

[@rainyh-jay2414]

Oh, I'm heading to Burford Garden Company later today, as in the area for a mini break. I live only 30 minutes from Cheltenham, so lucky to live in a beautiful area of England. I can recommend you taking visitors to the David Austin Gardens in Albrighton in Shropshire. Also, if you like taking visitors to nice pubs, I can also recommend The Fleece Inn at Bretforton, Worcestershire - you might catch some Morris dancing too!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@rainyh-jay2414 hello! Always nice to meet other people who live in the area! Thank you for the pub recommendation! Is it in the Cotswolds? Have a great time at Burford Garden Company!

[@rainyh-jay2414]

@@MagentaOtterTravels Hi, The Fleece Inn is just out of the North Cotswolds area, near Evesham, it's a National Trust property too. Have a look at their Website, I really think you will like it.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@rainyh-jay2414 thank you!

[@TravelingTramps]

Tracy walked up a big hill and she feels invigorated? 😁😁Me? I'm ready for my nap! After lunch of course in this lovely cafe. An amazing and huge garden center. Somewhat like the Buc-ee's of horticulture! A little more classy though. The smells of roses rather than BBQ. 🤣🤣Beautiful location for an outro. Unless of course, Tracy falls asleep. We enjoyed the tour, Dara, Tracy and Ian.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, it is a fabulous big garden centre. I haven't heard anyone compare it to Bucees though. That's brilliant! Thanks so much for coming along XX Dara

[@howardgrice6682]

Hi Dara, loving the Burford Garden Centre and of course your professional guided tour. As you know I'm a massive gardener and when you eventually arrive in Cheshire you have to check out Bents in Glazebrook that's an amazing shopping experience as well and the restaurant is fabulous especially the cakes. Hope you dont wear your yankee friends out too soon. ❤x

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I've heard that Bents Garden Centre is huge! I'm sorry we did wear out Tracy! We went to London at the end of our trip and walked millions of miles every day!

[@MarlynMeehan]

Well I certainly hope that helped dispel the myth that British food is dull, boring and unappealing.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Indeed! As you will hear all my friends say... they LOVE the food here and want to bring it back home to the US with them!

[@dee2251]

It’s from WW2 when American soldiers were stationed here and rationing was in place. It’s a myth. Check out what the Tudors ate, of course the peasants didn’t ever eat as well. We’ve been importing herbs & spices for many centuries.

[@AldGregg]

ALL DAY LONG​@@MagentaOtterTravels

[@OriginalHandprint]

Funny that I haven’t experienced dull food for over fifty years 🤔 Post ration myths go a long way for some! 👉🏽🇺🇸

[@Jenjenilou]

Indeed! I've been poorly and therefore binge watching a series on Netflix called 'Chesapeake Shores'. It's typical American fluff, but is fine when you're laid up on the couch, but even they had a character who went to 'London' and trotted out the usual tropes about 'warm beer' and 'terrible food'. Amazing how these WW2 stereotypes still persist in the US.

[@Angusmum]

I think your friend correctly described a nursery as somewhere to buy plants. You’re showing her a Garden Centre and that includes more departments.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@Angusmum yes LOADS more! 😉

[@Poliss95]

Oh, and I did notice the thumbnail. 😁😁

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I don't know why I had us pose that way! It seemed like a good idea at the time, but it doesn't have anything to do with anything! Lol

[@tracyglasgow5571]

@@MagentaOtterTravels hahaha

[@jjsmallpiece9234]

A shop that happens to sell plants - like many UK garden centres

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@jjsmallpiece9234 this is not your average garden centre, my friend!

[@sidscrote7570]

A piano in the bog as well !!