Mexican Weekend

 This weekend is Lullingstone's Mexican Weekend, a two day event covering all things cactus and succulent. 

It's ten quid to get in, (half price for BCSS members) and that gets you a look around the world garden as well. I've been to a few events there, and its always been good. But never really on my own.

The first thing was working out how to get there without a car, I don't drive, and if Lullingstone has a station or bus service (both answers are no and no although there is a viaduct that passes over near the grounds if trains are your thing.)

The good news is that there is a station close by, Eynsford, from which you can walk. Looking on the online map, it definitely seemed doable, and while I'm not the fittest, I will walk most places if in range.

The next easiest bit was the bus connections, seeing as its my bootsale route and that we would be going on a Saturday, they should be more frequent than the Sunday service. Plus 2 trips in an hour means its a flat £1.55 fare, each way. 

The train was the tricky bit, looking on South Eastern's network map it seemed we needed the Sevenoaks train, and that it ran from Blackfriars via Swanley. Want to know why we don't travel by train much, an off peak return fare is £4.10 and that is one stop from Swanley to Eynsford. 

Main trip planned out, it all went swimmingly, I managed to get both connections and failed only on the train front as it was in the station as I arrived and had 30 minute wait for the next train. Pro tip get there on the hour or half hour and you'll only wait a few minutes.

The next step was the walk down to Lullingstone, which was not so harsh as its right in the middle of where I wanted to go. Tried the route I'd plotted online the find the gate closed, so retraced my steps and went the other route which passed through the infamous ford there and along by the Roman ruins and the eagle centre.

Paid my way inside, and had a look at the stalls, the Haworthia society were selling bare rooted Haworthias for £10 upwards. Our secretary had a stall selling plants from our late treasurer. Alongside him, John Pilbeam had his stall selling his books. Hadn't seen him in ages, so it was nice to catch up.

New branch Rother valley had a bunch of good things for sale, including some seedlings and such so got a bunch of stuff including a Haageocereus and a few Mesembs.

There was a massive Begonia for sale which was cool and by the time I had finished the Auction was getting going so decided to look around the world garden. 

There was  a small kid in there picking up stone which reminded me as a kid. (Used to do that.) Had a look around the main garden and the most incredible scent was there. Do not know were it came from, my guess its the Salvia's as they were in full bloom. They had a Colletia which smelt of butterscotch, though as its a spiky boi, the challenge was getting close enough to tell, and a there was a mint which had a liquorice scent to it.

Had a look in the hot and spikey house, there was an Opuntia in bloom along with a few other nice things. Another Begonia, a Kleinia and a few other things such a Clerodendron from Kenya.

By that time I decided enough was enough and went home, this time via the country park and found the road I should have taken the first time. It's about a kilometer in distance to the station from Lullingstone castle that way and seems the shorter route.

Plectranthus

Not the Begonia for sale but still nice.

Horse.

Europa statue.

Opuntia possibly Engelmanni.