It's a 45 minute trip across from Germany to Denmark on the ferry: we're still in the bus but have to get out for the smooth crossing so we can buy things in the duty free shop. Immediately the Danish landscape looks different - cosier and very neat. Today is our first private garden at Langebaekegardenj where we're warmly welcomed by our host Nils, his son and handsome grandson not to mention the hunky gardener Jens - so not your average private garden.
It's really a 470 acre farm growing sugar beet, wheat, barley and grasses for seed. David's eyes lit up - a seedsman! - and he grilled Nils mercilessly.
A light summer lunch was served under umbrellas starting with wildflower or rhubarb cordial (I hope someone got the recipe) and beer. As beer seems to be the main drink I am determined to try it and maybe get to like it.
Jens escorted us on a meander around the garden which is very chalky so to grow rhododendrobs he has imported 100 cubic metres of peat. Paths wind through fruit trees and redwoods with a side glance at a field of red fescue grass and on to waving astilbes and the best hostas I've ever seen. Then it was time for dessert - well we couldn't disappoint the cooks who were so friendly and nice.
After all that food most of us fell asleep on the bus only waking up in Copenhagen in time to be decanted into our modern hotel which used to be a salt warehouse alongside a canal. The big beams in our room may be a wonderful architectural statement but we may suffer a few bumped heads.
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