Ten Tips on What to Pack for a Garden Trip

As with many things in life, the balance lies somewhere in the middle. I’ve been on trips where I sorely missed certain items, either because the weather turned out differently than I had anticipated or because I didn’t plan carefully enough. I’ve also had the experience of lugging a suitcase filled with things I never even wore.  So much energy spent on lugging useless things around!

Here are my 10 tips on what to pack for your next garden trip.

Though it’s true that meteorologists’ predictions have been increasingly unreliable of late, they still provide a good indication of the temperatures.

I usually do this on my bed or, to avoid a marital crisis, in the guest room, as this can take me several days. Starting to gather together all the things you might need a few days before departure is helpful.

Even if the weather forecast says no rain, be prepared and take some form of lightweight rain protection. It won’t weigh down your suitcase, you can throw it in your daypack on days when the weather looks iffy. And, if it rains, you won’t have to carry an umbrella – it can be hard to take pictures with one hand when with an umbrella in the other.

Choose mix-and-match clothing that you can layer on or peel off as temperatures get warmer or cooler throughout the day. Take along a light scarf or shawl in case there is wind or a breeze. Scarves are also great accessories for varying your look.

Sensible non slip, comfortable shoes are a must – you can’t visit gardens without walking about. The terrain in gardens is notably varied, so you need to be prepared for everything from gravel to wet grass to dry dirt or sand. Mud can be there too so consider waterproof shoes. Do you need to bring wellies? Only once have I been on a tour where it rained so hard that I was sorry I hadn’t brought rubber boots. But they are bulky and not comfortable to wear all day. So an alternative is to take a spare pair of shoes along which you can leave on the bus and change into if your feet get wet.

The sun can be expected to shine in gardens too, and, depending on the time of year, sun protection such as a sun hat, sun glasses and sun screen are a good idea as well.

What about electronics? If I had to take along one accessory, it would be a power bank. There are lightweight and powerful models on the market. Charge it overnight and go into your day knowing that you’ll have enough battery on your phone not only to take all the photos you want but to do all the other things you need to do with a phone – looking up plant names with an app, figuring out where you are with GPS.

Electrical sockets in Europe are different from those in the US. So pick up a universal adapter and you’ll be prepared and able to charge your phone or use your laptop.

It’s important to keep hydrated when traveling. Walking around outside can make you thirsty. I always make sure there is water on the bus in small individual plastic bottles and that there is enough for everyone, especially when it’s hot outside. But I can’t help feeling guilty about leaving all that plastic trash behind (even if, of course, we are careful to use recycling bins). So consider bringing along your own reusable water bottle. You can easily fill it up during the day, and there is no plastic waste – a more responsible and sustainable way to travel. Let’s think of plastic water bottles as an emergency solution only.

Once you’re ready, pick up each item of clothing and check how many times you can wear it and whether you can mix and match it with other items. If the item stands alone, consider discarding it. I find it very satisfying to put all the things I am not going to take with me back in my closet!

So now you’re all set and equipped to enjoy your garden trip to the fullest. After all, visiting gardens is about relaxing and enjoying the beauty, something you can only do when you are comfortable, not when you are too hot, too cold or have wet feet.

I look forward to sharing a garden adventure with you soon!
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