Magnificent Topiary Gardens at Avebury Manor House

VISITING ENGLISH GARDENS

 

As a garden designer, I have often heard about wonderful English gardens, historic British designers, and the design styles that originated in England. Recently, through the modern miracles of air-mile credits and house swapping, I have been able to experience these truly exciting gardens for myself. My family and I have been fortunate to vacation in England three times during the past six years. Each trip has been a unique opportunity to visit amazing and inspiring gardens in different areas of the country, and has given me an education in good design that I strive to integrate into my garden design practice here in Northern California.

 

Delightful gate invites you into the Rose Garden at Sissinghurst

THE JOYS OF ENGLAND

England (like all of the United Kingdom) is a great vacation destination. The people do speak English, although with just enough idiom and accent to be a bit “foreign” to me. Most modern conveniences are available, although they may have different names: our “paper towels” are “kitchen papers” to them, the trunk of the car is the “boot,” and babies wear “nappies.”
The people are very welcoming: happy to assist lost travelers or offer them “a cuppa” tea to make the journey more pleasant. The British are keen gardeners all: TV garden show hosts are major celebrities, and garden shows draw enormous crowds. Every British home has its garden: even the smallest 20- by 20-foot front garden is lovingly tended and thoughtfully designed. The climate in the summer months is generally mild, and although it does rain frequently, the rain is generally light and passes quickly.
For Americans who think 1776 was a long time ago, the history in England is continually amazing! Families may live in the same house for 600 years! The roads built by the Romans 2000 years ago still exist, churches built in 1300 are still in use, and trees older than our country are not unusual! The people of England treasure their historical places and many are carefully preserved and restored. The tender loving care with which their historic houses are treated also extends to the gardens: each is brilliantly designed, whether based on an historic design or a new creation, and immaculately maintained.

 

The Guest Cottage at Polesdon Lacey

THE NATIONAL TRUST

My favorite means of locating and visiting great gardens in England has been to join the National Trust. We stumbled on the National Trust almost by accident: while visiting Cornwall: we went to St. Michael’s Mount, a wonderfully atmospheric castle on an island which can be reached by land only for a few hours each day while the tide is low. My thrifty husband figured out that for only a bit more than the price of one day’s admission for our family, we could join for a year and visit over 300 castles, manor houses, gardens, parks, and historic sites without further charges. He signed us up at once!
The National Trust is a non-profit registered charity, founded in England in 1895. (Check out their great web site at www.nationaltrust.okg.uk ) Its mission is to “look after places of historic interest or natural beauty permanently for the benefit of the nation.” It protects over 623,000 acres of land and 700 miles of coast in Wales, Northern Ireland, and England.

 

The Dovecote at Nyman's Garden

The National Trust also preserves over 300 historic houses and gardens, and these are the sites my family and I have visited most. Each property is unique, but we have not yet visited one we didn’t like (I’m approaching 30 on my life list!). The gardens are spectacularly planned and maintained: some as a re-creation of the original, others are updated, more modern interpretations. A typical property’s gardens encompass several acres and may include a rose garden, a kitchen garden, perennial borders, rock gardens, secret gardens, mazes, water features, topiary, and a landscape park. Most are surrounded by acres of open park and woodland with extensive hiking trails. The houses can be grand, charming, or uniquely quirky: almost all are open to visitors, with interpretive signage and docents on hand to answer questions.
We have seen beautiful collections of furniture, art, porcelain, grandfather clocks, tapestries, and lawnmowers! Tea rooms provide an opportunity for light refreshments, picnics are encouraged, and most properties have great gift “shoppes.” Because of the wide variety of things to see, do, and explore on each property, children and adults of all ages and interests can easily spend a half day or more wandering and enjoying!
For the gardener and garden designer the National Trust gardens are incredible lessons in great gardening, and a chance to be continually amazed and inspired by the great ideas of the past and present. Even if you are in London only for a week, you can be delighted and inspired by the world-famous garden at Sissinghurst, Winston Churchill’s country estate at Chartwell, or the secluded ancient castle and moat garden at Scotney Castle — all are National Trust properties within a one- to two-hour ride from the city (many accessible by public transportation).

 

Roses and Clematis Perle d'Azur adorn a wall at Sissinghurst

 

 

Contact Gail:

bluehilldesign9@aol.com ~ 707-829-2455