HOUSE GARDEN
1 Greenhouses and
adjoining herbaceous border
The 3 greenhouses contain a variety of tender plants some of
which are rare or unusual. House no.1 nearest to the border, is a
mixed collection featuring a large number of streptocarpus, Houses
no. 2 and 3 contain a collection of pelargoniums, including
species forms and scented varieties whose charm is
infectious, and fuchsias.The border is the longest established in
the Gardens with a range of sun lovers in mostly blues, yellows and
whites.
2 Shrub Rose Border
Includes Old and New roses, some once flowering in June, the
rest repeat flowering. There are also peonies, hardy geraniums,
alliums, aquilegias and a collection of clematis texensis
cultivars.
3 "Wild" Flower Walk"
A link between the formality of the gardens and the surrounding
countryside, this is a manufactured "wild" garden as some of the
native wild flowers have proved to be too invasive!
4 North Facing Shade Border
A mix of shade tolerant plants can be found mostly in pink,
lilac, blue and white, all being hardy and underplanted with spring
bulbs.
5 Park Border
South facing and exceptionally well drained it provides the
opportunity to grow sun loving plants mostly from Mediterranean
climates including borderline perennials and annuals. A fine
clematis fargesi flowers profusely in June and July.
6/7 Rock Garden and Rear House
Borders
Providing a link between house and gardens these are planted
with generally low growing plants in pastel shades contrasted by a
border in yellows, oranges and blues. Rhodohpoxis have multiplied
well in the rock garden, thanks to sharp drainage and further
application of grit to the planting holes.
8 Picket Fence Cottage Garden Border
Includes stalwarts of delphiniums, hollyhocks, lupins,
campanulas, phlox, shasta daisies, hardy geraniums, and annuals.
The "hosta walk"at the rear takes advantage of the shade and
reflects our passion for this genus.
9 Consevatory Border
Sheltered and mostly in shade there are more hostas here
together with ferns and violas - charming, long flowering and
trouble free. There is also a growing collection of arisaemas
supplied by our friend Tony of www.shadyplants.com
No tour of the House Garden would be complete without inspecting
the productive fruit and vegetable garden as its centerpiece.
Nothing tastes as good or gives greater pleasure than what you have
grown yourself and we are largely self sufficient for about 8
months from June onwards.
PADDOCK GARDEN
10 Red Border
Captivated by the famous red border at Hidcote this is our
attempt at a smaller version. We do find shades of red a difficult
to integrate and there is a lot of trial and error! Dahlias are a
mainstay with their long flowering season. Dark leaved shrubs,
lilium speciosum and asiaticum which have some good dark reds,
monardas, and red roses add height and tender perennials such
as salvias are bedded out to extend the show into autumn. In early
summer the star plant is papaver orientale "Beauty of Livermere"
which is repeated throught the border.
11 Pastels Border
Planted to contrast the red border in the "reverse" Jekyll
fashion, this border features pinks, whites and blues, the anchor
plants being phlox of numerous cultivars. Their perfume is
intoxicating on warm summer days and travels a long way. We are
actively adding shrubs to this border to reduce the amount of work
as we grow older!!
12 Koi pond border
Hot, dry and very stony this border allows us to push the
boundaries with many plants from climates warmer than our own. It
is also the best place to grow roses in the Gardens. Dieramas with
their graceful wands of flowers make a significant statement. Don't
miss the Koi carp in the pond behind, some of fish are over 20
years old.
13 Beech hedge walk
In shade and very dry this is a challenge in summer. However in
late winter there are over 70 choice hellebores together with a
range of woodland plants and bulbs to admire. Although we have
tried to grow arisaemas here it is too dry for them in the summer
when they need moisture to support their active growth.
14 Woodland garden
Looking almost dead in high summer this is the main focus in
early spring with a range of woodlanders and bulbs.
15 Stream garden and paddock pond
These form a suitable full stop for the gardens. Water lilies
are much in evidence and provide a haven for immense populations of
native pond life and the introduced shoals of rudd and carp.
Otters, herons, kingfishers and even a cormorant have been visitors
over the years. The pond edge is planted with hemerocallis, hostas,
candelabra primulas in variety, iris, astilbes and other moisture
loving plants.
16 Lower Paddock shade border
This border allows moist shade lovers to thrive. Ligularias are
prominent together with thalictrums, ferns, hostas, rodgersias,
podyphyllums and many other unusual herbaceous plants. There is a
growing colony of the giant himalayan lily cardiocrinum giganteum
started from seed in 2009 which flowered in 2014. Even now their
wonderful, huge glossy leaves make quite a statement at the back of
this border along with hostas including the largest in cultivation
called "Empress Wu".
17 Upper Paddock shade border
This border is in part shade so plantings reflect this. They are
in colours of yellows, blues, whites heightened by orange
kniphofias and lilies to contrast with the red border opposite in
the classic herbaceous border fashion. A huge achllea grandiflora
is a long time resident. Impressive in late June with large white
heads of flowers to 6 feet it can be quite a thug and needs
controlling on a regular basis so that it doesn't swamp all its
near neighbours.
18 Nursery area
Aside from the good range of plants for sale, please take time
to look in the polytunnels to see what is growing there - one
visitor kindly commented they are like a mini botanic garden!! Many
are rare, tender or unusual or all three and we just can't stop
acquiring more!!
For more details on all the plants in all the borders please
speak to Keith.