Another fine garden...

My dear friend, Annie Kendrick, just gave me this delightful and completely enthralling book, aptly titled The Garden Book, for me to research some of the gardens on my upcoming trip.... and in addition to Gravetye Manor and Barnesly House noted in this book, I found another garden that is on our schedule, Rodmarton House and Garden. 

This will be a stop on our way from Gravetye in Sussex, to the Cotswolds, and is nestled in the little town of Cirencester, Gloucestershire. It is notable as the creation of the famous Arts and Crafts movement architect, Ernest Barnsley, in the early part of the 20th century.

To quote Tim Richardson (English Gardens in the Twentieth Century-Aurum Press 2005) “Hidcote and Sissinghurst may have emerged as indisputably the most influential English gardens of the twentieth century... but perhaps Rodmarton should be up there with them... Hidcote has its unique ‘otherness’, Sissinghurst its irresistible biographical appeal, but Rodmarton is possessed of an intense and sequestered atmosphere that is all its own, and even now retains a strong sense of its original integrity.”

It will be interesting to see how the "intense and sequestered atmosphere" unfolds in this quiet part of the country. 

Thanks for stopping by....and remember, by clicking on the BOLD BLUE text you will open up a webpage that provides details about the item.

From South Africa to England...a different kind of travel coming up.Garden fans take note!

Great Gardens of England - a short list...

When I saw the invitation arrive in my email box last November I was absolutely thrilled.  Here was an opportunity to take a study tour of the Great Gardens of England in April with two of the travel industry's premier destination specialists for the United Kingdom. A small but merry band of advisors who specialize in garden journeys will be experiencing a few choice gardens in the English countryside.  Though the list of great gardens in England is very long, we will be concentrating on these specific destinations: (Note: clicking on the bold blue text will take you to a web page with more information)....

Gravetye Manor -

This was the home of the iconic English garden designer, William Robinson...here are a few words from the website..."The gardens at Gravetye Manor are a very special place and can be considered amongst the most influential in English gardening history. The manor became the home of the creative, innovative and revolutionary gardener, William Robinson in 1884. Robinson spent his remarkable life as a professional gardener and botanist, but made his fortune through writing about his experiences and ideas on horticulture. His most notable works include The English Flower Garden, which is one of the best-selling horticultural books of all time, and the hugely influential title, The Wild Garden."

Next we are off to Barnsley House in the Cotswolds....

...these gardens were designed by Rosemary Verey, a garden designer of great distinction..."Rosemary Verey was a garden designer, lecturer and prolific garden writer. Rosemary began designing the Barnsley House gardens in the 1950s and went on to design many more gardens, both here in the UK and internationally – including the famous New York Botanical Gardens, as well as gardens for Prince Charles, Sir Elton John and Princess Michael of Kent."

Calcot Manor is next...not too far from the Barnsley House...

...once settling in here we will be off to see this incredible garden destination...Highgrove Gardens.

And, finally, we're off to Hartwell House...a little closer to London in the county of Buckinghamshire...

This will be our base of operations for our visits to Oxford and the gardens at Worcestor College, reputed to be the oldest garden in England.  Here our host will be Simon Bagnall, Head of Gardens.  An article in Country Life magazine discusses this lovely garden...Is this the oldest garden in England?

And, while there we will also visit the gardens at Haseley Court hosted by the owner, Fiona Heyward.

So many gardens, so little time! Only four days, but chock full of learning about this amazing garden destination. My plan is to next year offer a hand-crafted garden journey of my own. In the meantime, I invite you to join me on this virtual journey via my blog!