By the calendar, it’s officially Spring at Parterre…the rabbits are nibbling, the raindrops are dropping, the deer are encroaching…but it won’t be true Spring in Newport for awhile (on a positive note, the owls are nesting). This “bridge” period in the garden is when I take refuge in the details of this season as it happens in gardens I have visited, and cherished, over the years… usually England, but also France and Italy. Enjoy this riches of floral beauty (many of which I have not posted on previous blogs) as I count down the days to my next overseas trip mid-May.
A glorious spring statement at the treasured English garden, Iford, just outside Bath. Don’t you love the added chic of the blue lacquered door. Such beautiful memories!
Famous Hidcote, a treasure of garden design details…like this simple, unfussy planter with a scattering of mixed tulips and daffodils.
Rodmarton, a bit funky and endearing in its arrangements and juxtapositions (like the assortment of odd rock planters, moss-coated, waiting for their rock plants to bloom) and the well pruned boxwoods.
Picture-perfect from any angle, walking around the lake at Stourhead is a meditative experience that will cure any angst or bad mood.
Bowood’s witty parterres stole my heart with the luscious red tulips in a heart-shaped bed.
One of the gifts of traveling in mid-spring is the glory of tulips to be found in an assortment of presentations…as in the stables area of Rousham (it always pays to sneak off the beaten paths).
Some day I shall design a trip devoted exclusively to Harold Peto , whose Buscot park is legendary for its inspired design (to include a statue of an entwined man and fish).
“Be still my beating heart” was my first reaction when I fist set foot on Rockcliffe …and then I was introduced to a millennium project of 10 years in the making… an aviary, fronted by topiary birds.
And I close with the divine Inn in which we stayed outside Broadway, in the Cotswolds, Buckland Manor… which happened to have one of the prettiest gardens on my trip!
Just beautiful – you had me on the first photo of the wisteria & door!!
Oh my!! The “surprises” around every corner…& arch…oh, my!! Glorious!! franki
Loved Buckland Manor! Love your evocative photographs too.
All those glorious walls with such lovely traceries of various blooming vines are declarations of the joy of spring. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the walls and doors are so incredibly chic.
LOVELY LADY,
ONCE AGAIN …. MERE ‘WORDS’ – FAIL!
HOWEVER, MYSELF BEING A ‘CHARLIE BROWN (PEANUTS) – LOVER OF CLOUDS ….
YOUR GIFT OF THAT VIEW OF RODMARTON … WOULD EVEN PROVE TOO MUCH
FOR AN ATHEIST (HUMAN TALENT- JOIN POWERS ABOVE; RESULTS IN … BLISS).
MAY YOUR EYESIGHT NEVER LESSEN.
TOM
Thanks for sharing beautiful photos. Here we are in Spring bloom. Such a lovely site and smell outside…