This recent trip to England reminded me of the ever-so-true saying…”So many gardens, so little time.” And how very happy I am that I opted for a new part of England (rather than returning to the Cotswold area), the Peaks in Derbyshire. Three hours north of London on the way to Yorkshire, it is famous as the site of the centuries-old stately home, Chatsworth, where we spent 2 1/2 days. But venturing beyond Derbyshire introduced us to Biddulph Grange, Haddon Hall, Melbourne Hall, and Renishaw. It is this last site that captured my heart for many deserving reasons,

not the least of which was the two horticulture treasures that I had never seen mentioned in magazines or even on their garden map.

But first, let me give you an overview of the formal setting of this jewel, recipient of the HHA/Christie’s “Garden of the Year Award” in 2015…immaculate, orderly, providing places where your eye can rest, neatly divided into hedge-bordered “rooms” that invite you to stroll leisurely,

admiring the exceptional use of statuary, obelisks and details of key design features, like the beveled stone edge of a lily pond, so simple but what a touch it adds!

Plant material, like gray-blue artichoke, scaled to the great lawn and steps.

And then, the sighting of the first horticultural highlight I mentioned above…a very old, rare handkerchief tree (Davidia involucrata). Look at the size of the “handkerchiefs”! I have only seen one tree in my life; here’s hoping that I may have the joy of planting one at Parterre! How’s that for a goal?

And speaking of design inspiration, four parterres were centered with an “umbrella” of white wisteria, neatly contained by an elaborate metal canopy. Perhaps when my four cherries take their last breath I can re-create this umbrella and have it cloaked in roses!!

What one does not anticipate is that the great lawn and its garden rooms, designed in formal Italianate style, is only half the story at Renishaw! Vast woodlands and wilderness areas (each almost twice the size of the great lawn) fan out either side of the house, luring you onward with elegant statues and gates.

On to the rhododendrons in bloom…what a kaleidoscope of colors….and then I almost missed the piece de resistance at Renisahw, a laburnum allee’ totally in bloom. To date, the most well known laburnum allee’ has been at Rosemary Verey’s home in the Cotswolds. But that is only a single walk; here at Renisahw, one makes a complete circle for a double allee!!

The Sitwell family built and have lived in Renishaw House for over 400 years. Seven acres of garden include a lake, yew hedges, pool, fountains, and specimen trees and collections of rhododendrons. But what resonated for me, and made this garden so memorable, was the respect for the Italian Renaissance design principles of symmetry, proportion, scale, and importantly, shadow.