Yes, tulips are one of my very fave flowers — so while I may have been missing their bloom time at home I was treated to a rainbow of blossoms throughout my trip to England. But seeing tulips in such a variety of settings, showcased against such spectacular architecture, was “frosting on the cake.” It became a little game to see how creatively they had been presented.

In the images above and below, the pebbled terrace along the length of Bowood House is graced with boxwood parterres displaying a bountiful mix of red, white and black tulips. A few parterres are specifically heart-shaped and filled with?

A pair of beds thick with red tulips (I saw a theme emerging…) play up the old brick facades of the most charming of follies at Hidcote.

While in this exceptional garden’s walled area, pink, plum and aubergine tulips provide a very different scene.

On the other hand, the casual but joyful display in Rousham House’s stable block near the walled garden is in marked contrast to the 300 hundred year old formal spaces (link to last weeks blog) that William Kent designed…where green prevails; there is not one touch of color (except under an ancient wisteria arbor).

And at Rodmarton, a series of stand alone stone containers hold shocking pink and black tulips that are a delicious juxtaposition to the blooming wisteria on the graying Cotswolds stone.

A fun close to this post… finding a merry collection of potted “Rembrandt Tulips” in the garden shop at Hidcote. So called because their “flames” (due to a virus ) were the reason these specific tulips were so coveted by the early Renaissance Dutch traders.

Hope this has provided some inspiration for your tulip plantings next fall.