We’re in Beeton, Ontario, today, visiting Marina. We’ve been to her beautiful garden before (Marina’s Garden in Beeton, Ontario) when it was just a few years old, and we’re back today to see how it has thrived and grown since then.
09.11.2023 - 12:39 / theenglishgarden.co.uk / Clare Foggett
Overall Winner & Regional Winner: South West
Credit: NGS
Fronted by a flight of yew topiary birds, the dovecote at Rockcliffe is the garden’s most recognisable feature. This area was crying out for a beautiful focal point and, after much research, owners Emma and Simon Keswick settled on a dovecote, taking inspiration from the dovecote at Rousham, weathervanes at Eton College Chapel, the windows of the Gothic Cottage at Stourhead and stonework from the Old Toll House in Stow-on-the-Wold. In summer, the dovecote appears to float on a cloud of ox-eye daisies, while the doves eye up brassicas in the kitchen garden at the foot of the slope.
This is just one example of the considered perfection visitors can find at Rockcliffe, Emma and Simon’s home since the 1980s. When they arrived there wasn’t much beyond the house itself and some surrounding fields. Emma began by marking out the garden, pacing eastwards until the proportions felt right. A wide lawn now leads towards a ha-ha built to keep out the sheep and is flanked by huge beech obelisks in not quite parallel lines that give the impression that the vista is even longer. “It’s an idea I saw at the Palazzo Corsini in Florence, where they achieve the same effect using statues,” Emma explains. The couple find inspiration from a multitude of places: “The ideas have to come from somewhere!” adds Emma.
This is a garden that has been made slowly and with care over the past four decades, giving it an atmosphere of comfortable familiarity that’s tangible to its visitors. Those visitors have voted it not only the regional winner of the South West category but also our overall champion – congratulations to the Nation’s Favourite Garden! rockcliffegarden.co.uk
Regional Winner: South
We’re in Beeton, Ontario, today, visiting Marina. We’ve been to her beautiful garden before (Marina’s Garden in Beeton, Ontario) when it was just a few years old, and we’re back today to see how it has thrived and grown since then.
Visit the Hampton-Preston House and Garden in Historic Columbia. It was built for Anisley and Sarah Hall in 1818. They lived here until 1823, when the house was sold to Wade Hampton Sr and his wife, Mary Couter Hampton.
Last week, I told you about a garden talk I attended at the Robert Mills Carriage House and Gardens in Columbia, SC. Jim Martin (The Magnolia Plantation and Gardens Director of Horticulture & Landscape) was the second presenter. He discussed using bulbs to create “special little moments” every day.
21 of the Best Houseplants for Bright Light
Choosing the sweetest squash can be a challenge, as there are so many varieties available. You can grow both summer and winter squash, and between them, they encompass over 100 varieties. Many are tasty and satisfying, with flavors ranging from nutty to buttery, but which are the best for sweetness? If your experience of growing squash has only resulted in the occasional slice of zucchini bread or carving of pumpkin, this is your chance to cultivate and harvest some of the most divine varieties available.
We’re off to New Zealand today to visit Lynne Leslie’s garden. We’ve visited before (Lynne’s Garden in New Zealand), and it is always fun to see what she is growing.
Made up of mellow stone buildings, many of which are medieval, the city of Oxford is the ideal base for an exploration of Oxfordshire. The city itself is picturesque, but also compact, making it easy to walk around and take in the many sights on offer. See the college buildings that make up the University of Oxford, visit the world’s oldest museum, the Ashmolean, to see its Egyptian and Anglo-Saxon treasures, and admire Oxford Botanic Garden, Britain’s oldest botanical garden, right in the heart of the city.
These ingenious Aluminum Foil Uses in the Garden make it a superhero! It’s not just for wrapping sandwiches; it’s like a multitasking wizard for your plants. Here is how you can use aluminum foil in your garden to grow seeds, ward off pests, and so much more.
In the verdant world of gardening and outdoor living, British Garden Centre vouchers become a key to unlocking a treasure trove of possibilities. As you hold these vouchers in your hands, you're not just carrying monetary value; you're entering a realm where blooms, foliage, and tranquility converge. Let's explore the myriad ways you can turn these vouchers into a flourishing experience.
We’re visiting with Marilyn Regnier today. We’ve visited her garden before (Marilyn’s Missouri-Inspired Garden in Minnesota), and today she’s joining in the fun of looking back and sharing the highlights of her 2023 gardening season.
Suffolk belonged to the Angles in the 6th century, only becoming part of England in 918AD, and remains one of the more isolated parts of the country. A destination in itself, Suffolk has long attracted creative types. Sir Cedric Morris, the artist and gardener famed for his hybrid irises, founded the East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing at Benton End. Composer Benjamin Britten also lived here, in Aldeburgh, where former fishermen’s cottages are painted in pretty pastel shades.
If you are ready to take your container design to the next level, join us for this course with Barbara Libner, who has been designing stunning containers professionally for over two decades. Barbara will walk you through every step of creating the perfect container as she shares her tips and techniques for better plant combinations, including numerous examples from her own designs and recipes you can follow on your own. Explore the concepts of color, texture, balance, and repetition as you learn to transform your own containers from ordinary to extraordinary. You can view each class on demand and then dive into an online forum where you can share ideas with other course participants and get your questions answered by Barbara herself.