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High Glanau Manor was the house of Henry Avray Tipping who was born in France in 1855. He was a writer on houses and gardens, a garden designer and Architectural Editor of the Country Life Magazine for many years. Tipping wrote several books including "Gardens Old and New" and he also owned and lived in several properties during his life. In Monmouthshire he designed his own gardens at, Mathern Palace, Mounton House and High Glanau Manor which is now the home of Helena Gerrish. Helena Gerrish has restored High Glanau gardens back to the original Tipping design. She gained an MA in Garden History at Bristol University and has also written two books, "Edwardian Country Life; The Story of H. Aray Tipping" and "Mounton House: The Birth and Rebirth of an Edwardian Country Home". When I visited High Glanau gardens I had very little knowledge of it's background and I was not aware of the books. Now both books are on my Garden Library wish list and I am hoping that I will be able to return to the garden with the benefit of my new found knowledge. On the day I visited there were very heavy rain showers and when we arrived Helena welcomed our group into her home and then proceeded to tell us a little of the history of the house and gardens. Without Helena most of the garden history could have been lost forever. The long herbaceous borders had disappeared, the greenhouse was abandoned and many parts of the garden had become overgrown. Helena set about to restore the gardens herself by studying gardening and garden design, researching past articles and images relating to the gardens and doing all of this with meticulous attention to detail. She really put her heart and soul into this work and I was touched to see that she even had a plaque installed in the garden to commemorate Tipping. At the time of my visit in late July the long herbaceous borders were in full bloom. The Hemerocallis or day lily were planted towards the front of the borders and repeated along its length. To the middle of the border was an eye catching white coloured Phlox , part of the Polemoniaceae plant family, and at the back of the border towered Foeniculum vulgare or the Common Fennel. The beautiful Argyranthemum frutescens also known as the Paris or Marguerite Daisy had been strategically planted along the length of the borders and blended in perfectly in height and colour - the gorgeous yellow centre of the flower matching with the orange shades of the Day Lillies. The long herbaceous borders are flanked on each side by a Taxus Baccatus English yew hedge with a back drop of very substantial sized and well established trees. Each end of the long borders has a focal point - away from the house is a beautiful wooden bench set against a stone wall and, at the other end of the border sits the house itself. A stone set of steps leads up onto a terrace which anchors the planting and gives a focal point drawing the eye back towards the house. At the far end of the borders a stone wall runs the length of the garden and separates off the greenhouse area as well as a sloping lawned area with beautiful view through a stone opening back to the house. The greenhouse has lots of pots containing Pelagoniums as well as a substantial number of tomato plants. These were in individual pots but staked well together with bamboo canes. The greenhouse was in a neglected state when Helena first arrived at High Glenau so it is wonderful to see that it has now become a working greenhouse once again. The greenhouse is 40 feet long and was built by Messenger and Co with beaver tail glass to ensure rainwater did not penetrate on to the wooden structure. From the back of the house there are a series of steps leading down to the Octagonal Pool which is a focal point and contains a fountain powered by a stream fed hydaulic ram. Beyond the Octagonal Pool the land falls away into a valley with far reaching views and many trees. There is a sweeping view of west Monmouthshire to the Brecon Beacons and the planting is such that it frames this view whilst also drawing your eyes back into the garden itself. As Helena says "Tipping created a secret world here and has left his mark in his own romantic way. We are lucky to be the custodians". High Glanau is a very special place and made even more interesting by Helena who has such a passion for the gardens that Tipping created. Guineveres Garden | Garden Writer

Chelsea in Bloom is something I look forward to every year. It's a very artsy alternative, or addition to, the world famous Chelsea Flower Show. A flower festival with a theme, which is free to attend, and takes place in the streets of Chelsea, a stone's throw from the famous Flower Show, every year. This event is spectacular with atmosphere because it embraces flowers and people - bringing together local residents and others from much further afield. People stop to admire the flowers, take pictures, talk amongst themselves, or to the exhibitors, taking time to pause, and enjoying a slower pace of life, for a few moments of the day. Chelsea's best retailers, restaurants and hotels adorn themselves with stunning floral designs and compete against each other to win a coveted award. This year's theme was "Floral Feasts", and each contestant has their own interpretation and take on that idea, showcasing displays that Chelsea is very famous for, including its botanical heritage and fabulous food. My tour of Chelsea in Bloom began with the Ralph Lauren store in Sloane Square. The store facade was covered with coffee arabica plants and jasmine, rose, hyacinth and cosmos. The windows had oversized coffee cups, and the Ralph Lauren coffee cart served iced beverages in aid of the Royal Marsden Charity. LK Bennett chose to display an "Afternoon Tea at the Races", with tiered cakes, sandwiches and pastries together with wine - the perfect combination for them, as the Official Sponsor of Royal Ascot. Les Nereides Jewellery store had a very understated design based on their in-store Strawberry jewellery collection. The three-dimensional strawberries were intended to trigger your imagination and evoke a woodland scene of peace and tranquillity. The foliage used real leaves and the strawberries, which were different sizes, had been made from fresh and dried flowers. Les Nereides display had a sustainable theme which fits with the ethos of the Flower Show. Vardo restaurant in Duke of York Square had also taken their inspiration from strawberries. Their two metre tall installation represented the La Bomba cocktail - a fruity delight infused with the vibrant flavours of strawberry and juniper, and topped off with champagne. This was a striking display and looked fabulous against their bar cart and blackboard menu. Trilogy, also in Duke of York Square, had collaborated with one of their key brands to produce a huge ice cream cone. which depicted the true taste of Summer. They combined pastel blooms and sorbet shades with a wildflower archway, and the ice cream installation which worked really well together. Space NQ Beauty Banquet chose to use flowers in a display true to their own brand, and made a simple but striking statement. Their take on the theme served up a mouth watering platter of food inspired, and ingredient led products, such as the bright red lipstick below. An eye catching bold and quirky display was inspired by Trinny Woodall at Trinnys of London. Zesty fruit and bold colours were uplifting, and the fresh lemons with sunny yellow hues evoked a positive freshness. The flowers had been chosen to reflect Trinny London's passion for making every day brighter, and encourage everyone to be their best self. "Floral Feasts" at Brora was my absolute favourite display of Chelsea in Bloom. They had a Sweets and Treats Tea Party Window theme, which continued inside the store where sherbet lemons and mint refreshments were served. This display is a credit to Filomena Martino, the Visual Merchandising Manager, at Brora who always embraces Chelsea in Bloom, and comes up with some brilliant ideas. I am always excited to see the Brora display each year. Their Chelsea in Bloom display was the perfect fit with their ethical values and clothing collections, many of which have a botanical theme - with flower, fruit and food names in abundance. The clothing colour theme at Brora this year includes rhubarb, cherry, chocolate and sherbet, fitting perfectly with the sweetshop display and whole theme of Chelsea in Bloom. Prints such as ‘nettle botanical’ and ‘mimosa bloom’ stir up memories of hazy summer tea parties in the garden. There was a charitable element to "Floral Feasts" at Brora with 10% of their in-store sales of clothing with food-inspired colour names, given to the charity The Felix Project  for the duration of the ‘Sweets and Treats Tea Party’ window. Garden Writer | Guinevere's Garden

Last year I took on a second allotment, giving me space to grow cut flowers and herbs. By a stroke of luck, the plot had some well-established fruit bushes and a few herbs, including what I have now identified as Symphytum officinale or Comfrey. In the depths of Winter and early Spring it's difficult to identify plants but now, in early May, I have recognised Comfrey plants scattered along the side of the plot thriving in a part shaded area which is ideal as Comfrey should be kept somewhere permanent but out of the way. Once established it is very difficult to get rid of. The plants have mounds of thick green leaves and beautiful purple bell-shaped flowers which droop down in clusters. It has very robust growth and so can be cut back again and again as long as there is no damage to the crown and the outer leaves can be picked as needed without damaging the plant which will grow again from the centre. Comfrey is a fully hardy plant which is why it has survived the Winter in my plot. It dies down in Winter but its roots are 100% hardy. It likes some sun with partial shade and is very fast growing tolerating most soil types provided there is good drainage. It needs plenty of space and should be kept away from less vigorously growing plants as it can reach 1.5 metres in spread and height. Comfrey has a long tap root and is excellent at taking in nutrients and storing these in its leaves. Comfrey is part of the Borage family (Boraginaceae) and there are 59 species in total. It has connections back to folklore and was referred to by the famous herbalists Gerard and Parkinson. Its folk medicine names include boneset and knitbone whilst the Latin symphytum is derived from the Greek symphis , meaning growing together of bones, and phyton , a plant. Comfrey has been around as a healing herb since 400BC and was used by the Greeks and Romans to stop heavy bleeding, treat bronchial issues and heal wounds or broken bones. Poultices were made for external wounds and tea consumed for internal ailments. It is said that Comfrey promotes healthy skin and if a few leaves are brushed together to remove the hairs and then wrapped around a wound with light pressure it can stop bleeding, reduce pain and heal. I am always very cautious until I am certain of a plant and care must be taken with ancient recipes and uses of plants. Therefore, rather than be too experimental I have decided to use Comfrey as a mulch and fertiliser - to feed my tomatoes, currants and gooseberries as well as help some of the flowers I have in containers such as pelargoniums and brugmansias. Comfrey can be mixed with grass cuttings and added to a compost heap but for this to be successful quite large quantities are required. As I have grown several different varieties of Tomato plants this year I've decided that I will spread Comfrey leaves as a mulch beneath the Tomato plants. This will suppress weeds and retain moisture but also enrich the soil near to the plant roots. I will also try Comfrey as a liquid feed by filling a container with leaves and then topping it up with water. This turns into a sludge which takes around two weeks to breakdown and be ready for use. It should be used in a 1 to 10 mix with water and applied to the leaves as a foliar feed or applied directly to plant roots. This helps give plants in pots the nutrients that they would normally find in the ground. Comfrey flowers from May to August and is a great plant for pollinators, especially bees. It is on the Royal Horticultural Society Plants for Pollinators list. Garden Writer | Guineveres Garden

There is something about Latin plant names that seems quite magical and romantic. When I first became interested in gardening, the Latin was quite daunting, but over time I have become more familiar with it and I can recognise it, and pronounce an increasing number of plant names. Lathyrus odoratus is an easily recognisable name, and it is a plant that is very versatile and forgiving. More commonly known as the Sweet Pea, it is a staple of many summer gardens for the amateur and professional gardener alike. The sweet pea is a hardy annual, which means it can tolerate lower temperatures, and has quite a wide window of time available for sowing. Some prefer to sow their sweet peas in the Autumn to ensure earlier flowers and strong plants, whilst others sow their sweet pea seeds in the Spring. As the sweet pea germinates quite easily, I have often just planted the seeds with very little thought. This year I decided to put a little more effort and research into the needs of this beautiful plant, so I could be sure of getting the very best results. My decision to do this reaped rewards very quickly, although not how I had anticipated. In the past, I have purchased my seeds from a local garden centre, and then more recently, from Roger Parsons who holds the National Collection of sweet peas, and who has a huge choice of variety - well over 1000 in total. This year, whilst doing my research, I stumbled upon Easton Walled Garden and, in their own words, this is a "Sweet Pea Lovers Dream". Easton has been owned and run by the Cholmeley family since 1561 and is steeped in history. They grow 40 different sweet pea varieties in their Walled Gardens, ranging from highly scented heritage and antique sweet peas to more modern and trial varieties. Their sweet pea season runs from late June through to July, and this is the perfect time to visit and take a wander through their display beds. Having found Easton Gardens by chance I then discovered that as the flowers fade and seed pods form, they harvest and dry the seeds before selling to the public. Not only that but the seeds are also packaged and presented in the most delightful way, in stunning keepsake tins with matching ribbon. The packaging of their Walled, Heritage and Modern mixes is beautiful, and I couldn't resist them, so purchased all three. Like anything that is done well, Easton really does pay attention to detail. I was so delighted when the sweet peas arrived with me that I arranged for more to be sent out to my friends. Not only are the gorgeous tins wrapped in matching tissue paper, but they were accompanied by colour co-ordinated compliment slips, and a leaflet introducing Easton and explaining some of its history. Straight away Easton was added to my garden visit wish list. Having received these beautifully packaged seeds, I really did have to do them justice. I picked up one of my treasured Arthur Parkinson books and took note on his recommendations for planting and growing. I like Arthur's gardening style, as he is very relatable and explains how to give your sweet peas the best start, even if you have very little space and just a windowsill for growing. I duly followed his instructions and soaked my seeds overnight before planting them a thumbnail deep into a windowsill propagator unit. The compost was watered from beneath and, just before planting I was sure to label each variety together with the planting date. As soon as the seedlings were approximately one inch high, I followed Arthur's advice, took them off the heat, and began to acclimatise them by taking them outside when there was a milder weather day. After only a few weeks I pinched out the tops to encourage more bushy growth and moved my small plants to the cold frame. It is now the end of April, and they are strong and ready to be planted outside. I have just taken on an allotment which already has a makeshift flower frame and so, for this year, I will use this for training my plants. Next year I plan to use something more rustic - perhaps some jute netting and hazel tepees. For anyone who wants to delve further into the history of sweet peas, as well as the many different varieties and tips on growing, I would recommend "The Sweet Pea Book", written by Graham Rice. I spotted this book some time ago and couldn't resist adding it to my garden book collection. It's a very inspiring read with plenty of beautiful pictures, written by a horticulturist who trained at the Royal Horticultural Gardens, Kew. Garden Writer | Guineveres Garden

When I set off for some summer sun on the French Riveria thoughts of visiting any garden, let alone a famous artist's garden, were far from my mind. That is until I stumbled upon Pierre-August Renoir's house perched high on a hillside in Cagnes-sur-Mer. Renoir purchased "Dommaine des Collettes" in 1907 when he fell under the spell of it's Olea europaea (Olive) and Citrus sinensis ( orange) trees and it was the inspiration for much of his later life's work. He bought the house in order to ensure the Olive Trees in the garden were protected and so, in many respects, was way ahead of his time in preservation and conservation thinking. He painted and sculpted there for eleven years and as you wander through both house and gardens you experience a strong connection to the man himself. Travelling back in time to the living studio of an artistic genius, I felt in awe and very lucky to be part of that history, even if momentarily. Renoir suffered badly with arthritis in his later years, and the warmth of the climate in this part of France helped to ease his pain. You can instantly see what attracted him to this garden - it has views to the Mediterranean, inland views to the mountains, the special light which is so important to artists and a sense of space - although several hectares in size it feels an intensely intimate place. If you position yourself in just the right place you can frame a view with the olive trees in the garden and imagine that you are part of one of Renoir's stunning paintings. Many of his fellow artists and friends also painted in this garden - Zita Landy, Marcelle Neveu, Charles Raymond, Raymond Gaudet, Fernand Guery-Colas, Bert - the list goes on and on. I've always been aware that a garden is one of the most sophisticated forms of art but nowhere did that fact resonate, as much as in this garden. You only need to take a walk through the Olive Grove and then meander through the rooms of the house, to see how the two are so complexly intertwined. There was almost too much to take in during one visit and, like most gardens I visit, I knew that I had to come back. The heat is intense and the sun is very high in the sky but this is heaven to some plants such as Agapanthus or Lily of the Nile, which thrives here and its stunning purple flowers and broad green leaves contrast beautifully against the sun dried pink hued gravel paths. Agapanthus is a tough survivor which can tolerate these very dry conditions and its fragile and thin green stems topped with blue / lilac drum stick shaped flowers are just stunning. It was easy to see inspiration for art work throughout the garden in plant colour and form. In this part of the world the heat is intense, the sun very high in the sky and there are long periods with very little rain. Despite this environment some plants can thrive and it was interesting to see plants with strong, deep and eye catching colours - perfect subjects for an Artist and his friends. Scattered throughout the meandering pathways was the eye catching and evergreen shrub Nerium oleander . This shrub is abundant in the Mediterranean and has been cultivated since ancient times. The beautiful white flower sits perfectly against its thick green leaves and leathery stems. The garden contains many pink coloured Nerium oleander as well. These are well established specimens with a very vivid hue - perfect for bringing flowers to life by way of a painting. If I closed my eyes and cleared my mind it was easy to visualise this plant being the focus of an afternoons painting session for perhaps Renoir or one of his many friends On one level simply a plant doing its own thing - adapting and coping with its own position and environment. But stop to think and perhaps it could be the catalyst for a world famous painting, captured for ever on canvas. My thoughts were provoked at many junctures in this garden. Another stunning architectural plant in the garden is Dasylirion serratifolium . This is a very hardy plant which is native to Mexico and has striking yellow flowers with sandpaper like rough leaves. The flowers stretch up rigidly from the more delicate grass base and contrast beautifully with the surrounding trees and blue sky beyond. I stumbled on Renoir's garden and so I hadn't pre-planned my visit. If I am honest I was not even aware of the gardens existence and in just a couple of hours, it was difficult to take everything in. Not only was the garden full of interest but the house itself contained many original paintings and so the whole experience was quite overwhelming as a taster and glimpse into the past. For anyone wanting to find out more about Renoir's Garden a starting point would be the detailed book by Derek Fell. This book has been added to my own library wish list and I'm sure if I ever am lucky enough to return it will give the garden a whole new meaning to me. The house tells it's own story and is well worth a visit just to see a multitude of original artworks. Many of these works are painted in the garden and surrounding area and others are of Renoir's family or friends. Some of note are "Promenade Sous-Bais, La Ferme des Collettes and Paysage aux Collettes. In one of the rooms you can see Renoir's easel and chair. If you look closely you can see long handles on the back of the chair and, together with the large wheels, this gave the ability for Renoir to be carried around the garden to paint when he was no longer able to get around himself unaided. Although sad it shows the passion that he had for getting out into the garden, even in his later years, enabling him to continue to paint. Renoir still had passion and the eagerness to learn. Renoir was also a sculptor and in spite of his frailty after moving to Les Collettes, he experimented with form. He was encouraged by his art dealer friend Ambroise Vollard. The most amazing sculpture of a Greco-Roman Venus stands in the garden and has been placed directly in front of the house. This is art in a three dimensional form and not only does it provide a focal point in the garden it also links the art, the human form and gardening to one another. It's a stunning piece and very much food for thought. Even though time moves on in life and a garden as they each develop a sculpture such as this allows everything to stand still, for a moment in time, and is very magical. Sometimes it's only as you are nearly ready to leave that you actually feel the true sense and feel of a garden. At the outset you have excitement and anticipation at what you may see. There are some expectations, as you may already have heard or read a little about the garden prior to your visit. Then there are some surprises as perhaps you see a combination of plants you had never considered or some aspect of the garden triggered an idea within you. However, it's only as you prepare to leave that all the aspects of a garden come together in your mind. The plants, the design, the history, the people - all of these, and more, make the garden and leave it's mark on you. As I prepared to leave Renoir's garden and wandered back through the ancient trees with their gnarled trunks and shade giving leaves, I really got a feel for Renoir and what he was about. I felt sad that the garden was now in some respects empty but pleased that the spirit lives on to encourage many future generations to appreciate, and engage with art, whatever its form. The garden had affected and provoked thoughts within me and I am sure that next time I visit an Art Gallery containing a famous Renoir painting I will think very differently. I made a mental note to look up David Fell's book and ensure that more Artist Gardens were added to my garden visit wish list. If ever you find yourself in the South of France I would thoroughly recommend taking the time to pay this beautiful place and garden a visit.

Levens Hall, and it's ancient topiary garden, has been on my garden visit wish list for many years. I had seen many pictures of it's quirky topiary, and read lots about the garden, but nothing can replace the excitement of seeing a garden in person, and in particular for the first time, which is very special indeed. This is the oldest topiary garden in the world, and is home to well over 100 topiary shapes, some of which date back over 300 years.  Not only is the garden spectacular but, there is also Levens Hall itself, which is equally stunning in it's own right. It is very unusual to find a garden that has not changed dramatically over time, and been preserved for so many years.  Levens is very unique in this respect, for several reasons. Once owned by a singular family, the house would remain with that family, and be passed down, for very many years.  Often the family member who inherited, had their own "main" residence, and so Levens was left, in many respects, to the care of the gardeners. Finally, the gardeners at Levens seemed to remain loyal and stay at the garden for many years.  For some of the gardeners, Levens has been their life time position and work, which really is quite incredible and a testament to the draw and importance in gardening that Levens has, even to this day. The gardener who initially set out Levens, for Colonel Grahme, who became owner of  the house in 1689,  was Guillaume Beaumont.  Guillaume Beaumont had a wealth of experience, having worked for the King of England as well as having connections to the Palace of Versailles. Not only that, as Colonel Grahme was absent whilst much of the intial garden work was carried out, there was a wealth of correspondence about the garden progress between the two men. Much of this correspondence remains at Levens Hall, which has enabled a lot of the history to be traced. I visited on an early Autumn day when the air was crisp, but the sun was warm with only a few clouds in the sky.  It was perfect.  On first entering the garden, there is no topiary in sight, and it's only as you walk alongside the house and enter through a side gate, that the myriad of quirky shapes comes in to sight.  This garden is breathtaking - a living history which really does make a lasting impression on one's mind.   I was in for quite a surprise.  As well as topiary the garden contained many more separate garden rooms.  There is a rose garden, an orchard and bee garden, bowling green and borders, fountain garden, ha-ha, vegetable garden, nuttery and herb garden, plus deer park.  This really is a garden that keeps on giving.  There was almost too much to take in and I realised that I would need to return. Close to the house itself, I found a rather spectacular specimen of  Cynara   scolymus, otherwise known as Globe Artichoke.  This was stunning against the backdrop of the house wall, and was a truly architectural feature which couldn't help but catch the eye.  This worked well as further out into the garden, the planting around the topiary was more relaxed and informal giving a stunning contrast between the two. The border along the house was just an initial introduction to the garden, as once you entered and walked along this border, you couldn't help but take in the multitude of topiary features that greeted you.  I felt overwhelmed, excited and just astounded by the sheer magnitude of it all. There was all manner of topiary set out before me.  Top hats, birds, crowns...you name it.....just far too much for the eye to take in and comprehend. In fact, it was only after I left the garden, and contemplated, that I realised how amazingly special this experience had been - and that was only the topiary garden! What really struck me about the topiary at Levens was the contrast.  There is contrast between the tall Taxus baccata Yew topiary shapes, and then the lower Buxus , box   shapes as well as the row upon row of Buxus edging. Between all this, is gravel and grass paths which give contrasting colours, and so set off the topiary perfectly. Within the low Buxus edging are herbaceous plants with a romantic and wild feel to them which, really adds to the effect, so that it's all just quite wonderful. There are many shades of topiary, from a very dark and deep green, to a bright and light yellowed hue.  These colours are set off by an expanse of lawn, split up by the gravel paths and then the landscape and parkland beyond. On many pieces of topiary, the crown of the plant has been lifted, leaving an expanse of beautiful, and often gnarled and eye-catching tree trunk.  Often a bench has been placed beneath, so that visitors can take a break, to just sit and take in the essence of the place. In many topiary gardens, everything seems orderly, precision cut and perfectly lined up.  At Levens, the topiary is quirky, often top heavy, falling over itself, and rather topsy turvy in nature. This perfectly imperfect impression really does endear you to the place, especially when set off against the backdrop of the ancient Hall itself. In the borders surrounding the topiary, enclosed by low level Buxus hedges, there is a multitude of colour contrasting plants.  During my visit, the beautiful  Ageratum houstonianum  or Mexican Paintbrush plant, made for a very eye catching display. It had amazing fluffy lilac blue flowers which last well into the Autumn. Many of the herbaceous and annuals mixed into the topiary garden were in drifts of just one plant.  However, in some areas there was a mix of colour combinations. I particularly liked the deep pink Cosmos bipinnatus and purple Verbena bonariensis,  which complemented each other perfectly. Another almost structural annual, which had been used in both a white and pink colour, was Cleome hassleriana the Spider Flower.  The flowers of this plant really stood out and grabbed my attention in the rest of the border, and I am sure that later on in the Autumn their long seed pods would be quite eye catching as well. All the form and structure of this garden is living in nature - the hedges and the topiary give the garden it's backbone, but this is interspersed with some very structural type annuals and herbaceous plants, which come and go as the season progresses. There is both repetition as well as interspersed planting, and this is quite an achievement.  Little can be done with the 300 year topiary, other than to nuture and care for it.  Experimentation and fun happens with the planting all around at Levens. Parts of the borders show a romantic abandonment of thick and quite tall planting, whereas other parts are rigid and formal, yet with an artistically quirky twist. It really is quite magical place to see. It's not just the flowers, colour and shapes that make this garden, but also some more unusual aspects, such as the gnarled and twisted stems and branches that make up the form of the plants which are rather eye catching to see. It's incredible that most of Levens Hall gardeners have made this place their life vocation and stayed for many, many years. After only visiting for a day, Levens had cast its spell on me.  It draws you in and, when you have to leave, it imprints itself on your mind and leaves a lasting impression. I will be back before long to this magical place, as there is so much more to see.

I've always felt that a garden should have a proper sense of entrance and exit, not necessarily a physical boundary but certainly a feeling within ones own mind. Something changes within my whole being when I enter a garden - there is a mixture of excitement and anticipation - sometimes I am surprised and delighted by what I find, other times disappointment can creep in. A garden can stir the emotions and mind and leave an impression which is sometimes difficult to forget. Stepping through the huge wooden gates in to this Paris garden felt like entering another completely different world. When entering the Courtyard a long and narrow cobbled path leads you between two buildings which give way to an open seating area shaded by mature trees through which sunlight filters through. All the city sounds fade away replaced by a deep sense of peace. The cobblestones are various shades, from grey to a bright salmon pink and all tone in with the patina of the buildings around them. Beautiful terracotta pots line the pathway filled with colourful and scented plants of all manner and kind. There are window boxes and trellis as well as areas planted with shrubs and quite mature trees. As the Courtyard opened up I was met with the most charming but simple tables and chairs. Painted in a subtle green colour this metal furniture had light pink cushions that blended in perfectly with the surroundings. Here you could sit and contemplate, listen to the birdsong, take in the fragrance and colour of the plants, whilst you read a book or had a glass of wine at the end of another Parisian day. This was a country house setting in the midst of a huge City and another place I would feel reluctant to share! This garden felt like a world set apart from City reality. Somewhere to switch off and connect with nature for an hour or so whatever the time of day. As the garden was mainly paved it made maximum use of the vertical surfaces and of containers. There were actually only a handful of plants but these were repeated throughout the garden, in a clever design, and this had the effect of pulling the garden together to amazing effect. Perhaps the most striking plant was the Hydrangea macrophylla (French Hydrangea) in a gorgeous pink colour. This was scattered throughout the garden in quite large terracotta pots. Rather than using a mix of colours just the one pink had been chosen and cleverly placed for maximum effect. Space really was at a premium and so use was made of the walls for climbing plants on trellis and also planters strategically placed on balconies. Many of the plants were green in colour giving a harmonious effect but different textures added to the interest and created an intimate feeling. Despite being surrounded by buildings there was privacy and you could just tuck yourself away. An interesting structural plant was the Chamaerops humilis (European Fan Fern) which was found in most of the wider planted beds at the end of the Courtyard. Its fan shaped leaves were spectacular giving a tropical and exotic feel. This was the perfect choice of plant as it is tough and undemanding but added interest and screening at the same time. Perhaps my favourite plant was Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star Jasmine) which could be found growing up walls and along trellis throughout the garden. The smell was sublime and the bright white colour just stunning against the deep green glossy leaves. There were also small Olea Europaea (Olive) trees in pots dotted around the garden. These were a nod to the history and connection of France with beautiful Olive groves where every village would have a link to the Olive tree. Simple as this Courtyard garden was I realised quite quickly that behind the surface was a cleverly thought out and planned design. This garden was a work of living art. The colour palette of the garden was simple but repetitive. It consisted of pink, purple and white flowers with a very small pop of coral in some of the window box planters. Green foliage was the backdrop but different shapes, shades and textures made the whole scheme work and gave a lovely contrast to the flowering plants. All the planters and window boxes had been kept to a simple repeated colour and design in a shade of terracotta. This was well thought out because it gave unity and a calm feeling to the Courtyard. I particularly liked the Lythrum virgatum (Loosestrife) which had been placed in pots to contrast beautifully with the Hydrangeas. For Paris, where space is at a premium, this was a very unusual garden. I felt blessed to have been able to spend several days, leaving each morning and returning each night to what became my own special sanctuary. One very successful textural plant was the Fatsia japonica (Paperplant). This gave some degree of cover, being evergreen, between the tree and floor canopy of the garden. It had the most beautiful glossy leaves and is shade tolerant so it thrived in the dappled light of the garden. Whilst enjoying all the Art that Paris has to offer in it's world famous galleries I realised that when you enter a garden you are stepping into a living and breathing work of art. Art was everywhere in this garden - the colour, the texture, the tone, the layers all carefully thought out and arranged to maximum effect. The beauty of a garden is that it is in many dimensions, it is ever changing from one season to the next. Most amazing of all is that you can walk around and explore this piece of art which really is very special. The garden gave me peace and a place to unwind. As I left for the last time through the huge and heavy courtyard gates I knew that yet again I had been touched by a very special garden place.

I've been privileged to receive an invite to this private Kitchen and Cutting Garden in Sussex, on two occasions now. My first visit was in April whilst the tulipa  were in full swing. I was very excited to visit once more during early Summer when the garden had really come to life as you can see. I love to re-visit gardens at different times of year as they can take on a completely different feel and appearance as the plants ebb and flow through the seasons. A garden is an ever changing and complex piece of art - never the same and always something new to see. The walled garden is entered by a gravel path which winds it's way through beautiful Mediterranean style planting after which a gate leads into the garden itself. There is a lot going on in this garden from herbaceous planting interspersed with Rosa , to ancient fruit trees, vegetables, cut flowers, glass houses and a hidden sunken grass garden too. The garden flows together seamlessly but, behind the scenes, it's obvious there is a great deal of detailed planning and hard work going on. As you first enter the garden the impression is very much that of traditional Cottage Garden style.  Long expanses of Buxus hedge and ancient gnarled fruit trees greet you. There are fairly wide borders of Rosa and herbaceous plants which look beautiful set off against the stone wall backdrop and gravel pathways. Tucked away behind the garden walls you can glimpse the most beautiful dovecote which adds to the character and sense of place. Interspersed among the planting of the borders are specimen pieces of topiary which give the garden form in Winter but during Summer really set off some of the more eye-catching flowers. One of these flowers is the beautiful lilac pink Dahlia mercii which has stunning bright yellow stamen. As you wander further into the garden it becomes more utilitarian in nature.  There are many perfectly sized oak edged beds filled with all manner of fruits, vegetables and cutting flowers. This is a working garden producing an abundance of produce and blooms for the occupants of the nearby house. It was very special to be allowed to wander at will in their own private space. No expense has been spared and everything about this garden is understated perfection.  Natural staking is topped with terracotta pots so that netting can be thrown over the crops for protection.  However, everything has a very ordered and quality appearance whilst remaining very natural and blending into the surroundings.   There is a very subtle mix of old with new and everything is made and measured to fit perfectly into place being beautiful but also fit for the purpose it was made. The colour palette in this garden is stunning and although the colours seem to blend quite naturally, it's obvious that thought has been given to both colour and form. One combination that works really well is the pale purple flower of Salvia nemorosa combined with the seed heads of a Papaver orientale .  One plant is tall, narrow and slim, the other bulbous with seeds and the most beautiful star shaped top in two shades of green.  Nature is just stunning when you pause to look carefully and really understand what is going on. This beautiful garden uses a contrast of gravel and grass between the beds and borders.  Here you can see the  Linaria purpurea or purple toadflax loosely planted in the gravel and breaking up the formality of the buxus hedge. Another beautiful plant combination is the delicate pale pink flower of  Sidalcea campestris, also known as meadow checkerbloom and Salvia nemorosa, or balkan clary, which is upright with a lovely purple lilac hue. The Head Gardener is so talented and not afraid to experiment and try different colour palettes and plants.  Sometimes though the most beauiful of plant combinations can be down to nature itself. Everything works together in harmony within the garden walls.  New oak beds, yet to weather properly, contain annuals and vegetables and these are flanked by perfectly trained fruit trees and bushes. The fruit is grown to maximise production whilst also allowing easy access for picking.  Long runs of metal poles supported by weathered oak posts run the length of the vegetable beds and draw the eye. Every bit of space is used to a maximum in this garden and fruit is also grown alongside roses, and other climbers, on the old stone walls. Natural is of upmost importance to the gardeners and whereas skilled craftsmen have constructed beautiful oak planters, posts and planting beds, the gardeners have taken advantage of hazel and other wood to make wigwams to support many of the annuals within the garden. The skilled craftmanship and artisan structures complement each other well. At the far end of the garden are two of the most amazing greenhouses which house all manner of plant as well as being a cosy place to be in cold or wet weather and a great place for the propagation of seeds. Around the walls of the greenhouses Erigeron karvinskianus,  the mexican fleabane, has been allowed to self seed.  This plant always gives a sense of romantic abandon even though often very skillfully and carefully placed. The walled garden was an oasis where time seemed to stand still as I wandered and drank in its sounds and sights.  The plants were something to behold but birdsong and nature were equally important to hear and see.  It was a private place full of life and the hustle and bustle of the gardeners and their activity. As I stepped back through the gate into reality I entered another totally different space but with a very unusual feeling of tranquility.  This was the long pond garden which links the walled garden with the house itself. This was a place to reflect and gather thoughts before stepping back into my day to day world.  Before I turned to leave, I stood still for a few moments and looked at the very basics of nature before me - sky, water and the most beautiful of trees.  I was reluctant to leave but sure that I would make this place one to return to soon.

My visit to the Walled Garden at Parham House was the highlight of my Summer and an experience which will remain with me for a very long time. The garden is four acres in size and surrounded by 875 acres of agricultural land including 300 acres of ancient parkland in which fallow deer roam. These surroundings make the Walled Garden one of the most peaceful gardens I have ever visited and one that touched my soul. There is so much to see in this Garden from herbaceous borders, a Rose Garden, an Orchard, a vegetable garden and the most beautiful greenhouse and Wendy House too. At times whilst walking around and taking all this in, it was easy to forget I was in a Walled Garden at all. There was a real sense of space and the feeling of stepping back in time to another era - I could easily imagine the generations of gardeners who each had their own influence on this unique and unusual patch of land. The garden was full of surprises with many plants and plant combinations that I had not seen before and several simple but really effective ideas such as the rustic netting and staking supports. I made mental notes to try this at home in my own cut flower garden. There were two styles of staking in the garden. Both made use of hazel rods and in some areas string was tied in a criss cross pattern between the rods to support the plants beneath. Elsewhere a clever string netting had been used for extra support. This gave a natural and rustic look which would eventually become covered by flowers. Wood chip pathways had been laid between the cut flower beds for ease of access and there was a backdrop of sweet peas also supported by taller string netting. The whole effect was simple, effective and charming and just a lovely way to show off the foliage and flowers. Towards the edge of the Garden was the most spectacular greenhouse which was full of traditional terracotta pots filled with all manner of plants and flowers. This was a wonderful place and there was almost too much to take in and see. The floors were broken up with different styles of paving, there were beautiful shutters for shading, intricate staging and even shelves to add interest and height. There was a series of doors splitting off sections of the green house and other doors leading off to the side. This gave the opportunity to grow a huge variety of plants all with their own unique requirements. There were many different varieties of Pelargonium as well as ferns and different varities of Fuchsia. One plant which particularly caught my eye was the lilac coloured Streptocarpus saxorum or False African Violet. This is a very delicate and stunning small plant with trailing stems which can only be grown outside in the Summer. There was a very delicate Fuchsia magellanica , also known as Lady's Eardrops, which had beautiful red and white flowers and was planted in a larger pot on the floor. This plant has serrated leaves which show off its flowers to great effect. It can grow to nearly three metres in height and has the RHS Awards of Garden Merit and Plants for Pollinators. Another treasure in the greenhouse was Lycianthes rantonnetii also known at the Blue Potato Bush. This plant is native to Paraquay and Argentina and can only survive outside in very mild weather. It is evergreen and has the most beautiful purple funnel shaped flowers followed by red berries. Another plant for my garden wishlist.

I have always thought how wonderful it would be to have my very own library filled to the brim with all types of garden related books. A secret oasis, where I could escape and read to my heart's content. There are three types of gardening book which appeal to me - depending on the reading mood I am in. First there are the huge coffee table type books that are brimming with stunning garden photography, Then, there are books that tell the story of one particular garden and the people connected with it. Finally there are the garden books which are filled with technical information on how to accomplish all manner of tasks, and look after many individual types of plants. The book I want to share with you today falls into the last category, and is full of pictures and information on how to plan, plant, and maintain an orchard. The title is simply "The Orchard Book", and the author is Wade Muggleton. I was first attracted to this beautiful book by the stunning illustrations on the cover designed by Sarah Robinson. These illustrations depict an established orchard of trees, which are full of bright red apples surrounded by wildflowers, birds, bees and dragonflies. Before you even open the cover of the book, you can already visualise everything that the perfect orchard can and should be. Wade Muggleton has years of experience in permaculture, and has a collection of over 130 different varieties of fruit tree. He has appeared on Gardeners World, opened his garden for the National Garden Scheme, and given talks and training in various orchard related subjects. In "The Orchard Book" Wade shares all these years of knowledge with the reader, and makes what can be a very complicated subject much easier to understand. You may think that an orchard is a lovely idea, but that it's not feasible for you, as you don't have a spare field available or a huge empty plot. However, right from the beginning, Wade makes you realise that anyone can have an orchard if they open their mind and listen to his advice. An orchard will fit in the smallest of back gardens, or a tiny allotment, and this book will show you exactly how to accomplish that. In fact, Wade Muggleton himself started off with a mini orchard in his back garden, before he went on to build on that knowledge by expanding his orchard on to a much larger field type scale. He has 32 fruit trees in a back garden that measures just 12 by 24 metres in size. In his field orchard, he has 130 trees, which include some very obscure and rare apple varieties, which are found in only a handful of places in the world. In the UK,we have lost maybe 90% of our traditional orchards but, after touching on the past history and evolution of orchards, this book encourages us to look forward and focus on what we ourselves can now create. There is a list of many different reasons to grow your own fruit, from freshness, carbon reduction and biodiversity, to simply enjoying the peacefulness and mindfulness of spending time in the oasis that you have created. Growing your own fruit opens up a huge choice of varieties which simply aren't available in local shops or supermarkets. The book gives a background into the history of apples, and then goes on to list and recommend many different individual varieties. Some I'd heard of before, such as "Granny Smith", but others were more unusual and dated back hundreds of years. I decided that if I planted my own orchard, I would choose "Pitmaston Pineapple" which originated in 1785 and has a honey and musk taste. "Winter Banana" sounded appealing too, and even more so as it can be picked right up until Christmas. I realised that you really must do some research, at the outset, into the varieties that would suit you. Once you decide that an orchard really is for you, Wade recommends that you take the time to look at your site and consider it in detail from plot size, aspect, the number of trees you want, the time you have available. Taking the time to do this at the outset is a good investment, as it will make sure the end result works well for you. There are many pictures of Wade's own private garden orchard,and explanations on how and why he chose the layout and trees - so there areplenty of ideas and inspiration to help. As I read through the book I started to learn about "rootstock" and how this is fundamental to your orchard. Rootstocks are all known by different letters - an M111 rootstock is for large trees with good anchorage, whereas with a semi-dwarfing rootstock, you can have trees which will never necessitate you using a ladder in order to pick the fruit. Rootstock is the key to having a manageable sized mini-orchard and the next important consideration is cost, as trees can be extremely expensive to purchase. Wade has the perfect solution to cut down costs when purchasing trees, and this is to graft your own on to very reasonably priced rootstock,collecting cuttings from friends and other enthusiasts. The book contains very detailed information on rootstock and grafting and shares many secrets of the commercial nurseries enabling you not only to save money, but also learn and get satisfaction from that new found knowledge and skill. The book also touches on biodiversity and the benefits of companion planting, as well as using a range of different fruits to cut down on diseases, as well as describing the benefits of wildlife and other crops going hand in hand with an orchard. There is another chapter devoted to many other types of fruit tree such as pears, cherries, apricots, peaches and medlars. There are over 2000 varieties of apple tree, and yet our supermarkets carry maybe 6 or 7 well known varieties, many of which originate thousands of miles away. Granny Smith is from Australia, Golden Delicious is from the USA, and Braeburn is from New Zealand. Wade recommends putting some effort into research and finding heritage varieties which originate close to you, and then trying to plan these, so that you get a constant succession of fruit through the seasons. He also explains how important shelter is to protect your trees from wind damage, and several solutions are discussed together with their merits. One of my favourite chapters in the book is about the various suggestions on how to grow smaller trees in a small garden type plot. I found it fascinating to learn about the various forms such as stepovers, cordons, espalliers, trees grown over arches, dwarf and standard trees. One really clever idea was two different varieties of apple grown over a metal arch, which can be taken away once the trees are established, leaving a most stunning apple archway. I decided this would be top of my orchard list followed by step over apples grown on the outside boundaries of my cut flower beds. Just as I thought I'd had that epiphany moment about rootstock, varieties and form, and in coming to the realisation that a varied orchard really was within my reach, Wade finished off with the best suggestion of all - the family tree. This is one tree which you can graft with many different varieties of apple, once you have mastered the skill. Wade has a family tree with seven different varieties of apple growing on it, having added different varieties over the years. I knew at once family tree was what I would one day aspire to - I just had to master the art of grafting first. Towards the end of the book, there are detailed instructions on how to plant a tree, the pros and cons of staking, and the magic ingredient of mycorrhizal root powder. There is also a whole chapter on what to do with the grass that grows beneath a tree, and how best to manage this, as well as what to do with the produce from juicing and fermenting, to just sharing with your local community. The many reasons for pruning are also discussed, together with information on what tools you will need, and how best to achieve the results you want. There are also arguments for Summer rather than Winter pruning, and what the benefits are. The book doesn't just tell you how to do these jobs, it goes into detail about why you need to do them, and so gives you a very clear understanding. Not only does an orchard give you pleasure and fruit, but it also provides a precious habitat for many of the other species around it, and Wade describes how toads, frogs, bettles, bees, birds, fungi and a multitude of other flora and fauna have been attracted to his orchard giving them a protected habitat and us the joy of creating that very special place. I would thoroughly recommend Wade Muggleton's Orchard Book - it's a fascinating and interesting read.

West Green House, a musical garden in Hampshire, is a wonderful place which is full of surprises. I wasn't sure what to expect from this garden and first impressions gave very little away. The garden has been created over several years by Australian designer, Marylyn Abbott, who has a passion for Opera and Gardens. At West Green she has very cleverly combined the two, linking music with art and generously sharing this love with others by opening her gardens and hosting a range of musical performances in the grounds, during the year. When first arriving at West Green you are greeted with the most beautiful roses which festoon the walls surrounding West Green House, a stunning Manor House set within it's own beautiful courtyard. The roses are a striking apricot shade which tones in with the walls and gives a very romantic feel. The style is quite classical and in some ways minimal as there is very little planting other than formal topiary within the courtyard itself and several small trees. These have been strategically placed to screen most of the house from view. A gravel pathway leads alongside the house to the garden itself which is very cleverly split into distinctive parts. I choose to enter by the Lake Field with water, pavilion, island and, as it's name suggests - lake. The landscaping here is on a large scale and quite spectacular including a temple garden, dragon garden, grotto and garden of the five bridges. A line of pleached trees draws the eye into the garden and the green foliage is in stark contrast to the red dragon art either side of the low level hedge. Walking on beyond the dragon walk is the pond which is framed by an abundance of wild flowers and surrounded by trees with very dappled light. Just beyond the pond your eye is drawn to the pavilion which sits on the island in the lake. To the side of the pond are walls that contain the most beautiful walled garden. Strategically placed is a wrought iron gate which during my visit was left open. Some beautiful ducks took advantage of this to slowly waddle from the pond into the garden itself. This was one of the highlights of the garden for me - on one side of the wall a natural and wilder type landscape but, on the other side of the gate, a highly cultivated and stunning walled garden. Each contrasted with each other whilst, at the same time, blending naturally as you moved between the two. The walled garden at West Green is spectacular. There are herbaceous borders, box parterres, vegetable and fruit areas as well as beautifully manicured grass lawns. There was so much to take in that it became quite overwhelming to see. The mature trees along the boundary make it easy to forget that the garden is contained within walls at all. The trees present a perfect backdrop to set off some of the more structural and eye catching plants nestled with the rest of the herbaceous planting. This gorgeous yellow Verbascum densiflorum is striking and towers above the Digitalis below. It's not only the plants that create a statement in this garden. The gravel pathways and Buxus edging are immaculate throughout and a credit to the gardeners at West Green. There are many focal points to draw the eye. In the picture below the paths lead to a stunning fruit cage flanked by small trees and very cleverly designed. I was very impressed with the beautifully manicured lawns which had been mown in a diagonal style across the garden. These were a real showcase and again, the size of them and tree lined backdrop really disguised the fact they are confined within a walled garden. The lawns were surrounded by roses and small trees with rustic climbing supports dotted throughout the borders. Seating areas are dotted about throughout the garden like this pale blue painted arbor below, topped with the most romantic style of rose in a stunning white colour. The gravel and paintwork to the arbor all immaculate. Just outside the walled garden is a huge expanse of grass and separate orangery and it is here that the house itself comes in to view sitting in front of a huge expanse of lawn where productions are often held. The setting is stunning and the house an amazing backdrop for the musical events. It's hard to imagine you are just 40 miles from London. As you leave the walled garden and walk past the house you enter a small seating and topiary area. This is a more formal space with clipped Buxus and Taxus Baccata but quite simple paving and seating which is painted in a striking red colour which really stands out and makes a statement. Everything about West Green House is perfection and attention to detail. It flows seamlessly from one garden room to the next but only due to the planning behind the design and the hard work of the gardeners who maintain it. I would certainly recommend a visit.

I have driven past this garden more times than I care to remember, without ever realising that it was actually there. This truly is a "Secret Garden" to me, and it is someplace that I feel almost too selfish to share. It was once the garden to a huge house located high up in the hills above a beautiful valley, but the house was demolished many years ago and only the garden remains. The garden was built well away from the house, designed to be a working garden, which was tucked away from view.   Now it stands quite alone, in the middle of fields, surrounded by a beautiful stone wall. Time has stood still in this garden for many years, and although it is being slowly coaxed back to life, this is the perfectly imperfect garden, to me, in many ways. As I approached the old iron gate and walked into the garden, it drew and enveloped me with its magic, its potential and its neglect. What draws me to this garden is the way in which it has been left to nature, neglected and uncared for over many years.  At one time a team of gardeners would have worked for hours every day growing flowers, fruit, and vegetables for the house.  This working walled garden would have run like clockwork and been in a tip top shape. This magical place is just as much about what is going on now, in the present,  as what has happened in the past.  Relics of the past are scattered all around the garden and progress for the future is clear to see as well.   It feels as if those men and women gardeners of days gone by simply shut the garden gate and let time stand still until now.  In some ways it is sad to see the neglect, but in other ways you have a fascinating glimpse into another era, and that is what I love about this very special place. The garden is on a moderate slope, and so is made up of a series of soil terraces, which are held back with dry stone walls.  The whole garden is enclosed with dry stone walls of around eight to ten feet in height.  This makes it feel quite special, as it is completely different to the well-known brick walled Victorian kitchen gardens. There is a very relaxed feel, and due to the location and low height of the walls, the whole garden fits perfectly into its position, and borrows from the rolling hills and trees around it, many of which can be viewed from the garden. The terraces are being filled with fruits, flowers and vegetables, but this is a work in progress, and it seems to be a battle between making progress and the garden taking itself back to the past.  There are areas of neglect, and it seems a lack of labour prevents the garden from reaching perfection. When this was a working garden, a whole team would nurture and work on the land.  Now the garden relies on just a handful of helpers and volunteers, and there is repair work as well as gardening to be dealt with, so it is a huge task, and I am sure a labour of love. There are several growing beds in the garden, each on its own terrace, and some edged with stone.  Large metal frames sit over some of the beds, and plants seem to be grown quite randomly rather than within some fixed scheme. Although there was an overall feeling of balance between progress and neglect, there were nevertheless some beautiful plants - some self-seeded around the edges, and others obviously planted and tended to. As I entered the garden a gorgeous coral coloured  Papaver somniferum  (Carnation Poppy) caught my eye, standing boldly upright, and contrasting against the dark and dry soil.  This was joined by a bright and beautiful yellow coloured  Rudbeckia hirta  (Brown Betty), which was eye catching in the afternoon sun. There are pockets of  Chrysanthemum leucanthemum  (Ox-Eye Daisy) all over the garden, and towards the bottom of the garden they frame stone steps leading out through a doorway to the field beyond.  There, beautiful plants swayed in the breeze and gave a wild feel to the garden. There are many self-seeders too, just sneaking into cracks in the walls, or a space where they feel just perfect to put down their roots and grow.  These added a certain charm to the garden and included the common  Digitalis purpurea  (Foxglove) and the bright yellow  Eschschoizia californica  (California Poppy). Amongst the flowers, terraces and steps, garden tools and hand machinery were scattered randomly.  It seemed as if the gardeners had temporarily left them, whilst interrupted in work, and would soon return to continue their labours.  No modern tools here - all beautifully crafted tools of the past. Other interesting plants I found were  Verbascum ,  Aquilegia vulgaris  (Granny's Bonnet) in a stunning shade of purple (variety unknown), as well as  Cephalanria gigantea  (Giant scabious), which towered over the other plants in a stunning yellow colour against the dry stone wall. As well as the odd rake, watering can and roller, there were many old benches spread throughout the garden, many of which were made from old iron work. Like the rest of the garden, these gave a feeling of grandeur which has aged, weathered and finally found a more easy going and peaceful pace.  The garden is now a labour of love, rather than a production line for the grand house. Perhaps my favorite plant of all was the beautiful light pink coloured  Astrantia major  (Masterwort), which was forming lots of clumps towards the bottom of the garden.  This plant looked fragile in its surroundings but happy in its place. At the bottom of the garden is a beautiful wooden gate, where you can enter the field beyond.  The gate is framed with ferns, and I expected to walk out into a woodland or something similar. Instead, perhaps the greatest delight of the garden was found beyond this gate - the most amazing stone potting shed which leads directly into a wooden greenhouse with a dry stone wall base. Beyond the wooden gate, there is also a small metal gate, which leads out to an ancient orchard area with many very old fruit trees.  This would have been a very productive fruit orchard for the house in days gone by. The potting shed was dark, gloomy, and very badly lit.  I stepped into it with some trepidation, expecting a wall of cobwebs to brush past my face.  It felt cold and uninviting and it was a shame that more had not been made of this beautiful place. Seeing an open door to the rear of the potting shed, and a glimmer of light, I walked quickly through, and was greeted by the most amazing site and, for me, the highlight of the garden.   The most wonderful wooden greenhouse with a beautiful stone base and sides.   Unexpected and completely delightful. I am not certain whether the greenhouse is a recent addition or was around many hundreds of years ago.  Either way, it is stunningly beautiful.  miles from the nearest road, at the bottom of a total hidden secret garden - this is perhaps the most secret find of all! The potting shed has huge stone slabs on the floor, but the greenhouse has a series of bricks laid out in a pattern on the floor with iron grates at intervals along its length. It has brick inner walls to support the planting benches, and dry-stone base walls with iron supports and wooden beams supporting the glass.  It was light and airy and just a work of art, but in a rustic way The paintwork was a gentle garden green colour,  and the greenhouse had a central door leading on into another section.  Beautiful old fashioned terracotta pots full of plants lined each side and it had the most wonderful feel to it. After exploring the greenhouse and potting shed, you leave this area behind, walking back through the gate in the wall and back to the lower terraces of the garden. All the terraces have grass paths which at this time of year, had been scorched by the sun. As I walked back up the terraces, there was another beautiful stone building which had been built, up against the walls of the garden.  There was a beautiful wood carved owl standing guard outside! This is the most amazing gardeners retreat.  Full of old fashioned tools and shelves for plant pots. However, the most beautiful part of this small stone place is the working fireplace built into the wall.   This would be somewhere the gardeners could keep warm during the day, especially in the cold of winter, as the garden is quite high up in the hills. There are other artsy like structures too.  Many of the supports in the garden are iron but on the top path there is a plant arch made out of foraged wood.  It is higgledy piggledy in form, but fits in perfectly with the Wizard sculpture carved out of the decaying remains of a tree. Once the plants grow up the crooked supports,  and spill out over the top of this unusual structure, it will be very magical indeed. Sadly my tour of this beautiful garden came to an end.  I reached the iron gate, set in stone, at the top of the garden.  The gate opened outwards into the lane, and I was reluctant to leave. I had no idea how much this garden would touch me, and remain with me long after my visit.  Until only a few days before, I had no knowledge of its existence,  and now it had left its mark on me forever.   I walked reluctantly through the gate, and out into the grass lane, leaving the walled garden behind me.   As I walked along the lane, I imagined how many people had taken those steps before me.  Many doing a hard and manual job running a well ordered garden, for the demands of a huge mansion of a house which no longer exists. I'm sure this garden touched all of those who entered before - just as it has me.