Sunday 28 February 2016

The first NGS Garden Visit 2016

Looking through the new NGS Gardens to Visit book, for 2016, the only one open near us today was Court House in Warwickshire.
Despite as our neighbour said "it is a thin wind " we set off to visit with the promise of a winter garden and a cup of tea.

The description in the NGS book is:  "A 4 acre garden with yr-round interest and colour. Extensive and varied spring bulbs, and garden of winter interest. Herbaceous borders, spring beds, fernery, recently redesigned and restored walled kitchen garden. Rose garden, pond area and paddocks established with wild flowers."

The house is in a typical rural cotswold setting with the village church next door...


...the walled kitchen garden was very impressive with its box hedging and two rows of standard wisteria and pear trees, which must look wonderful when in flower...


...the topiary provided elements of classic structure along with some amusing features, such as this fox and hounds. 







These hedges, I thought, were a design triumph, copper beech with yew pillars...




Coppiced willows and dogwoods make a striking feature this time of year...


...especially here around the pool...


...I do like these dark leaved Bergenia...


...the ideal snail!


The winter garden colour came from a selection of trees with beautiful bark...


... coppiced Dogwoods, Willow and Pittosporum, I think Tom Thumb  ...



...all under planted with spring bulbs and different coloured Hellebores.


The orchard with a collection of chickens and fancy fowl...


...and some Herons?




In one corner a bench overlooking some colourful beds...




A raised bed leading down to the terrace. 


Seeking some warmth we entered the greenhouse to find this impressive Cestrum in full flower...


The owners had wisely decided not to provide teas, it was too cold to sit outside!
An impressive well thought out and maintained garden,
 setting a high standard for future NGS garden visits.
Well worth visiting again for their summer openings and tea.

Please click on any picture to create a slide show.

15 comments:

  1. A lovely tour, Brian! The beech/yew hedge is spectacular, and seems to be on a good scale for such a colorful design.

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    1. Thanks Amy, the whole garden was very well thought out and maintained.

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  3. What an interesting garden, I like the variety of formal and less formal structures including the beech/yew hedges and the row of box balls petering into the lawn very much. Thanks for the tour

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    1. Congratulations Kate you have made it ,all three comments came through, I selected this one to publish. It was a very impressive garden.

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  4. I'm only starting to understand this NGS scheme. I thought it only happened one day a year but apparently not. A lovely garden to visit. Thanks for the tour in photographs. Amelia

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    1. Gardens are open from February to November raising funds for the NGS who, last year, donated £ 2.6 million to nursing and caring charities. You can buy a yellow guide book detailing the openings and gardens or visit the NGS website via the link on my blog.

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  5. Thanks for sharing your visit Brian. Very impressed by those beech and yew hedges and that Cestrum is a beauty!

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    1. Thanks Cathy, If ever I have to plant a hedge it will be like that.

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  6. I thoroughly enjoyed the slide show Brian. I think that is one of the better features of Blogger.
    A good place to visit this time of the year. I love the fox and hound topiary, they put a smile on my face. Thanks for sharing your day out with us Brian.

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    1. Thank you Angie. It is I think lovely when you find humour in a garden.

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  7. What a great winter garden. I love all the topiary. Thanks for the tour.

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    1. It was wonderful to visit on such a cold day.

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  8. A lovely garden. I'm not familiar with Cestrum--a real eye-catcher.

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    1. I do not know anything about Cestrum, I must look it up, it was lovely to see on such a cold day.

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