The garden was designed by COLIN WELLS-BROWN. It was built during the Winter of 1992. This involved changing the ground levels in almost all the flower garden area, and whilst the perimeter walls are old, all the 'retaining' walls, the terraces and the steps within the area are new. |
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| Planting began in March 1993 in what was by then a virtually barren site of bare soil and muddy puddles Apart from four trees, two shrubs and a laurel hedge, everything has been planted within the last 7 years. The growth has been remarkable, and the garden is now beginning to look more mature. |  |
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The idea of the garden is to reflect the charming view across to the hills opposite, and as you start your walk along the top LOGGIA TERRACE in front of the house, you may notice that the valley, or vale, in the near part of the lawn takes the eye in a continuous sweep curving up into the valley beyond. The great tree groups on the coombe opposite are echoed by specimen shrubs on the lawns nearer to the house. |
| Proceed along this top LOGGIA TERRACE all the way into a small PATIO GARDEN. This is an enclosed area, a flowery 'room' as an extension to the house. It is planted with a mix of low herbaceous plants, and during July and August pots of Lilies stand around the fill the evenings with their rich scent. In a warm corner a MIMOSA (Acacia Dealbata) is, so far, thriving. The old stone tank survives from the original garden and was probably a water tank for the Victorian conservatory which used to stand on this site. |
| From here, step down onto the GREEN CIRCLE with the LARGE VASE in its centre. Note the long view beneath the Beech tree to the West and to the distant ranges of the BLACKDOWN HILLS. |  |
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Continue down three stone steps and wander along the WINDING PATH all the way to the HIGH TERRACE in the far corner of the garden. This terrace is designed to have the feel of an Italian garden. The high walls and heavy paving make it a warm site under a wide sky. It is planted with Mediterranean style plants, including a dramatic dark leafed and purple/pink flowered CLEODENDRON BUNGII. The retaining wall offers stone slabs for sitting and between them grow a number of 'cushion' shaped plants to 'suggest' added comfort. These include the grey ball of DORYCNIUM HIRSUTUM and the soft grey pad of ARTEMISIA SCHMIDTIANA NANA. |
This Terrace provides a raised point from which to view the ornamental garden as a whole. A garden secure and enclosed with shrubs and trees, but with hints of distant landscapes beyond. Which makes it at the same time both secluded and elevated. Now go through the door way onto “THE ABBOTS RETREAT” with the open fireplace to provide warmth for outdoor supper parties late into a summers evening. From here enjoy the whole long view to the dark headland of HIGH HAM and the low hills of THE POLDENS beyond. Return to the High Terrace and go down the steps to the ARCH VALLÉE. |
| Go down the steps to the ARCH VALLÉE. The first arch is covered with a crab apple GOLDEN HORNET. It has pink flowers in the Spring and will be heavy with yellow crab apples late into Autumn. The second arch carries on one side a combination of the dusky pink PHYGELIUS AEQUALIS growing up into the creamy apricot rose JANE AUSTEN. These are paired with a CYTISUS BATTANDIERI, here grown for the silky texture if its leaves, but despite being heavily pruned, it still produces its yellow pineapple-scented flowers. |  |
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When you reach the GOTHIC ARCH in the brick wall on your left, go through, leaving the neat and tidy flower garden for the more informal KITCHEN GARDEN with 'Cutting Beds' (flowers for the house) and a SWEET PEA WALK. To the right as you enter the KITCHEN GARDEN are fruit trees and on the left a new SUB-TROPICAL BED is planned. This is being planted with a mixture of sub-tropical and tender shrubs including CANNAS, an OLIVE and a LEMON. Down the central gravel path, an old Norman stone supports a chalice-shaped vase in honour of CHALICE HILL which rises beyond. |
| Past this vase, a wide grassy walk takes you past the great ruined buttresses of a 15th century wall which is said to have once been part of the GLASTONBURY ABBEY FRUIT GARDEN. |
| Continue down through the ORCHARD to the WILD POND. This is fed by water from a small spring further up the hill. After a dry Winter the water level is low, but after a wet spell the waterfall runs merrily and the pond fills to its brim. The stone LION MASK comes from a ruined 18th century garden that we knew in Sevenoaks in Kent. The pond is home to GOLDFISH, NEWTS and FROGS, and plenty of DRAGONFLY LARVAE. (The goldfish spend most of their time hiding from the Heron!) |  |
| Now step along through the NUT WALK and stop for a moment to enjoy the 'window' opening to the left with its view of the GREAT OAK. Continue along until you can turn left down to the new BASTION. This was completed in March 2000. It has a seat to catch the evening Sun and a green view along the bottom of Bushy Coombe. Suddenly one is outside the garden and into the countryside-but safe from the cows that may graze the meadow. The flowerbeds along the path are planted with dark green and gold foliage plants to heighten the effect of Sun and shade beneath the trees. Now, double back to go over the little wooden bridge which will take you into the WEST GARDEN. |
| The ORCHARD here has been embellished with some new varieties of apple trees, a Morello cherry and a plum. The far boundary is planted with evergreens soon to hide houses beyond and in front of this are dotted several varieties of VIBURNUM TINUS and varieties of eucalyptus to make a soft screen of dark green and grey foliage. The aim is to give this orchard a flowery, romantic character. Drifts of daffodils are planted beneath the trees for the Spring, and rambling roses and honeysuckle climb through some of the apples. |
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The wide grass avenue to your right is the CIDER WALK with cider apples all up the left-hand side. At the top of the Cider Walk, a shap turn to the left brings you into THE JUNGLE. Here the planting includes three BANANA trees, a fan palm and more CANNAS. The pathway continues round to the right to a bed of mixed HELLEBORES which is underplanted with pale cream SWEET SURRENDER Lilies to flower in July. |
| Walk on up and you now find yourself in the 'GRASS GARDEN'. This area was planted in the Spring of 1996, and is now maturing to have quite a different texture from the rest of the gardens. On the left is a wide area planted with unusual shrubs including HOHERIA ANGUSTIFOLIA, HOHERIA SEXTYLOSA, VIBURNUM ODORATISSIMUM OMNIENSIS, and the rare PLAGIATHUS BETULINUS from the 'Lost Gardens of Heligan'. The overall 'texture' of this garden is from the collection of grasses; some will grow to 8 feet high, to sway and rustle in the breeze over a shimmering underplanting of the silvery blue of ELYMUS, the BLUE LYME GRASS (Reputed to be Miss Jekyll's favourite grass.) |
Tour round the circular bed and then down the gravel path, with the wall for FIGS on your left, and through the gap between the 'COTTAGE ORNÉE' and the old wall, and then turn left, back into the fruit area of the Kitchen Garden. |
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Re-enter the Flower Garden through the GREEN DOOR to find the square FISHPOOL with its fountain. Above it is a ROCK GARDEN planted with foliage plants to complement the textures and colours of the rocks, rather than for the flower colours. Turn to your right, with the SILVER and BLUE BED on your left, and through the RUINED ARCH. (Built 1993!) One side of this Arch sports a deliciously scented WATTAKAKA. Then turn left, up the wide steps, onto the CROQUET LAWN facing the house. Looking from here, the bed across to your left, alongside the white pergola, 'features' bronze foliage and white flowers. The bed under the Beech Tree 'features' silvers, pinks, reds and mauves . The central raised square bed displays the whole palette of colours used in this part of the garden - white, pink, pale yellow and mauve. |
The retaining wall across the East end of the Croquet Lawn is built with pockets that back into an infill of good quality soil, so that, in time, it can support some quite large shrubs. Over to the right, below the High Terrace, the bed 'features' yellow. But most of these beds also contain a little 'catalyst' colour to heighten the effect of dominating colour. Finally, walk down the grass slope to the SMALL URN surrounded by BLUE HYDRANGEREAS.
Down the border to the left stands a handsome clump of ARUNDO DONAX, the Giant Reed. Then, to your right through an archway carrying a SOPHORA MICROPHYLLA 'Sun King' and a MUTISIA ILICIFOLIA. Make your way up the path, through the last of the flowery alleys, out through another green door and back into the COACHYARD. |
Here you will find the PLANT STALL, and the opportunity for a cup of tea!
Please, if you see plants whose names you do not know, ask one of the gardeners who will be pleased to recall (or try to!) its name, or will find someone who can.
Both of the owners, Mr. ALAN GLOAK and Mr. COLIN WELLS-BROWN will be around all afternoon and will be pleased to answer any questions you may have.
Once again, thank you for visiting us and we do hope you enjoyed the garden. |