Lakeside House, a welcome and watery restoration. (87)

November 24, 2017January 20, 2018 / thegardengateisopen / 6 Comments

The calendar of garden visiting is on pause now, and with the skiing season fast approaching one of the gardens I look back at with fondness, is the extraordinary garden at Brundall, once known as ‘The Switzerland of Norfolk’.

The garden was created in 1880 by a Dr Beverley who, along with planting an arboretum, dug out a cascade of ponds as seen in the centre of the postcard below. An entrepreneur named Frederick Holmes-Cooper then purchased the grounds in 1917, built a new house for his family which he called ‘Redclyffe’ and set about making ‘Brundall Gardens’ a visitor attraction with a fine hotel and restaurant.

Postcard 1920

In 1922 it was reported that 60,000 people flocked to see the gardens. Visitors travelled by bicycle, foot, rail and river disembarking at the jetty just by the restaurant.

Postcard advertising day trip to Brundall Gardens

Of course I arrived by car, and it was a cold day back in April. The garden, much reduced in size now is owned by Janet Muter. In the mid 1980s she and her husband bought a newly-built house on the site, just above the cascade and set about restoring the garden. It had suffered much neglect since its closure in the 1930s and subsequent requisition during the war when the property was used as an enemy aircraft plotting station.

I was very touched when Janet presented me with the book, Rescue of a Garden that she has recently written about the fascinating history of her garden.

So I cannot resist starting our tour with a picture of the house taken from the book showing the building in 1986, which she describes amusingly as ”A house undressed”:

Rescue of a garden by Jane Muter

No longer so naked, it is clothed in mahonia and clematis armandii,

and an attractive little border softens the hard landscape by the front door.

From the house we cross to the other side of the roadway which is in fact the drive to the neighbouring house. I have to confess I am a little confused; a rustic hut but where is the lake?

Crossing back over towards the house I admire the mixed planting in the flower bed, and continue to wonder at the apparent lack of water.

Then, walking through the trees towards the south side of the house, I realise that this has just been the warm up. The curtain raises and as I look down, the spectacle unfolds; a series of three delightful ponds descending to a lower lake.

I am standing upon the patio where a collection of colourful acers grow in pots. You can see that the grassy slope falls away very steeply.

We gently follow the path down on the right-hand side admiring the mixture of mature trees and shrubs, some in flower, that have been planted over the years.

The large-handled pot points the way and its shape is complimented by the planting around it. Perhaps a gentle reminder that this was a site once inhabited by the Romans.

The first pond is the smallest. There are no straight lines in this garden; pool, plants and pots smoothly flow in a curve. On occasions, a fountain plays in the centre.

The path leads away from the water’s edge down through swathes of ground cover; vinca, pulmonarias, lamium and ivy dotted with white honesty.

Bluebell flowers are just emerging and I catch glimpses of water through the branches,

and finally at the furthest point we venture out through the trees to arrive at the lily lake at the lowest level.

Large and untamed, the lake was almost inaccessible in 1985.

The Muters cleared fallen trees, excess reeds and rushes. Janet has always been mindful of the wildlife, the enjoyment of which is an important part of this garden. A beach was created and the gravel path seems to ebb and flow in harmony with the water’s edge.

There are some lovely gems planted on this side; the exquisite aronia melonocarpa

and pinky darmera peltata, its large leaves yet to grow.

Popular primula japonica is very content here.

Water lilies spread out in a Monet manner across the lake from the far side, where the sound of a railway can be heard as a train rattles by.

After a while we ascend the side of the lower pond where sweet woodruff grows amongst the fresh green unfurling fronds of the ferns.

At the top of the lower pond we cross over and look back. It is deep and requires dredging every year.

The middle pond is in fact in the care of the neighbour. Annually it is drained to remove the leaves. These water gardens do not just flow timelessly, they need maintenance. There has not been much rainfall in recent months and so the water level is low.

The top pond has a variety of plants emerging around its edge and it is the selection of euphorbias that catches my eye today,

with the ajuga edging the carrstone wall. The stone would have originally been brought over from the western side of the Norfolk.

An old tree trunk supporting a climbing rose combines with an ancient pot to provide a touch of antiquity.

We are grateful to have steps to climb this last part but I worry that I have kept Janet outside for too long. A hardy type as she might be, she is an octogenarian and it is a chilly day.

We pause on the top step to take in one last look over the haze of light blue periwinkle. I am in awe as to how someone can garden on such steep terrain.

Watery and wonderful, this can have been no easy garden to restore and maintain. It is hard to believe that for half a century it was hidden away by undergrowth. With careful restoration and a lot of hard graft, the Muters brought it back to life and while enhancing the beauty with their love and knowledge of plants, they have encouraged not only the wildlife to return but also the visitors. I quote from Janet’s book:

‘And in 25 years of opening my garden I have never known anyone leave litter or steal so much as a cutting, well not when I was looking anyway. Whilst rescuing my garden it has helped to raise thousands of pounds for many charities, but mainly for the National Garden Scheme.’

Lakeside House opened for two days this year over the May Bank holiday and raised nearly £3,000 for the NGS.

We are of course very grateful to Janet who will be opening next year by arrangement only. In the meantime you can enjoy this wintery scene and do read the book; it is an interesting story.

——-87——-

Timber Hill, an autumnal flush of camellias and fungi.(85)

November 9, 2017March 14, 2018 / thegardengateisopen / 10 Comments

October 15th was a glorious sunny Sunday and I was among several visitors who enjoyed an NGS open day at Timber Hill near Chobham in Surrey. Stepping through beautiful Autumn crocus Colchicum speciousus ‘Conqueror’ it is hard to believe that something of such beauty can be quite so poisonous.

Looking from the terrace of the house where statues surrounded by tiny pink roses dance and play, there was a definite feel of summer not yet over and a circle of Campanula fills a crack in the paving,

and pots are full of vibrant fuchsia, petunia and verbena. Even the sweet peas still look colourful, green and fresh.

Walking across the lawn I find a twiggy pheasant perched up in the Mulberry tree and for a brief moment mourn that my own fine specimen back home was recently felled by a storm. Wind chimes alert me to the present and for a very brief moment I hit fame as a visitor recognises me as “the blogger”. She is one of the Berkshire team, a county whose support in this project has been admirable.

The owners have lived and gardened here since 1951.The well-kept borders are full of colour; clumps of Tradescantia jostle for position next to Skimmia,

and the tall feathery plumes of Miscanthus appear silvery white.

Close by a butterfly, a Comma takes the opportunity to open its beautiful wings and bask in the sun.

There are several out this afternoon, Commas and Red Admirals together enjoy the drooping berries of the Himalayan honeysuckle Leycesteria formosa.

The garden softly merges into parkland. A Roebuck created by Cotswold based artist Katy Risdale (http://katerisdale.co.uk/) stands amongst the young trees, an area that helps link the garden to a maturer plantation further away.

The chunky leaves of Quercus affinis, an Oak from Mexico, appear scorchingly orangey red in the sunlight.

The feathery leaves of this large Maple are only just thinking of turning,

whilst this younger cousin Acer palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’ is already a fiery red

The woodland is not just about Autumn colour; there are over 200 camellias planted here. Not to be confused with the japonicas which flower in Spring, the Sasanquas, introduced to the West in 1869 by the Dutch traders often flower in the Autumn. Camellia sasanqua ‘Plantation Pink’ is such an example, graceful and single-flowered it smells very slightly.

Somewhat darker, the very prolific Camellia sasaqua ‘Hugh Evans’ is also scented,

whilst glorious ‘Gay Sue’ is considered to have the best fragrance of all.

The woodland floor is strewn with little hedgehog-like Sweet Chestnuts,

with occasional patches of cyclamen hederifolium, the ivy-leaves almost as decorative as the charming little flowers.

A good selection of fungi is very much in evidence, a subject of which I know so little. Luckily for me another visitor, out for the day from London seemed to be what I can only describe as a “fungophile” and helpfully identifies the varieties. This, upright and perfect, he explains was a Parasol Macrolepiota procera,

and when it all gets too much it then simply keels over.

The Shaggy Ink Cap goes by another splendid name of Lawyer’s Wig, Coprinus comatus,

They are all edible and my new-found friend enthuses about their culinary benefits and particularly enjoys this spongey type, the fleshy Orange Birch Bolete, Leccinum versipelle.

However, the Magpie ink cap Coprinopsis picacea is not so desirable being rather poisonous,

as is the familiar Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria.

He fears that these clusters may be Honey Fungus Armillaria mellea. There are apparently seven different strains of this deadly fungus, innocent-looking it spreads black bootlaces unseen underground ready to attack failing plants, which can often include many a fine old tree. Nature’s way but gardener’s nightmare.

Looking around in this lovely wood I am relieved to see that there are many healthy specimens. In a clearing I find a chiminea, probably not needed today; nevertheless a pleasant gesture if it should turn chilly. It is also touching to see the garden owner showing a less mobile visitor around in his motorised cart; most gardens have little access for the disabled. He pauses a moment to throw a log onto the lit fire.

Paths wind through the wood and through the clearing where I catch sight of the splendid 65 year old Liquidamber styraciflua.

Coming out of the wood you can see for miles. Swathes of dark green in an undulating landscape, it is an interesting fact to note that Surrey despite being commuter belt is the county with the highest concentration of trees in the UK.

I turn back towards the house and admire this mighty Oak, and cannot decide if it was planted as one and somehow grew into three.

Back by the house is a climbing Callicarpa bodinieri the Beautyberry; it is such an extraordinary colour, almost unnatural, but here it looks good intertwined with a vine.

Of course after such an interesting afternoon and with the journey home ahead, the day would have been incomplete without tea, so I joined my colleague from the NGS Berkshire team and sitting outside enjoyed a delicious piece of carrot cake.

Timber Hill is a garden with all-year-round interest and will be opening next year for yet more camellia (japonicas) and spring bulbs on the 17th March 2018, magnolias and spring blossom on 7th April and again for autumn delights on the 7th October. You should put it in your diary.

——-85——-

Mill Dene Garden, a plethora of paths and steep slopes. (36)

May 14, 2017November 5, 2017 / thegardengateisopen / 2 Comments

Today, Mill Dene near Moreton-in-Marsh is opening its garden gate for the NGS. Essentially a private garden it opens to the public for part of the week, with teas and coffees provided as long as you make them yourself.

Sadly none of the characters listed in the notice below were in evidence on the day we visited.

Pianos were once made here but it is now the sound of rushing water that can be heard as you pay the entrance fee into an honesty box provided.

On entering the garden in front of the mill, there is an atmosphere of calm,

or is there – with sticks of dynamite attached to the sluice?

In the still water it is not fish we see but a deadly weapon.

As neither explode we are able to walk on through the ivy-clad arches

and along to the seat at the end of the path. A graceful willow weeps into the water while the heron looks on.

The interesting topiary adds to the enjoyment for the seated visitors.

The garden is on several levels and to the side of the mill we ascend to an area which is extended by the mirror positioned behind the seat.

The border bends round, backed by a wall it is the orange of Euphorbia graffithii which is providing colour now that the spring bulbs are over.

A lovely display from the Clematis montana as it scrambles high up into the conifer.

The laburnum tunnel brings us up to the next level.

We take the steps up to the highest point of the garden.

Apples are trained along the narrow paths of the fruit garden. Currants are safely growing in the fruit cage and a gooseberry has been planted to commemorate the birth of each grand child.

Aquilegia of all colours seem to pop up everywhere.

A wall divides the potager from the fruit garden. A rich variety of herbs are grown and a water rill runs either side of the dividing path.

It must have been a quite a challenge to create this garden on such a steep slope. A loggia looks out upon the herbal display.

A mirror attached to the fence provides a cunning distraction from the busy working area behind,

and further along honeysuckle climbs through rusty hoops.

Clipped box squares fill the space below the potager and roses are starting to bloom against the majestic posts.

We descend the steps and walk through the ‘Howzat’ arch onto the cricket lawn,

where we find the pavilion closed until play resumes when

the church tower will oversee fair play .

We descend to the next space, more confined, the mood changes. Topiary ‘brioches’ guide you along the path,

and plants spill out of the dry stone walls.

There is a path that runs along the boundary from top to bottom, from which

you can peer through to the neighbour’s colourful trees.

Down at the stream we step over the gently flowing water to explore the other side of the garden.

And find ourselves by the family swimming pool where the all important conveniences are provided in the hut.

Even the roof does not escape a planting.

We find ourselves ascending once again, the paths prettily arranged with roses and camassias.

And finally, the kitchen garden where the metallic scarecrow guards the vegetables.

Whilst his garden might be open to the public, it certainly has the feel of a family garden packed with plants and pleasure. We have woven our way through fun tunnels, along paths across the width, up and down, so that the two and half acres seem almost to have doubled in size.

Having previously had little horticultural knowledge, the owners began to garden seriously in 1992. They have overcome difficult slopes, built walls and cultivated a haven of diversity resulting in becoming an RHS partner garden.

Now is a busy time in the garden but I hope people will abandon weeding their own today and step out and find a little inspiration in an NGS garden and perhaps they might find themselves near to this lovely Gloucestershire garden https: //www.ngs.org.uk/find-a-garden/garden/11364/.

——-36——-

The Garden Gate is Open

Garden visiting, looking at what is through the garden gate, especially those open for National Garden Scheme, with just an occasional foray here and there.

Garden visiting

Lakeside House, a welcome and watery restoration. (87)

Like this:

Timber Hill, an autumnal flush of camellias and fungi.(85)

Like this:

Mill Dene Garden, a plethora of paths and steep slopes. (36)

Like this: