Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Manor House Garden, Upton Grey, U.K.

Turn left off the B road. Go 2.6 miles on to Upton Grey and turn right at the village pond. Go a quarter of a mile up the hill, passing the church on your right, the Manor House drive is just beyond that, on your right, on a sharp bend. And so ended another nail biting trip through the English country side. Our destination was the Manor House Garden at Upton Grey, believed to be the most complete and authentic Gertrude Jekyll designed garden in existence.





Gertrude loved gardening for beautiful effect and is best known for huge herbaceous borders with colour schemes running from cold ( white, blue ) to hot ( orange, red ) and back to cold again. As a masterful plants woman she ensured the effect was maintained through the seasons. As I looked across the formal lawn to the borders the colours shimmered like jewels. No picture can possibly do them justice.




We were the first visitors of the day. The only other person in the garden was the owner, Rosamund Wallinger. I was very fortunate to have a delightfully energetic and thoughtful conversation with her.



She bought the 5 acre property in 1984 and while doing research for the restoration of the house it dawned on her that the neglected mess outside the windows was a possible treasure. In fact the layout of the Jekyll design, including walls, ditches and steps remained beneath the weeds. Although never having gardened before she set out on a 35 year, and continuing, odyssey of returning the gardens to their original plan.






The wild gardens were an essential component of Edwardian garden design. Usually positioned at the rear perimeter they were easy to sell off and it is rare to find one still intact. Fortunately and unusually, the wild garden at Upton Grey is situated at the front. The daffodils were one of the few plants still flourishing pre restoration.



I got to see the plans, hand written, crossings out, margin notes, and smudges! Photocopies of course, the originals remain at the University of California, Berkeley,  By the way, included in the ridiculously low entrance fee is a full take home planting list!






I have to pinch myself sometimes to believe I was actually there.

Moi having a rest in the wild garden.  
I hope you enjoy my trip down memory lane. Sue. 

4 comments:

  1. Thank you for the stroll! Wonderful.

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  2. Must have been wonderful...lucky you! Thanks for sharing.

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  3. Beautiful photos. I enjoyed the story too! Lois Bridger

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  4. OH my how beautiful! And what a treat to be there with the owner and have the gardens to yourselves.

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