Alfred Parsons 1847 – 1920: May 2021
“ If he has an inexhaustible feeling for the country in general. his love of the myriad English flowers is perhaps the fondest part of it” Alfred Parsons 1847 – 1920 Self…
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Gardens in the Interior of Spain: Early Spring 2019
This journey was inspired by Laurie Lee’s book, ’When I Walked out One Midsummer Morning’. The descriptions of the towns and landscape he travelled through as he walked across Spain were so evocative…
Clos du Peyronnet : Menton in Early Spring 2018
Quite outside the turmoil of the 21st Century, is a place still redolent of the Beau Monde. Grace, charm, beauty, paintings, books and above all, continuity. A garden made over the last 100…
The Case for Knepp Castle: Summer 2018
Examining the possible involvement of Repton in the landscape of Knepp Castle ? And of course, the case against . . . To quote the website of parksandgardens.org “The pleasure grounds which were…
Calligraphy / Winter 2018
I am reading around the subject of Chinese garden history and am struck by the use of calligraphy in their gardens. Poetry, calligraphy, and landscape painting were interchangeable arts and found their expression…
On visiting Munstead Wood: August 2017
Munstead Wood – a place of legend , existing on the edge of my imagination. It seemed hardly likely that it could be a 21st Century reality ? But, approaching through the deep…
A French Garden Journey – Val Rahmeh: Summer 2016
There is not a more exotic garden in Europe than Val Rahmeh. As you walk into the garden past the ancient palms you can be in no doubt of this. It is now…
A French Garden Journey – La Serre de la Madone: Summer 2016
La Serre de la Madone is the garden made in the South of France by Lawrence Johnson of Hidcote fame. I knew of the existence of this garden many years ago and first…
A French Garden Journey – Les Sambucs: Summer 2016
Thank you Monty Don, for making me aware of this garden. Only a relatively short distance away from where I live in France, this extraordinary garden is really unlike any other. Made as…
A French Garden Journey – Jardin La Plume: Summer 2016
I went to this garden at the end of August because I had been told it was a garden of grasses. But it is much more than that – it is the most…
A French Garden Journey – Chateau de Chenonceau: Summer 2016
Magical, iconic chateau spanning the river Cher The main purpose of going to Chenonceau was to see Diane de Poitiers garden. However, despite the house having a marvellous collection of original drawings, engravings…
A French Garden Journey – Prieuré d’Orsan: Summer 2016
Set deep in rural France, Prieuré d’ Orsan is a bastion of restrained good taste, immaculate lawned areas are contained by perfect hedges. Within this framework its planting comprises almost entirely of trained…
A French Garden Journey – Chateau de Beauregard: Summer 2016
I have a great respect for Gilles Clement and have long admired his work. So I made a specific effort to visit Beauregard to see the garden he made in the old kitchen…
A French Garden Journey – Chaumont: Summer 2016
The International Garden Festival at Chaumont always provides food for thought. The theme this year was ‘Gardens for the Century to Come’ which I thought was interpreted with more received wisdom than imagination…
Guell Park, Barcelona
I’ve been to Barcelona many times. Each time I see another Gaudi building and each time I go back to Guell Park. This was never intended to be a garden per se but…
Facets of the Japanese Garden
I had wanted to see the gardens of Japan for many years. I was lent some books on the subject, and made lists of the gardens I wanted to visit. The photographs were…