Monday 1 June 2015

HIDCOT MANOR GARDEN

HIDCOTE MANOR GARDEN

I find taking photographs in the rain very difficult while balancing the brolly on my shoulder.  Add a wind gust and the brolly goes flying.   Suddenly rain is everywhere and it's not pleasant anymore!  None of this, however,  could spoil my first visit to Hidcote.   I had been looking forward to visiting this garden for such a long time!  

We are into week two of our garden tour and even more fascinating than the gardens themselves,  is  finding out more about their creators.  

Hidcote Manor Garden is an Arts and Crafts garden and one of the most famous gardens in the world.  When Lawrence Johnston's mother bought Hidcote in early 1900,   there was no garden there with the exception of a few mature trees.  Lawrence began developing the garden in 1907 and his development of the garden continued for the next 40 years.  He travelled the world in search of unusual and interesting plants and created a  'laboratory'  at Hidcote.  After finding the winters at Hidcote a little too harsh for the acclimatisation of these unusual plants,  he bought a series of agricultural terraces called Serre de la Madone in France.  This was to become his Riviera residence.  I am hoping to do a new post on this, his second garden after some more research and hopefully a visit.

Originally an American,  Lawrence Johnston was educated in Paris and Cambridge.  In 1900, after he became a British subject,  he joined the Imperial Yeomanry and was posted to South Africa where he fought in the Second Boer War.  It was during the time he spent there  that Johnston developed a love of South Africa flora.  In 1902, he served  in World War 1 and attained the rank of Major.

I can imagine the relief he experienced when returning to Hidcote after the time spent in the forces.  The peace and beauty of the countryside would have been a balm to his soul.  He was a reserved man and rarely allowed any photographs of his garden.  He shared his plans and the garden with very few. 

Lawrence Johnston acquired an extraordinary knowledge of the plant kingdom and remained a plant hunter all his life.   

Lavender 'Hidcote' and Hypericum 'Hidcote' originated from this garden.    A yellow, semi-double climber bears the name 'Lawrence Johnston'.  The sheer size and scale of the garden was truly impressive and it was thanks to  The National Trust who took over the garden in 1948, that the garden became available to the public and has been enjoyed by so many.


Hidcote Manor House







The White Garden


The Old Garden

The Great Lawn


The photo above is not mine.  I included this  to highlight the problems the Yew bird topiaries are  experiencing which is obvious in my photo above this one.

Auriculas galore.   In 2011 The National Trust commissioned Michael Dillon to paint the mural as seen here in the Italian House.  The original mural painted by Johnston had virtually worn away.





The central Stream Garden


The Long Walk

The Long Walk facing the Gazebos

The Long Walk




The Pillar Garden

The Pillar Garden

The Long Walk

This peaceful scene just off the edge of the garden

The Stilt Garden




The Long Borders. This was at the end of a couple of hours in the garden and the weather greatly improved!


Lawrence Johnston's tool shed


16 comments:

  1. Hidcote was very special. I loved so many parts of it and have the same photo of the sheep in the field! It was almost empty when you saw it- jealous! Loving all these travel snaps Jenny. x

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    1. Hidcote is indeed very special FF. I truly felt the spirit of Lawrence Johnston and have so loved reading about him and his life. We arrived very early but I still had to hang around quite a bit - especially on the Long Walk! xx

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  2. What a beautiful garden and what vision Lawrence Johnson had. I can only imagine how his garden must of grown as his passion and plant knowledge developed. A true plantsman. I last visited this garden 25 years ago and your beautiful photos brought back lovely memories- thank you Jenny for capturing them in all weathers!
    Your garden tour for two is very inspiring and I am enjoying it very much. Look forward to the next garden.
    Marilyn xx

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    1. So pleased you are enjoying this Marilyn. It is quite a discipline keeping at it but I will enjoy referring back to this in time to come! Thank you so much xx

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  3. This is my favourite so far but I'm fickle so that can change at anytime.
    Really hope the weather improves.
    Thank you once again for sharing your experiences Jenny.xxx

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    1. Hi Karen - My next post will be on Kiftsgate - also a wonderful garden! I just wish I had the time to visit these gardens all over again! We are at Barnsley House at the moment, - near Cirencester and the weather is very very challenging!!! xx

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  4. Sigh! Just sigh. Gorgeous and thanks for keeping us updated Jenny.

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    1. Yes - taking in all this beauty is very 'sigh' envoking! Thanks so much for the encouragement! xx

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    1. Hi Alex - thanks so much darling. I know how much you and Kristiina and Isabel would love walking around these masterpieces! The scale and age is extraordinary! Can't wait to see you all soon xxx

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  6. Stunning photographs. They capture English gardens as they often are - under soft subdued light, grey cloud and fine rain. Remember our garden tour day at Highgrove et al and how cold and miserable the weather was that day - but what a brilliant time we had enjoying these beautiful English gardens. Hope the weather clears for you soon. We've left the sun and warmth of Provence behind too and have woken to a grey cloudy morning in Paris. Fingers crossed the weather improves! We always say Museum Weather on days like this! Pammie

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    1. Hello Pammie .. Yes museum weather it certainly is although cloudy weather is certainly preferable for taking photos! The rain and wind does spoil things though! We are visiting Highgrove this afternoon and I shall go suitably attired as I believe the weather is going to pretty ghastly! Have a wonderful time in Paris!

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  7. I am so enjoying visiting these beautiful gardens through your photographs and descriptions Jenny. One day I'll get there!! It does sound like the weather in the UK is matching ours in Australia though with the rain and cold. How does it feel when you're in the long walk? In some ways I imagine it would feel a little too enclosed for me - no openings in the hedges along the way to make an escape?! Although it certainly does the trick of leading the eye to the focal points. Looking forward to Kiftsgate xx

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    1. Hello Heidi, I'm so pleased you are enjoying the posts. It has been a dream come true for me! The Long Walk is massive - so huge in fact, that there is no possible way of feeling closed in! The scale is so impressive and the eye is drawn to the twin gazebos at the end. It is quite magnificent! Kiftsgate was very difficult to photograph actually... not having quite as many focal points as previous gardens. Lots of rain today and we are visiting Highgrove this afternoon, come rain or shine!! xx

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  8. Just loving your posts Jenny and enjoying the gardens through your photographs and writings - I love all the gardens but particularly The Long Walk and the gorgeous photo of the auriculas. I hope the weather stays dry for you, look forward to the next instalment

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  9. Please don't stop writing and posting your beautiful photographs .... they are delightful, give me so much pleasure and I so look forward to each instalment.

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