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Kiftsgate Court Gardens

Just right down the road from Hidcote is Kiftsgate Court Gardens. This garden was created by Heather Muir beginning in the 1920s. Muir's daughter, Diany Binny, came to live at Kiftsgate in 1954. She would add the half-moon pool and redesigned the white garden. She also first opened the garden to the public. Today, the tradition continues as granddaughter Anne Chambers and her husband maintain the gardens.    Heather Muir was a friend and neighbor of Hidcote's Lawrence Johnston (their houses are within one mile of each other), and he inspired her in the garden's design. However, the two gardens differ in character and have their own unique characteristics. While Johnston's garden is laid out in strict geometric lines, Muir took a more naturalistic approach. Muir added many heirloom shrub roses to the garden and is famous for the 'Kiftsgate' rose, which occurred from a seedling in the garden. Unfortunately, we were too early for the roses. There were a few like t...

Mother's Day Roses

Happy Mother's Day! Do you think this day was intentionally scheduled to coincide with the optimal time for roses to bloom? Hmmmm....

Here are a few rose photos from this morning. Today is going to be a cool and sunny day, perfect for looking at roses. Our garden will be open again this afternoon so stop by if you'd like!


Growing next to the pergola is the white cascading rose "Rambling Rector" and the pink "Gartendirektor Otto Linne" below. "Moonlight" in the background next to the bench.


Out next to the street is "Marjorie Fair", a rose that always elicits comments and questions.


Outside the fence next to our driveway entrance is a hedge of "Gartendirektor Otto Linne".


The rugosa rose "FJ Grootendorst" with Sedum "Autumn Joy" growing underneath.


The climbing rose, "Aloha"

I'll try to get more rose photos posted later. All you mothers out there, enjoy your day!


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. What a lovely post for Mother's Day! Love your roses as ever!

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  2. What a fabulous display for this special day!

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  3. Wow! The roses are beautiful. I love the Autumn Joy mixed in, too.

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  4. I wish I was close enough to see your roses in person. They are magnificent.

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  5. The roses are outta this world! Hope you have lots of visitors today! It's a great day for smelling the roses......

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  6. Absolutely beautiful - wished I lived close enough to stop by when your garden is open!

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  7. I sure wish I could have toured your garden Phillip. I will have to settle for the photos you chose to show. Your garden is a wonder. I bet there were plenty of Mothers dragging, I mean walking through your garden with their loved ones this weekend. Love this coooler weather.

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  8. I was fortunate enough to experience this fantastic garden in person today. I had to drive 2 1/2 hours to get there but it was well worth it. Phillips photographs are always lovely, but the scent of the roses and the happy birds giving thanks for this paradise can only be experienced in person. There is the double draw of a restored Frank Lloyd Wright house open to the public Tues-Sunday a very short distance away.

    Thank you, Phillip and Michael, for sharing!

    Barbara H.

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  9. *mouth hanging wide open* Phillip, that is so beautiful! I wish roses would grow and bloom so exuberantly in Mumbai.

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  10. BTW, I received the book you sent me a couple of days ago and have just surfaced after immersing myself in it. What a lovely, l-o-v-e-l-y book! Thank you.
    Please take a peek at my blog, I've posted about it... http://the-urban-gardener.blogspot.com/2010/05/warm-hues-of-generosity.html

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  11. Barbara, it was a pleasure meeting you and I hope you can come again.

    Sunita, glad to hear it and I left you a message.

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  12. Absolutely beautiful. I think my favorite is the grout of Gartendirektor Otto Linne.
    Marnie

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  13. Thank you for the post, from me, a mother. I particularly loved the picture of the climbing rose rising to sympathise with the 'empty nest syndrome'!

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  14. Lucky, Lucky neighbors and other nearby folks who get to stroll through your gardens of roses! How utterly gorgeous! Fabulous garden Phillip! The original 'Mother's Day' was a protest of war day... perhaps a "Peace' rose was blooming? Love the bird house too!

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  15. Ditto all the above, I've run out of superlatives for your roses

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