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The Garden House (Devon, England)

The destinations are beginning to blur but looking at the tour guide booklet, I see that we are now in Plymouth. Today, we visited two gardens designed by Keith Wiley.  The first is The Garden House , where Wiley worked as Head Gardener for 25 years (from 1978-2003). The 10-acre estate was purchased in the 1940s by former Eton schoolmaster Lionel Fortescue and his wife Katherine. It was formerly home to the  vicars of Buckland Monachronum. The Fortescue's renovated the gardens and ran a market garden business and raised cattle.  The remains of some of the original buildings in the vicarage still stand in the garden and serve as a romantic backdrop in the Walled Garden - I loved the way they had massed ferns together. Just stunning! Surrounding the walled garden and venturing out away from the house are more naturalistic plantings  - Today, the head gardener is Nick Haworth, who was previously head gardener at Greenway , which we visited earlier.  Keith Wiley lef...
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Hydrangea "Veitchii"




One for the top 10 list is this elegant but tough hydrangea that is a dependable performer. It grows in an upright habit and is always loaded with lovely flattish white lacecap sepals with fertile blue flowers. The flowers age to pink. An added bonus are the dark green leaves that turn yellow/red in the fall. It is mildew resistant and is reputed to have exceptional cold hardiness. In 2002, it received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. Veitchii was imported from Japan in 1861.



Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. Lisa at GreenbowJune 11, 2010 at 1:29 PM

    Sweet.

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  2. DarlaJune 11, 2010 at 1:41 PM

    How do I find out which Lacecap I have....?

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  3. Phillip OliverJune 11, 2010 at 1:52 PM

    Darla, it is often very difficult to identify a hydrangea because, as you've probably noticed, they look similar and to make matters worse, most of them will look different in other people's gardens because of the soil types. I would suggest getting a book on hydrangeas (there are several good ones) and compare yours with photos and the descriptions. Good luck!

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  4. David - Pinewood CottageJune 11, 2010 at 2:04 PM

    Phillip - thanks for your comment. I learned to put newpaper under the mulch from Frances Worthington former garden columnist for our regional newspaper here in Upstate SC The Greenville News.
    This is a beautiful hydrangea you have pictured. I'm not wild about lace caps but its pretty in the garden. I am in search of the little dwarf sized bushes i see around town.

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  5. A Brit in TennesseeJune 11, 2010 at 4:20 PM

    Oh, how absolutley lovely.
    Hydrangeas' are one of my most favorite plants, although I never have much luck with them in my own garden, I do admire them form afar.
    Just a lovely specimen.

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  6. DarlaJune 12, 2010 at 3:45 AM

    Thanks Phillip.

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  7. UnknownJune 12, 2010 at 4:24 AM

    I'm blaming you when the partner starts screeching about what I'm spending on additional hydrangeas......

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  8. Chandramouli SJune 12, 2010 at 10:58 AM

    These are lovely! I love them coz they seem to bloom forever, only I couldn't get them in my city...

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  9. Donald's GardenJune 12, 2010 at 12:45 PM

    Okay that's it - I'm moving to Alabama where Hydrangea is a happy plant. Phillip you do so well with them! If I were a Hydrangea I'd want to live right there in your garden!

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  10. F CameronJune 13, 2010 at 5:51 AM

    I'm really wishing for a shaded, fenced garden! Quite a lovely!

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