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...
Phillip, I hope this is your first and last prison to visit! Well, there is also Alcatraz...
ReplyDeleteThe rose border in the first picture looks lovely with a stone wall as a background.
In a previous life (as a teenager dreaming of being an actor), I once participated in a shoot for a TV movie of some sort at the Eastern State Penitentiary outside of Philadelphia. Interesting / spooky place with a memorable ambience - http://www.easternstate.org/
ReplyDeletePS - Al Capone apparently was once a 'resident' there!
PPS - It's fun reading about your trip. Thanks for sharing pics and impressions.
No worse place to be. Makes me unsettled just looking at those tiny cells.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting as well as depressing! Beautiful old stone but know you were glad to get to the Botanical Garden! Enjoyed!
ReplyDeleteDo you think it's haunted Phillip!!?? Can you imagine the history of that place!
ReplyDeleteI second Aaron's recommendation.
ReplyDeletePoor Michael! He thought he was getting away from yet another garden for a while--except he wasn't!
ReplyDeleteThe graveyard--at least there is the beautiful wide open sky, and the wild hills undulating like waves.