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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...

April Beauties

Azalea "Coral Bells"

A florist azalea that I received when my father died 14 years ago.

Unknown azalea

Chinese Snowball (Viburnum macrocephalum)

Deutzia gracilis

Epimedium rubrum

Solomon's Seal, Jacob's Ladder, Epimedium

Leatherleaf Viburnum
(Viburnum rhytidophyllum)

Persicaria microcephala Red Dragon

Spanish Bluebells (Hyacinthoides)

Bridal Wreath Spiraea (Spiraea prunifolia)


White Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis 'Alba')

White Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis 'Alba')



Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. When Azaleas and the flowers that accompany bloom, the most humble abode becomes fairyland and well-tended gardens like your own are at their most spectacular. White Wisteria on a rustic arbor is a crowning touch.

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  2. Beautiful views of my favorite season! After touring your garden, I obtained my own bit of Persicaria 'Purple Dragon.' It is growing well, and I love it! Epimedium took a while to get established, but now it is spreading well in the woodland garden and has become a favorite.

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    1. Epimedium does take time to get established but when it does, it is lovely. One of the best ground covers for dry shade too.

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  3. It is so exciting to see your garden abloom. I know in a couple of weeks we too will have some of the same blooms. Love your azaleas. I haven't had luck with them in my garden. I planted what is supposed to be a native last year. It might have made it through the winter. It is barely showing a bit of life on the tips. Here is hope...

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    1. I don't have too many azaleas. I now have 2 natives, was just given one by a friend. They do really well for us, I don't know why I have not planted more.

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  4. It is beautiful Phillip! Love spring.

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  5. What an enchanted garden...

    It may be a little subtle, but I think the Epimediums are my favorites of this batch of photos...

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  6. Hello, beautiful photos and wonderful plants :) Regards Monika

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  7. Spring, you are such a beauty. No wonder we all love you so!

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  8. A collection of lovely plants ! Spring has definitely sprung! Your garden looks fantastic! can't believe your Wisteria is out already, wish mine would get a move on!

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  9. Lovely Phillip. Just lovely. Happy Spring.~~Dee

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