Special Plants Nursery (Chippenham, England)
Our third day was a busy one as we left our first hotel in Bath and traveled to Wells. There were several stops along the way, the first being Special Plants Nursery in Chippenham, England. It was a warm day. The nursery is owned by former Oregonian Derry Watkins, who moved to England decades ago when she married an Englishman. She is a plant collector and has traveled all over the world, her favorite place being South Africa. That is Derry in the above photos talking to our group. The house and garden are located on a steep hill with idyllic countryside surrounding it. She says the garden was designed by her architect husband and she has filled it with her favorite plants, mostly tender perennials that she has collected from her plant-hunting expeditions. Most of the beds are terraced and many plants are grown in gravel. The garden is also enhanced with some striking ornaments - Lower island beds proceed downhill - A bog garden - At the bottom of the property is a woodland walk....
Cool and rainy here, too; I am loving it, and so is the garden! I hope we have seen the last of high nineties temps and miserable humidity for this year. Your garden looks lush and wonderful. Have you taken out a tree or two in front of your house? Maybe the perspective of your photo is different or my memory is wrong, but I remember crepe myrtles in front of your house. At any rate, your house is looking great. Best wishes! Deb
ReplyDeleteHi Deb, yes, I took the crepe myrtles out!
DeleteSo cool here we have a fire!! Bit ridiculous in August! Good gardening weather though, as you say! Your garden looks so inviting, such interesting corners to explore!
ReplyDeleteWe have had the cool, but I wish for the rainy. Overall, its been fairly wet this summer but we need a little now.
ReplyDeleteYour garden has it's summer lush look. Beautiful. I could almost hear your garden heave a sigh of relief. My garden is still brown around the edges awaiting it's share of rain and cooler temps. Bring it on...
ReplyDeleteWe finally had some rain a few days ago, too, and now the temps have cooled as well--isn't it wonderful? Your shady, woodland retreats even make me think of Portland, one of my favorite places--beautiful!
ReplyDeleteIt does look a little Portland, which is a very good way to look. I love a garden of shade, perhaps because mine has none.
ReplyDeleteWhat really caught my eye in Portland were the ecstatically happy conifers. We have plenty of conifers in my climate, but they bear a air of stoic endurance. In Portland, they party.
We're having a cool spell too, but I won't count on it staying. It is still August after all. I love fall, but I guess I'm not quite ready to let go of summer flowers!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pics as usual, Phillip.
ReplyDeleteYour garden looks enchanted and enchanting, inhabited by all manner or spirits and sprites.
Nice house and nice garden. Should make anyone interested in gardening a very nice place to live. Let me know when it sells. JC
ReplyDeletePhillip, I love your garden so much. Thank you for sharing it with us.~~Dee
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