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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...
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November HIghlights





I didn't think there was much left to see in the garden but there is. The morning started out with a bit of fog and this beautiful sunrise -

And there are quite a number of colorful trees still going strong and some just beginning to change colors. Some of the first trees I planted were two Japanese maples that are next to the deck. These were unnamed varieties but are nice but quite different in fall color. They both change color very late in the season compared to the other maples in the garden. The one on the right side is redder in color...


 while the one on the left is more orange and gold -


The "Lion's Head" Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira') was already planted here when we arrived. I ended up moving it and put it in a large pot. It looks a bit ragged last year but improved this year with more watering. And the color this year is dramatically improved -
Lion's Head Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira')
 The Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum), also next to our back deck, is also more colorful this year -
Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum)
The Perisan Parrotia (Ironwood) continues to hold its leaves and I would say it has been the prettiest tree in the garden this fall. The colors are just spectacular.
Persian Parrotia (Ironwood)

  That is about it for the trees. Most of the others have already lost all their leaves. I will highlight some colorful shrubs in the next post.

 Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. chavlinessNovember 13, 2019 at 10:37 AM

    The flowering season is over, and most leafs are gone, but there is always something happening in the garden. Is autumn much different here then in Alabama?

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    1. Phillip OliverNovember 13, 2019 at 10:30 PM

      It was very similar. The winters in north Alabama were also similar to here. The major difference are the temperature fluctuations. They tend to lower and rise here on a steady scale while in Alabama it was not unusual to have 60 degree days followed by 20 degree ones.

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  2. Lisa at GreenbowNovember 14, 2019 at 4:27 AM

    A beautiful sunrise photo. These trees still look gorgeous.

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