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Ashington Manor Farm (Yeovil)

After a two-night stay at The Swan Hotel in Wells , we departed for Exeter. Along the way, our first stop was Ashington Manor Farm, the home of the husband and wife garden designers Julian and Isabel Bannerman.  Roses are a specialty of the Bannerman's, but sadly, we were too early to see any. That disappointment was curtailed by touring their magnificent farmhouse, which we were invited to roam around at leisure. And Julian Bannerman, who did most all the talking, was a very entertaining man.  Gathering at the front door - We actually entered at the side of the house, right off the patio, which led to this room, where the Bannerman's greeted us. The massive table was filled with books they had written as well as magazine articles about their gardens. As we were listening to Julian's speech, I happened to notice Isabel Bannerman's book "Husbandry" on the table and immediately recognized it as a book I have at home but have not gotten to yet. At the time, I ha...
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Adventures In Eden - a book review

Adventures in Eden: An Intimate Tour of the Private Gardens of Europe by Carolyn Mullet (Timber Press, December 8, 2020)

The cover photograph of undulating ribbons of boxwood with tulips sprinkled within is a resplendent invitation to the contents awaiting inside this beautiful coffee table book.

The garden is Broughton Grange and it is just one of fifty private European gardens in the book authored by Carolyn Mullet, a garden designer and garden tour guide. The gardens are arranged in chapters divided by country and they include England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Scandanavia, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain and Italy.

The book includes gardens for every taste. Large estate gardens with walled gardens, secret gardens contained within clipped hedges, small cottages smothered in wisteria,  and more are illustrated with enchanting photographs. The narrative discusses the history of the gardens and how they are maintained.


Some of the gardens profiled include The Garden of Cosmic Speculation in Scotland and Helen Dillon's new garden in Monkstown on Dublin Bay. A good majority of the gardens are ones designed in the popular Piet Oudolf style. One of my favorites was Jardin de la Louve in Provence designed by Nicole de Vesian who was seventy when she made it. 

This is a great book to dream with during the winter months.

 


 

I was provided with a digital review copy of this book from NetGalley.

 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

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  1. Lisa at GreenbowNovember 6, 2020 at 2:58 AM

    Looks like this one will be a good one, as you say for winter.

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