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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...
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Garden videos

Last spring, I made a few videos of the garden.

This is the front garden beginning at the front door and walking around the outside fence along the street -

 

A brief clip of the courtyard area in back -

 

 A longer clip of the back garden -

 

A video of the wall shortly after it was stuccoed but before painting -

 

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

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Comments

  1. Karin / Southern MeadowsJanuary 4, 2021 at 7:15 AM

    Love your use of space and how the plants all grow so well together. I am sure y'all enjoy the garden immensely!

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  2. chavlinessJanuary 4, 2021 at 9:07 AM

    It is astonishing how the front and back 'yards' are totally transformed into magical garden garden rooms, in only 5 years... Even though I follow your blog, I'm in awe of the transformation. I wish the former owners could see it now...

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    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverJanuary 4, 2021 at 2:17 PM

      It is funny that you said that because yesterday, as I was taking down the Christmas lights out front, a guy riding a bicycle stopped and said that he used to live here! He wasn't the last owner but the one before the last. We had a great conversation about the house and he gave me some interesting facts about it. He said he loved what we had done with it.

      Delete
  3. chavlinessJanuary 4, 2021 at 9:08 AM

    It is astonishing how the front and back 'yards' are totally transformed into magical garden garden rooms, in only 5 years... Even though I follow your blog, I'm in awe of the transformation. I wish the former owners could see it now...

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJanuary 4, 2021 at 10:12 AM

    Wow, what a labor of love. Thank you for sharing these videos of your beautiful garden.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kris PetersonJanuary 4, 2021 at 10:13 AM

    You have a truly spectacular garden, Phillip. I saw so many plants I love, some of which I can grow (but not nearly as well) and many that I can't. Thanks for sharing the videos.

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  6. Lisa at GreenbowJanuary 4, 2021 at 11:45 AM

    I can't get over how established your garden is no longer than you have been here. It is spectacular! So much inspiration. I also enjoyed hearing the birds in the background. I will be looking at the videos again. So much to see.

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    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverJanuary 4, 2021 at 2:18 PM

      The rapid growth surprised me too. It is hard to believe it has just been five years but also that five years have passed.

      Delete
  7. sweetbayJanuary 4, 2021 at 12:43 PM

    You have done so much work on the hardscape as well as the garden. It all looks wonderful! Your roses look magnificent. I love the pergola with the table beneath it and the steps leading up to the rounded arch.

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  8. Sandy PJanuary 4, 2021 at 6:58 PM

    I just love everything in your huge yard, so many beautiful garden rooms/spaces and places to relax and enjoy all the plants, shrubs and trees!
    You have so much variety in color, texture, and form, it all goes so well together with your hardscape. Thanks so much for sharing and giving me lots of inspiration!

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  9. Barbara H.January 9, 2021 at 4:37 AM

    I've been saving this for a time when I needed a respite and this morning decided this was the day after the horrors of the week. Love it all, Phillip, and I knew you would "do good" after seeing your Alabama garden but this is spectacular. Thanks for sharing.

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