Summer 2019 Open Gardens

It’s been awhile since I wrote a blog and I have some varied visits to blog about – the first ones in June. My village, Wappenham in south Northamptonshire, once again opened its gardens for the National Garden Scheme, and there were all sorts of gardens to see. I didn’t get round all of them so my apologies to those I missed out, such as Hilary and John’s lovely garden full of flowers and fruit. Please note that the weather was very wet so imagine how it would all look when the sun came out…

The first garden was at the end of my road and was originally designed by James Alexander Sinclair. It was great to have a closer look, as it has three interesting areas joined together in quite a small space. Here is the entrance path:

This runs past the front door on the left, to a swimming pool area set in the old barnyard.

This pool is very sheltered as it is surrounded by buildings on three sides, and a hedge and gate on the fourth. Near the gate is a nice raised pond, with yellow phormiums behind:

The swimming pool is to the right. Meanwhile, in the foreground of this raised pond, is the house terrace, leading to the back garden. James has arranged ‘exploding squares’ here, beds set at angles to lead you through to the back garden:

The two men above are looking at the back lawn, ingeniously filled with topiary. Here is the view from the bottom of the lawn back to the house.

I haven’t included the veg garden or the hen house which has its own hedged area, but it was very stimulating to see something different.

Dodging rain showers, I called in at Beeches Farm, at which it was too rainy to take many photos, and Wappenham Manor, which has opened and been blogged about before. Here are some photos of the Manor, another James Alexander Sinclair garden.

Lastly I visited a garden made by the owners and full of interesting ideas. The entrance is lined with pots of white pelargoniums and some azaleas in flower:

Then leading round to the right, you pass a lovely deep red climbing rose:

Then through the arch and uphill to the rest of the garden:

Then to the right of all this, there is another garden, on the garage roof. Now a bit late to see it as it is full of azaleas, but still, the view was worth going up the steps for.

The rest of the garden is shaded by tall trees, with roses, and is lined with beds with displays such as these hostas in pots, under the fragrant philadelphus.

At the back of this garden is a hedgehog nest – note the sign!

Lastly, a pic of the ‘natural’ part of my own garden: lilacs, peonies and the meadow patch. The veg garden is yet to spring to life.

Tagged as: garden visit, NGS, open gardens