The most beautiful garden space I experienced during my recent travels was in West Dean Gardens, on the Isle of Wight. (just off the coast of southern England) It was such a stunning combination of flowers, vines, and fruits everywhere I walked. I spun around in circles trying to take it all in.
The first delight was the sunken garden, filled with flowering thymes scattered across the graveled floor. The four-quadrant plantings were of lavenders, purple, yellows, grasses blowing in the breeze, and a splash of pink for contrast. The plants varied in shape, height, colors, and foliage while repeating in every direction.
Leaving the sunken garden, I walked the 300-foot vine-covered arbor designed by Harold Peto, “the gardener of the great and the good” in early 20th-century England.
This dreamy walk under the jasmine, honeysuckle, and roses would be a great bridal aisle for Taylor and Travis. (300′ is the length of a football field, right?)
There are 35 acres of ornamental gardens, and within the walled garden there are 13 Victorian glasshouses.
Entering into each one was a surprise of color, foliage, and fruit. Espaliered apricots, figs, apples, and pears were thriving.
Colorful double perennial borders led to a small, round stone building. Inside an art exhibition, but the building itself was a work of art.
If you are familiar with the British production “The Repair Shop,” which is shown on our PBS channel, you may be impressed by the expertise of the restorers who can transform a sad old treasure into its original condition.
The West Dean College of Arts, Design, Craft, and Conservation, which was established and funded by Edward James, “The greatest English patron of art of the early 20th Century” (BBC Arts Online, April 2017), has been the training ground for many of the show’s participants. James, an enthusiast of the arts, became concerned in WWII that the art and craftsmanship of weaving, woodworking, ceramics, papermaking, basket weaving, stone carving, metalworking, and other related fields would be lost. Using his inherited fortune, he established the College to teach and preserve these arts for all. Today, the College has 1200 full-time students and offers over 700 short courses in a wide range of the arts. While many institutions are questioning the importance of arts & humanities, it is wonderful to know that art and craftsmanship are an entire curriculum at West Dean.
One of the other areas of study is gardening, including garden design and short courses on designing a scented garden and growing cut flowers. The gardens of West Dean get an A+.
A gallery of additional photos follow
Beautiful Beautiful gardens. Thank you for sharing. You do a wonderful job.
Beautiful…takes me away from this hot, dry summer in Arizona!
Thank You
Carolyn
A cacophony of color! I would have loved to see it with you.
What a wonderful garden! I wonder how many gardeners work there to keep it in such heavenly condition. Thanks for this trip. Nancy
My! Oh ! My!! Such beautiful ART, nature’s art supplying us such gorgeous views in all directions!! Thank you for going and sharing your beautiful experiences with us.
Thank you, Linda, for this beautiful setting. Even the chicken is part of the design! And great to hear about the School of design!
Gratefully, Bersy
The picture of you just radiates your happiness, calm, and peace at being there. Reason for lucky TG readers to seek out gardens whenever we can.
Have to put this all up on our big screen and enjoy it! Will be thinking of you!
Beautiful, unique gardens and magnificent blooms everywhere! Thanks so much for taking me along.