I love garden tours. I love seeing the vision that someone has translated onto the land, turning something tangled or simply ordinary into something totally lovely. I also enjoy being given a little map and then exploring the back hill roads and small-village streets to find these treasured spots.
 |
| The winter's wood has been turned into sculpture |
So, this past weekend, as I did just a year ago, I visited The Gardens of Westminster. I was particularly struck this time by the diversity that made up one especially outstanding garden--such components as texture, height, color, range of vision. Paths were brick, gravel, grass. There were annuals, perennials, flowering bushes, trees both gnarled and straight. Sculptures in terracotta, wood, stone. Garden ornaments. Intimate views as well as long distance ones. Sunny spots as well as shady. Gates, arbors, benches, stone walls, water features. And, with each, there were hidden nooks as well as wide expansive plantings, herbs, and areas for outdoor dining.
 |
Brick path ... plus a sculpture on a pedestal
acting as a center piece in a four-quadrant garden. |
 |
| Grassy path between perennial borders |
 |
| Gravel path |
 |
| Here, there is visual texture from the combined filtered sunlight and dappled shade. |
|
| |
|
 |
| This view from the garden looking out to the neighboring landscape becomes part of the garden scene. |
 |
| Here, the gentle trickling of water adds to the sensual delight. |
(With thanks to the Matteau, Adair, and Hayward Gardens and to those who gave me permission to take photos.)
No comments:
Post a Comment