The Old Well, Houghton Lodge
Now nearly a week ago in Paradise - but it is high summer here, the garden calls me away for much attention and only now am I getting to the keyboard to post few words but many pictures of the glorious garden day that we spent last Monday. We managed to squeeze in visits to three gardens that are on our regular 'circuit' but are, at the moment, looking spectacularly beautiful. You can't smell the scents or feel the sun on your back, but I hope you can enjoy the visual feast of these little pools of beauty in North Hampshire in July.
In these pictures, our first stop on the tour - to Houghton Lodge, near Stockbridge. I am sure I have shown you pictures of this place before, but these are a little earlier in the season. I hope you enjoy your walk around with me!
Hydroponically grown petunias
Immense variety in the Orchid House
The camouflaged humidfier
Victorian cloches waiting to be called into action in the autumn, to protect any tender plants
One of the blowsy Paeonies from the Paeony Walk (possibly 'Bowl of Beauty'?)
Rhubarb making a break for it from the top of their forcing pots
Burgeoning, bee-laden catmint (Nepeta) in the gravel garden, looking back to the conservatory
Rosa mundi, a sport of the Apothecary's rose
Abundance everywhere - the finest sight of high summer - looking down towards the meadows
In beating heat - Small Tortoishell butterflies on Scabious
Huge heads of Allium christophii in the Long Border
A little shepherd boy making a lovely point of focus in a sea of greenery
Houghton Lodge - the fairytale 18th century 'Cottage Orne'
The long view from the house
The Residents
I'm swooning...
Posted by: Jamie | Sunday, July 07, 2013 at 12:28
Totally mind blowing!
Posted by: Olly Dennis | Sunday, July 07, 2013 at 19:24
When we were in Strockbridge, years ago, we didn't know there was such a beautiful place to visit! We enjoyed a walk through the village, we had a very tasty dinner at The White Hart, too bad I didn't know about you back then!
Posted by: Gracie | Monday, July 08, 2013 at 14:06
I'd envy those swans,but they have no idea how beautiful their home is. The cottage orne' is a delight, and looks pieced together with several additions.
Posted by: Margaret Lambert | Monday, July 08, 2013 at 23:46