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Tuesday, 22 July 2025

Chatsworth

 

At the end of last year we took out Chatsworth 'Friends' membership with the intent of visiting many, many times over the course of 2025. I'm not quite sure that's working to plan but it does mean that we can visit without extra cost whenever we feel like it.


It's one of my favourite gardens, with so much for every season and a wide range of differing spaces within - from stream-side woodland walks to formal bedding to magnificent views over the gardens and countryside beyond.








On this occasion we caught the first of the peonies bursting into flower - these are wonderful when fully out and I meant to go back a fortnight or so later but never found the time. 








Irises in the old rose garden




And the laburnum arch - not as long as the one at Bodnant Gardens but still lovely.

Wednesday, 16 July 2025

Lyme - rhododendrons


A trip up north to see my daughter gave me chance to stop off at Lyme again.

This time the rhododendrons were in full flower - around the sides of the Italian garden and on the far side of the lake.










It was a very hot day, so ice cream was needed, and a walk in the shelter of trees much appreciated.









Thursday, 10 July 2025

Houghton Hall wisteria



On this trip to Norfolk I was looking round gardens for wisteria.
Belton had some in a surprising spot by the entrance. Blickling had walls covered with it. So I thought we'd pretty much found peak wisteria - till I saw Houghton's pergola!

There's lots to see as you enter the walled garden.











In a far corner though, glimpsed at first beyond formal hedging, lies an enchanting surprise. Not just a plant or two but a tunnel of gorgeous lilac wisteria





Walking underneath it is almost like being in a fairy-tale. The nearest thing I've seen to it is the laburnum arch at Bodnant, but lovely as that is it doesn't have the scent or enchantment of wisteria. It helps that at Houghton there were far fewer people in the garden, and, while we were there, no one else under the wisteria pergola.





Still photos can't really capture the wonder of it, so do go if you have the opportunity.








Houghton's walled garden occupies 5 acres so there's lots much to see - long magnificent herbaceous border, quiet nooks with statues or water features, a greenhouse with exotic flowers and fruit, a cottage-garden style vegetable patch with flowers.rambling among the productive rows.