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.