Kent is known as the Garden of England, because there are lots of fruit orchards and vegetable farms amidst the fertile rolling countryside. It's why we chose to visit on our Garden Holiday this year. Having stayed at Minnis Bay for 2 nights, we moved onto Charcott Farmhouse a beautiful place where we had our own sitting room and The Greyhound pub just round the corner.
There are so many fabulous gardens in the area that I thought I'd ask one of the pub's customers which was the best garden to visit the next day. They replied Emmett's Garden which was the first garden we visited, but sadly sporadic torrential rain rather spoiled the visit, although the plant sales were very good, I bought a beautiful Heuchera
From Emmetts, we went to Ightham Mote, pronounced Item Mote, where the weather was much better, and we had a wonderful time. There's an outstanding moated 14th Century house amid glorious gardens. It was Father's day when we visited, and people were being encouraged to fish in the moat.
Above the building housed the stables, and below is the moated house, not visited because of the three garden challenge that day.
I took a photo of the long border with its spectacular blue and yellow flowers, you can also see a rather wonderful example of topiary in the background.
Another view of the border with a nice piece of ornamental stoneware.
Above a weedy pond in the Secret Garden, and below one of two whirlpools behind the hedge seen above
It was also interesting to stand where John Singer Sergeant painted the celebrated actress Ellen Terry and other guests playing bowls on the north lawn.
From Ightham Mote we drove to Great Comp, curated by William Dyson, it's an RHS Partner Garden with a mixture of herbaceous garden, woodland garden and Italinate ruins garden. This is how it's described:
'Great Comp Garden, near Sevenoaks, has built up an enviable reputation over the years as being one of Kent’s finest gardens to visit.
Above the house, below some of the Italinate ruins
And a general view of the gardens looking very verdant
The nursery has a great collection of salvias, I bought a new variety called 'So Cool Pale Blue' which is gorgeous, and a Fuchsia magellanica Lady Bacon which I've been keen to acquire for a while.
There are so many fabulous gardens in the area that I thought I'd ask one of the pub's customers which was the best garden to visit the next day. They replied Emmett's Garden which was the first garden we visited, but sadly sporadic torrential rain rather spoiled the visit, although the plant sales were very good, I bought a beautiful Heuchera
From Emmetts, we went to Ightham Mote, pronounced Item Mote, where the weather was much better, and we had a wonderful time. There's an outstanding moated 14th Century house amid glorious gardens. It was Father's day when we visited, and people were being encouraged to fish in the moat.
'Great Comp Garden, near Sevenoaks, has built up an enviable reputation over the years as being one of Kent’s finest gardens to visit.
Come and explore our wonderfully quirky garden showcasing 7 acres of
beautiful and rare plants surrounding a 17th century manor house. This
hidden gem of a garden is home to an Italian Garden, romantic ruins,
enchanting woodland walks and the Old Dairy Tearooms.
In Spring this tranquil garden erupts into bloom with numerous Magnolias, Azaleas and Rhododendrons, underplanted with large drifts of Helebores and bulbs while summer brings warmth and extravagance from one of the most comprehensive and exciting collections of Salvias in Europe. Ornamental grasses in great variety punctuate the colourful borders and combine beautifully with the myriad colours of late autumn.'
William Dyson has just won a silver gilt at Hampton Court Flower Festival for a stand of salvias.
In Spring this tranquil garden erupts into bloom with numerous Magnolias, Azaleas and Rhododendrons, underplanted with large drifts of Helebores and bulbs while summer brings warmth and extravagance from one of the most comprehensive and exciting collections of Salvias in Europe. Ornamental grasses in great variety punctuate the colourful borders and combine beautifully with the myriad colours of late autumn.'
William Dyson has just won a silver gilt at Hampton Court Flower Festival for a stand of salvias.
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