‘Gallivanting’ is truth be told, the only way to describe my recent escapades in the South East! Not only did I drink in the great beauty of Great Dixter all day, but the evenings were peppered with glorious sunsets, moth trapping, street festivals in Hastings (including the Dixter veg stall!) and a delightful evening stroll around the resplendent gardens of Sissinghurst Castle! I journeyed here for the first time back in April for what turned out to be a golden week of spring glory, and it was a great joy to return here and poke about the place during the summer displays. As back in April, the Cottage Garden was for me the most beautiful area of Sissinghurst. The simple design of this garden, with the majority of the available space handed over to borders, combined against the backdrop of that beautiful brick cottage clad in a fine specimen of Rosa, is truly breathtaking. The planting here is packed tight, ranging from clumps of Achillea to delicate bedding out with Hibiscus trionum. The ‘hot’ planting scheme seems to compliment and be enhanced by the brick, and obviously shows up well against the Yew topiary! The copper tub that serves as a centrepiece is beauty itself. Living here in the manor at Hidcote is great fun, but I would certainly consider giving it up to live in that cottage, there is even a hive of wild bees living in the roof; perfect!
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| View from underneath the tower |
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| Yew Walk |
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| The tower seen from the recently mowed meadow |
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| Dovecote in the meadow |
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| Lime Walk |
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| Cottage Garden shadows |
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| Exquisite planting in the Cottage Garden |
