In July I treated myself to an adventure I had long day-dreamed of taking: to see some of the great gardens of south-east England. It was a treat, a veritable sensory feast. England, and all of Great Britain of course, is a history and literary theme park. Every town and hamlet has old manor houses, historic churches, celebrated battle fields, ruined castles, and ancient abbeys. A lover of English literature I chose a tour that centered on the gardens of horticulturists, writers and artists. Everything about the trip was a highlight, but there were highlights of the highlights. Here are three:
Chartwell — the home of Winston and Clementine Churchill and their children. It is the second most visited site in Britain and redolent with history. It is a homey and comfortable house and the photographs tell the story as no book of potted TV series can, of the immense role this man and his wife played in shaping the destiny of our planet during the first half of the last century. The Weald welcomes one and from the terrace one can see for twenty miles across forests and fields. As I stood and gazed I am sure that I like many thousands of others couldn’t help but think of the famous men and women who had stood there too.
Hatfield House — home to Henry VIII’s three children including the future queen, Elizabeth. To see the Elizabethean knot garden in front of the ruins of the original house and wander in the ascension garden where Elizabeth first heard of her ascension to the throne of England is truly to walk in the footsteps of history.
There is Petworth with its original Chaucer manuscript of “The Canterbury Tales”. The idyllic hamlet of Bosham on the coast near Portsmouth, with a tiny church that reputedly was the place where King Canute worshipped, and which is featured on the Bayeaux tapestries. The gardens of reknown horticulturists Beth Catto and Christopher Lloyd. Charleston the farmhouse and gardens of Vanessa Bell (artist sister of Virginia Woolf) and keystone of the Bloombsbury circle.
And then there is the garden at Sissinghurst, the creation of diplomat Harold Nicholson and his literary wife Vita Sackville-West. There is nothing I can say about Sissinghurst that is not a superlative. Here are two photographs that speak for themselves, one a plant astrantia major from Vita’s famous white garden and the other of “my pink tower” as she called the centuries old tower that houses her writing/sitting room filled everyday with fresh flowers, as if patiently anticipating her return. Magic. Like the entire two-week experience.
© 2010 Janet Levine, White Garden, Sissinghurst
© 2010 Janet Levine, Sissinghurst
You made some clear points there. I looked on the internet for the subject matter and found most guys will approve with your website.
Hey ,, I really love the content!! It is simply a nice article. We look forward to reading through a lot more useful articles that you will turn out to be writing within the long run. I’ve truly acquired a ton from this. Many thanks. -Hsiu Osmon
Awesome website, great information you got here lol it actually relates to the life I live..
When I see a nice blog post like this one with all these spammy blog comments on it I fell really disappointed.
I love your website! I’ll make sure to bookmark it and visit you again in the future! great post!
Your articles are very inspiring indeed. I keep coming back!
this was a really quality post. In theory I’d like to write like this also – taking time and real effort to make a good article. Really what I needed. Thanks I have been looking for this sort of info for a long time.
Perfect just what I was searching for! .
Hey! This is my first remark here and so i wanted to give a quick shout out and let you know I really love studying your site posts.
Many thanks for spending some time to discuss this with us. I just bookmarked your internet site and will have a glimpse at your new articles regularly.
As a Newbie, I am continuously searching online for articles that can benefit me. Thank you
My cousin suggested this blog site and she was totally appropriate maintain up the brilliant succeed!
There is visibly a bunch to identify about this. I feel you made certain nice points in features also.
Good day! You some kind of expert? Nice message. Can you tell me the way to subscribe your weblog?
Definitely, what a fantastic website and educative posts, I surely will bookmark your blog.Have an awsome day!
I am glad that I noticed this site , exactly the right info that I was searching for! .
Looking forward to reading more. Great post.Really looking forward to read more. Will read on…
I haven’t any word to appreciate this post…..Genuinely i’m impressed from this publish….the person who create this post it was a good human..thanks for shared this with us.i found this informative and exciting weblog so i think so its really useful and knowledge able.I would like to thank you for the efforts you could have manufactured in writing this article. I’m hoping the same ideal work from you inside future as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me.Genuinely the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is fine example of it
Hey I discovered this web site to be really fascinating! Bookmarked!
This is one of the better pages I have replied on lately. I admire your blog setup and the format. Keep up the jolly good work, but monitor the comments, seems like you are getting spammed. Thanks!
Hey, awesome blog you made.. How long did it take you to make this? And where did you get your background??
Quite insightful post. Never thought that it was this simple after all. I had spent a very good deal of my time looking for someone to explain this topic clearly and you’re the only 1 that ever did that. Kudos to you! Keep it up
Appreciate your making this website great, I must say i appreciate all of the hard work that goes into this website.
As a Newbie, I am always searching online for articles that can help me get further ahead
My sis told me about your website and how great it is. She’s right, I’m really impressed with the writing and slick design. It seems to me you’re simply scratching the floor when it comes to what you possibly can accomplish, but you’re off to a fantastic begin!
great, thanks for sharing
Hi there this is a great post. I’m likely to e-mail this to my pals. I arrived on this while searching on the internet I’ll ensure to return. thank you for spreading.
Hi there this is a fantastic article. I’m likely to e-mail this to my buddies. I came on this while looking on the internet I’ll be certain to come back. thanks for revealing.
Many thanks for posting this, It?s just what I used to be researching for on bing. I?d quite a bit comparatively hear opinions from a person, slightly than a company web page, that?s why I like blogs so significantly. Many thanks!
I’ve also been considering the identical aspect as of late. Grateful to see someone on similar wavelength! Good posting.
This is the 2nd instance I have encountered your site in the last few weeks. Seems like I ought to take note of it.
It took me time in order to go through the entire advice, but I truly loved the write-up. It proved to be beneficial to me and I am certain to all the commenters right here! It certainly is great when you can not only be advised, but additionally involved! I am positive you had pleasure creating this particular article.
I and my friends were found to be digesting the good tricks located on your site then all of a sudden got an awful suspicion I had not expressed respect to the blog owner for those strategies. The young boys ended up certainly thrilled to learn them and have very much been taking advantage of these things. Appreciate your turning out to be really thoughtful and also for obtaining this kind of remarkable subjects millions of individuals are really needing to learn about. My personal sincere regret for not saying thanks to sooner.
This is actually the great and perfect discussion as well and no doubt this is the best approach.
You made some respectable points there. I looked on the web for the issue and located most people will go together with together with your website.
Nice thoughts. Like your site design too. You’re a very skilled blogger. Continue the good work.
I really appreciate, this article has been quite interesting, My spouse and I look forward to looking at more of this amazing site.
I just couldnt leave your website before suggesting that we really enjoyed the quality information you offer for your visitors Is going to be back often to check on up on new posts
I have to ask how many hrs did you really invest authoring this article? It is very nicely written and writing isn’t my strong position. It really exhibits that you are enthusiastic about this, and it arrives across by way of your posts. Nicely carried out, and I will allow it to be a point to stick to you from now on.
Good post, thank you! I really love it.
Hey, great blog you have here, think I came across it on Yahoo but im not sure nowanyway, Ill check back again! Are guests allowed to post here?
Oh my goodness! an amazing article dude. Thanks However I’m experiencing problem with ur rss . Don’t know why Unable to subscribe to it. Is there anyone getting an identical rss drawback? Anybody who knows kindly respond. Thnkx
I found great love and good support over the years, and now reading this article will again supports me on a different way.
Woah! I’m really enjoying the template/theme of this site. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s hard to get that “perfect balance” between user friendliness and visual appearance. I must say you have done a amazing job with this. Additionally, the blog loads super quick for me on Chrome. Outstanding Blog!
Thank you for an additional excellent write-up. Exactly where else could anybody get that kind of information in this kind of a ideal way of writing? I’ve a presentation subsequent week, and I’m to the look for these details.
Cheers for that good resources enclosed within your blog, this can be a little test for the blog site subscribers. Who actually proclaimed these quote? . . . .Diligence is the mother of fine luck.
Dude, please tell me that youre heading to publish additional. I notice you havent written another weblog for a while (Im just catching up myself). Your blog is just also important to become missed. Youve received so substantially to say, these knowledge about this subject it would be a shame to see this blog disappear. The internet needs you, man!
Yes, more coming by this weekend. Thanks for asking.
Great job here. I definitely enjoyed what you had to say. Keep heading because you undoubtedly bring a new voice to this subject. Not many people would say what youve said and still make it interesting. Properly, at least Im interested. Cant wait to see extra of this from you.
A formidable share, I just given this onto a colleague who was doing slightly analysis on this. And he the truth is purchased me breakfast as a result of I discovered it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love studying extra on this topic. If potential, as you become experience, would you mind updating your weblog with extra particulars? It is highly useful for me. Huge thumb up for this weblog publish!