You may remember the post I wrote before Christmas about the lovely day I spent at Glemham Hall in Suffolk on a FIGA christmas styling course. One of the highlights was a walk around the beautiful gardens before lunch. The day was cold and crisp and I was blown away by the unexpected delights to be found in the Glemham Hall gardens in winter, so do come and join me on a beautiful winter walk …
Leaving this grand old house by the back door I loved the avenue of clipped yews tempting the visitor out into the depths of the garden.
Walking as far as the sundial and turning left will lead us into the perennial and grass borders. The beautiful old greenhouse is a highlight of this section of the garden.
In contrast to the old greenhouse, this piece of modern art makes sure that the garden sits well in 2016.
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Leaving the grass borders we turn back through the yew hedge and across into the Rose Garden.
Although this was December I was enthralled by the beauty of this space – the winter to date had been mild and there were still plenty of leaves and even a few roses to enjoy.
At the centre of the Rose Garden was this lovely pond – one day I hope to have a little pond like this in my own garden – imagine the daily joy to be found from sitting on a bench listening to the water falling from the fountain whilst immersed in a space literally dripping with roses.
This use of lavender was inspirational – lavender is usually clipped into round hummocks – how much easier and more effective to cut it with a flat top.
It was so lovely to see roses in December – this one is, I think, a David Austin rose that I grow called The Pilgrim.
Stone containers had been filled with brightly coloured cyclamen and pansies – I wonder if they are underplanted with tulips for the spring?
Before heading out of the Rose Garden, looking back towards the house will give you a feel for the scale of this private home.
Moving out of the Rose Garden we will find this lovely lawn dotted with lollipops of box. Beyond this lawned space are the meadows and woodlands that surround the formal gardens.
Quickly glance back up the yew corridor towards the house before turning into the orchard.
The orchard is another beautiful space occupied by gnarled old apple trees.
There were still plenty of apples that had missed harvest time which were now providing a feast for hungry wildlife. Perhaps one day my recently planted orchard will produce a bounty like this!
I loved this unusual but effective use of old cold frames.
After a brisk walk around the gardens it is time to head through that back door and inside to the delights of a yummy lunch and the warmth of the woodturner!
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I hope you have enjoyed our very quick tour of this imposing garden. The highlights for me are the clipped topiary, immaculate lawns, statues, stone pots and urns filled with colourful winter flowers and that beautiful pond in the heart of the Rose Garden. I will certainly be planning a trip back to enjoy those roses in June!
For anyone who lives within driving distance of Glemham Hall Art For Cure will once again be holding a spectacular art exhibition from Saturday April 30th to Monday May 2nd. This years event is being held for the first time at Glemham Hall, so is a great opportunity to see both the inside and outside of the house as well as an opportunity to snap up some art or sculpture for your own house or garden. The last event made in excess of £100,000 for the Breakthrough For Breast Cancer fund, so hopes are high for this second event.
I hope you have had a lovely weekend and are enjoying your Sunday evening – I am off now to watch War & Peace and will be back tomorrow with my Monday vase.
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Strangely I am reading this while ‘watching ‘ War and Peace!
I think standard roses are a great way to incorporate roses into a garden, under planted with lavender even better!
I would really like to add some standard roses to my borders but I am slightly afraid of them – I worry that they will be hard to prune or that I will not stake them properly. Are you enjoying War & Peace? I am tempted to give the book a try but that might be it for my 2016 reading if I do!
They do need a stake, certainly in the early years Julie.
I don’t think they are any more difficult to prune that ordinary roses.
We have a weeping one which I train down on to a metal hoop to provide extra support.
I certainly did enjoy my walk around the gardens! I think gardens in winter can be as beautiful as in high summer, just in a very different way. The use of the old cold frames is inspirational and very effective. Maybe I’ll clip my lavenders with flat tops, less work as you say.
Thank you Alison and I think I will be trying the flat approach too for the lavenders that grow under my espaliered apple trees. Much as I love summer gardens I really think that I might prefer winter gardens – at least when the weather is fine. I really like to see the bones of the garden and there is something very peaceful about the empty borders and leafless trees and shrubs.
I too like the idea of flat topped lavender, I must pinch that! Your photos show important structure is in the winter garden, beautiful views!
Thank you for joining me on the walk Pauline – I think this garden is one of the best examples I have seen of a beautifully planned winter garden. Although there were very few ‘winter plants’ the perfectly maintained hedges, lawns and topiary together with pots planted with colourful winter bedding provided a stunning garden on a sunny December day.
I’m sitting here and looking out of my window and see nothing but snow. I so enjoy strolling via email through Glenham Hall Garden. You have placed a smile on my face. We’ve had snow for two days. Thank you so much for your postings, it’s helping me get through winter here in the States. Keep them coming.
I am so glad that I am helping you get through the winter Joanne – it sounds like things are very hard over there right now! Thank you for commenting and I hope you will keep reading.