One of the great pleasures of being a gardener is visiting other people’s gardens and admiring their plants, planting combinations, garden furniture and ornaments, and overall design. (In other words, Being Nosey and Getting Ideas.) One of my favourite private gardens belongs to my friend Mrs Ford* and she very kindly agreed to let me take some photographs this morning to show you.
Her garden wraps around one side and the rear of her house, with an east-north-east aspect, and is mostly shaded in the winter but sunny in summer. Over the years she has been creating a beautiful, generous garden featuring a romantic English border which is at its peak in June. There is also a kitchen garden area with four raised beds, a small wildlife pond, climbing roses and honeysuckle clothing the house walls, two seating areas (one covered) and several fruit trees. She has very cleverly planted around the boundary with roses and fruit trees which gives the garden a very secluded feel. It’s an oasis of lush greenery and gorgeous fragrant blooms, and is the perfect place to sit and chat over coffee.
Inspired by many visits to Sissinghurst, the deep border is choc-a-bloc with hardy geraniums, lavenders, alliums, poppies, peonies (‘Bowl of Beauty’), grasses, roses (‘Boscobel’, ‘Charles de Mills’, ‘Thomas a Becket’), Philadelphus ‘Belle Etiole’, Alchemilla mollis, Osteospermum, aquilegia, gladioli, Acanthus mollis, Bergenia… Her gardening philosophy is to pack in as many plants as possible, preferably scented, with glorious colours and foliage. I love the abundant planting with its contrasting foliage and pops of vibrant colour. While I was there, the warm sun came out, a couple of butterflies fluttered among the flowers, birds sang and I wondered how long I could eek out my visit before I outstayed my welcome.
The fruits in the top left photo are mulberries – although they look rather unappetising at this stage, they ripen to large berries that look like giant purple raspberries.
Adorable springer spaniel Patch and Tortoise, who both like to be where the action is, enjoying the garden, too.
*Mrs Ford writes the fabulous Mrs Ford’s Diary . She hasn’t posted for a while but is very much thriving and storing away golden nuggets of Village Life for possible future posts. Fingers crossed 🙂
acoastalplot 
That’s my kind of garden–pack ’em in, lots of color, lots of fragrance, an abundance of life.
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Thank you for taking such lovely photos, and rest assured that you will never outstay your welcome here.
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Sigh. I am enormously envious, and also greatly encouraged and inspired :o) Must get some aliums…. :o) XX
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Mrs Ford’s garden is so beautiful!!!!!! Tell her I think it is wonderful and that I said hello and am missing her blog!
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What a stunning garden. I love the long deep borders. Lots of planting is definitely the way to keep down weeds. Many thanks for the visit. B x
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Oh wow, it’s absolutely glorious. I love everything. Is that a dianthus? It’s gorgeous. I enjoyed reading her blog as well, how lovely that you know her. I do like the tortoise. I used to have a foundling tortoise, I still miss him. Fabulous garden tour, thank you. CJ xx
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Thank you for this visual tour. This week it’s good to be reminded of the beauty in the world.
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I have serious garden envy after seeing Mrs Fords’s luscious paradise. I wonder if Mrs Ford might want to plan a gorgeous garden for a hopeless family in Glasgow? If you could pass on thanks for letting us see it, that would be grand. Thank you for showing us. x
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What a glorious garden — how kind of you and your friend to share it with us. Is it too silly of me to be completely smitten by the tortoise — just the icing on the cake!
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What a wonderful visit – perfect in every way! And, yes, love the tortoise!
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A truly fabulous garden. I agree with her garden philosophy and admire the abundance of her plantings with all their bright, rich colors.
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Wow, what a garden. I think she must be very talented and knowledgeable. I know her blog and was reading it from time to time, so I’m glad to know she is doing well. Thanks for sharing her lovely garden. I hope you have a good weekend, Sam!
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A lovely garden, just the sort I like, packed full of colour and interest. I love abundant gardens like this.
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What a beautiful garden! Being nosey in other people’s gardens is one of my favourite things too!
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I’ve just popped by from Mrs Ford’s. What superb photos! It’s a beautiful garden, I’d want to linger there a while too.
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Mrs Ford’s garden is fantastic the long border looks amazing.That is such a good idea making a boundary with fruit trees and roses too, a perfect place to enjoy summer! Sarah x
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