On the same day as our visit to Levens Hall we visited Holehird Gardens. I have been to the Lakes many times but had never heard of these gardens. Entry to the gardens is by donation. They were designed, installed and are maintained by members of the Lakeland Horticultural Society. Aside from the rockery, with the alpine troughs, ( I think I have a new project for D!) the gardens were extensive, with herbaceous borders, open grassy areas with island plantings, and woodland walks. Rhododendrons were everywhere. My favorite place was the alpine greenhouse although I'm afraid my photograph does not do it justice. I love the idea of the rock wall on the left side and the more informal rockery on the right. At the end of green house was a lakeland slate trickle water feature. For many people gravel gardening may not hold the attraction that is does for me. We have so many wonderful rocks in our garden that it becomes a necessity to put them to good use. I love rocks.
The Lakeland gardens were ablaze with yellow rhododendrons. 
At the end of a wonderful day we headed back down the M6 to St Annes.
How arid it looks. Not what I expected of an English garden. I like rocks too, and those ideas sound like good ones to adapt to your garden.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I didn't take pictures of the other areas of the garden. They were really lush with rolling lawns. This was the edge of the patio and building so was given over to gravel and alpines. This, I have to say is not representative of an English garden. You will see something more typical when I post our visit to Arley Hall.
ReplyDeleteJenny
Thanks for the latest tour entry, Jenny!
ReplyDeleteThe January selection for the Garden Bloggers Book Club at May Dreams Garden was Dear Friend and Gardener by Beth Chatto and Christopher Lloyd. Did you ever read it? Beth Chatto's garden in Essex was made on gravel with low water.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
I'm intrigued by the alpine troughs. Now, could I find some plants for one that would survive my winter?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tour, I'm enjoying it.
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
I'm glad you posted some photos of Holehird Gardens. I love rocks too--especially the walls in the Lake District. I'm definitely going to persuade the gang to take me there the next time we're there (not this year, unfortunately).
ReplyDeleteYou asked me elsewhere if I'd walked up Coniston. Unfortunately it was raining the day we were there. I blogged three of the walks we've done. The one up Crinkle Crags above Langdale was the most intense...and perfect weather that day.
Addressing Pam's comment, isn't it true that the reason gravel gardens are popular in the Lake District is not because it's arid but because it's so wet and mucky? The design has to provide really good drainage.
Annie- I have Beth Chatto's book The Gravel Garden. I have also been the Christopher Lloyd's garden and house Great Dixter. Must post those pictures sometime.
ReplyDeleteCarol- I bet you have alpine type plants. It can be quite cold up in the lake district with lots of snow. Surely your new garden has some suitable plants.
MSS- That sounds like a good reason for the gravel gardens and they do have so much slate there. Also they have the stone troughs which were used for watering livestock or were just those old fashioned white kitchen sinks which are covered with hypertuffa. Thanks for the link to the walks. I will certainly put them on the list for next time. Do you have Wainwright's books. D has quite a collection of them. He's thinking about the coast to coast!! In 10 easy stages I hope.
Jenny