OUR FRIENDS' ENGLISH GARDEN

As the relentless summer heat continues and my own garden gets crispier and crispier each day, I enjoy looking back at those green gardens we visited this summer.

This summer, while visiting England, we stayed with our friends who live in Worcestershire. They are both fine gardeners and it is a delight to visit with them and tour around their garden. They have an interesting house and garden arrangement. The house, a fine Victorian house, is  divided into two parts. They own the back half of the house and with that comes a large back garden, a carriage house, potting shed and greenhouse. 

On the end wall of the carriage house is an espaliered pear which is probably as old as the house. Roses climb as high as the roof line on both sides.

A stone pathway leads past the potting shed, opening into a terrace with a small pond. 

Our friends recently refurbished the greenhouse adding a conservatory area at one end. Sometimes, even in the summer, the greenhouse is a perfect place to sit any read the newspaper and enjoy a cup of tea.

But this greenhouse is a real workhorse, housing all manner of tropicals, succulents, and cacti.

Including some gorgeous blooms.

Many English gardens have great depth and afford the opportunity to divide the garden, as has been done here. Beyond the ornamental beds and the pyramidal yew are fruit trees, vegeables and compost bins.

The evergreen hedge, which runs down one side of the property, has an interesting feature which can be seen here.
and in close up below.

A yew growing through the hedge has been trained and clipped into an ornamental shape. 

Their gardening skills are not confined to the outdoors. They have a magnificent collection of orchids which seem to love the English climate.