We paid a visit to an ‘open garden’ under the National Gardens Scheme at the weekend, Oulton Hall, not far from Old School Garden. And we cycled! (about 10 miles in total).
Home of the Agnew family, originally Oulton Hall was built in the 16th Century, but the present building is Georgian in style and incorporates a yellow brick stable. The house and stable block are surrounded by a garden (or rather gardens) designed by Chelsea medal winner, Clare Agnew.
With a strong overall structure, the gardens are a combination of spaces which together hang together as a delightful country landscape. However, there are several spaces which give a different feel to the place- Mediterranean and more contemporary designs (including ornamental grasses) are well integrated and used to good effect. The journey through the various small courtyards and niches as well as the grander open lawns, wider woodland and lakeside areas was a joy on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
I particularly liked the series of pergolas enclosing an old church font at the centre, overhung with white and lavender Wisteria, creating a quiet, monastic feel (see main picture, above). I also liked the vines trained into ‘parasols’ which, with surrounding features, create a mediterranean atmosphere. There is also a superb, densely planted walk with a seat by a bubbling water feature, illuminated by the sunshine. Certainly a garden where a lot of thought and skill has gone into creating a mix of experiences which aren’t overpowering, with the emphasis on the intimate and restful. Here’s a photo gallery of our visit.
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And here’s a selection of some of the flowers in bloom when we visited.
Old School Gardener
Old School Garden 
Wow! What wonderful pics! I never visit your posts without thinking, “Hmm.. how can I incorporate that garden idea into my own landscaping?” Thanks for your time/effort in sharing these fabulous places!
That’s very kind of you, thanks. I’m glad you like the posts- so what ideas are you actually putting into YOUR garden? 😉
I’m currently reading up on eating wild foods, so I can better understand the place of various ‘weeds’ on my little slice of earth – my hope is to intertwine man’s agriculture heirloom gems (tomatoes, corn, potatoes, etc.) with carefully placed perennials that thrive in my particular area all among the weeds that can, when carefully thinned for salads and medicine, flourish and complement without taking over the place ! 🙂
So many of the photos from this post reminded me of what I want to do – what I call (perhaps mistakenly) a cottage garden – no strict geometric forms to keep pruned and perfect – just a lovely area full of green growing things – with a birdbath lovingly placed where Mother Nature already thoughtfully provided a shower curtain! LOL
I’m sure some of my ideas will have to be reworked – I’m starting to wonder if planting areas to grow the way Mother Nature does (plants all together that complement each other’s needs and lend diversity to the area) isn’t harder to do than strict spacing with heavy mulch/rocks between carefully spaced plants that form some geometric pattern!
But I will say, that while I try to tackle one small area or another – plant with perennials and vegetables that supposedly work together and carefully avoid ripping out the useful natives – I come in to take a break and read your blog and think, “Oh, that’s a neat idea – look how that path is done” or “Look how you come across that little nook – a chair – nice place to hide for the afternoon and read a book” – and so on… 🙂
And of course, who could forget the post where you showed what awesome things could be done with the wood pallets my mom lugged home, thinking they could be used for firewood instead of being put in the dumpster at her work – – Now, they sit, waiting for me to purchase the tools/paint I need to turn them into my northwest corner patio area (a lounging couch next to a living wall of, if it ever takes off! creeping thyme and cascading snow… 🙂
Thamks so much for your extensive reply- I’ve really enjoyed reading it! It’s great to hear that some of the articles/images on the blog are helping to inspire you. Remind me, just where on this planet do you live (actually, not metaphorically speaking:))
State of Colorado, USA – with warm Indian Summers in the Fall – Snowstorms in June (and even in July, sometimes!) Wildly swinging temps that take you from sunbathing one day to skiing the next! 🙂 But I love it – born and raised here, tried living elsewhere – always come back home!
🙂
Great! Rather diffiferent ot Norfolk, UK! (‘Very flat, Norfolk’ said Noel Coward) Have a good gardening weekend 😉
You as well. 🙂
Lovely garden, beautiful images. I also love that pergola area with wisteria.
Thanks- how’s the weather today? Rain on and off here, doing a little potting up this morning and then afternoon with High School kids in their garden. Have a good day 🙂
Lovely sunny morning, but loads of rain forecast for tomorrow & weekend! Getting a display ready for someone at the Dublin Garden Festival in a week. Enjoy your day too!