A Stockman's Retreat
by
Chris Beardshaw
RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2011
Garden Style:
Cottage/informal
Description:
I was fortunate enough to be allowed into this garden - it was here that we saw its true heart and beauty. I strolled down the rutted path with a beautifully constructed dry wall, past the stockman's retreat (perfectly detailed, with even a boot scraper inset into the wall), past the first massive ball, past the wall where a recently felled tree had damaged the wall. On the right, was the second massive ball, almost complete, and through the trees one glimpsed a pond with the final, perfectly carved ball surrounded by naturalistic planting. I loved the combination of ferns and hostas under majestic trees. The front, public view, was not as impressive - I guess with so much work to do, they simply ran out of time. Pity, this garden was on the way to true greatness.