GERTRUDE JEKYLL GARDEN,LINDISFARNE CASTLE .

GERTRUDE JEKYLL GARDEN, 

LINDISFARNE CASTLE 

LINDISFARNE, NORTHUMBERLAND, ENGLAND

This is my favourite garden in England! 

Not that I've visited them all but I have that strange supernatural feeling that this is it!

It is discreet and appears as a splash of colour in the distance. A visual disturbance to the green yet bleak landscape of Lindisfarne.

Although seeming wild it is meticulously laid out. It was created by Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932) in 1906 and planted in 1911.

A combination of vegetables, annuals and perennials. It continues its first use as a vegetable garden, originally supplying the castle but developed by Jekyll as a point of interest in the landscape.

Sir Edward Lutyens (1869-1944), a friend and collaborator, renovated the castle and worked with Jekyll on the garden.

Rachel Ryvar of 'Garden Improvements' (rachelryvar.co.uk), seen above with Martin Rasmussen, introduced us to the garden and its earthly delights.

The staff of the 'National Trust' keep this garden beautiful and beautifully looked after. We thank them with great gratitude for performing all the duties that allow this space to be a possibility. We left recharged and regenerated and with a greatly improved and positive outlook.

WALLINGTON HOUSE & GARDEN.

WALLINGTON HOUSE & GARDEN

CANBO, NORTHUMBERLAND

As part of a hiking holiday in Northumberland I spent an afternoon in the walled garden of Wallington House, run by the National Trust.

A pleasant surprise to find a shrine to Antinous, with signature hair style, in the glasshouse at Wallington. The bust sits on a plinth next to two chairs thus allowing visitors to rest and meditate.

It felt rather like visiting The Oracle at Delphi!

A delicately rendered Chinese style bench.

The garden is beautifully maintained and provided a memorable highlight to the Northumberland visit. We strolled around the walled garden and sat at various points to enjoy the views of the grounds.

It felt private and exhilarating. The visit encouraged an interesting chat about public and private ownership and the future of the heritage of these locales. Rachel Ryvar of Garden Improvements (rachelryvar.co.uk), who accompanied us on the visit and introduced us to the garden, showed us various plants of particular interest to us. We greatly profited from her expertise.