The famous garden at Great Dixter was developed and cared for by Christopher Lloyd and, before him, his parents. It is a beautiful, vivacious, treasure-packed garden, crammed with beauties and rare specimens, collected by expert plant lovers. From reading Christopher Lloyd's books, one could envision a garden full of unconventional ideas, experiments and strong opinions, well thought through, but not very mainstream; open and welcoming, not intimidating, not orderly, not built to impress but to please, and also to teach generations of gardeners, exuberantly life-hugging and continuing to thrive even after Lloyd's death ten years ago. The garden surrounds and embraces the old house with its crooked gables and uneven roof and windows.
These are impressions from our walk through the garden.
Structure is obtained with wall-forming hedges or redbrick walls of various buildings, hardly ever at straight angles. The old oasthouses with their white tips form a splendid backdrop to many inspiring vistas.
Colour combinations are often surprising - at this time of year, many poppies show up throughout the garden.
The Long Border
Astrantia and Clematis
The Peacock Topiary Garden
Aquilegia chrysantha "Yellow Queen" in front of Hedera helix "Buttercup"
the Sunk Garden and Lily Pond
the Horse Pond
a meadow full of orchids
They have a well-stocked enticing nursery and plant shop ....
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