The Gardens at Gravetye Manor

Gravetye Manor in East Grinstead, Sussex, was the home of William Robinson, horticulturist and author of several books on gardening, among them the classics "The English Flower Garden" and "The Wild Garden". He has influenced British and European gardening style for many decades since the end of the 19th century. He advocated a natural, less formal gardening style with plantings in drifts and well devised finely graduated colour schemes. 
Today his house is a beautiful country house hotel, with an excellent Michelin-starred restaurant. We had visited the place several times in the past already - mainly because of its kitchen. With a change of ownership, its gardens now have improved tremendously, offer an additional joy and are well worth a visit.  

So have a look for yourself: 

The gardens are well maintained and gardeners are very helpful and keen to explain about the plantings or plants' names. The head gardener used to work at Great Dixter; this creative influence can clearly be seen. 

Yellow Tropaeolum canariense  delicately draped across a camellia giving her additional flowers extending her showy time. 

a peek over the wall 

 Photogenic Veratrum decorated with flowers from a bush above:

 Veratrum niger - in camera image-overlay: 

a very fine-leaved Euphorbia - I don't know which. 

 a tiny clematis 

Dactylorhiza on the meadows

To the Walled Garden, which not only supplies the kitchen ... 

 Yellow Aquilegia chrysantha "Yellow Queen" that I also admired at Great Dixter

Eremurus 

The Walled Garden is also used for growing flowers for the house.

So, in addition to seeking out this beautiful garden, you can stay overnight in cozy rooms and have an excellent meal - or simply a sumptous afternoon tea on the lawn or one of the numerous places to sit and relax  - which seems like the perfect holiday!  

Yellow Corydalis

"Robinson style" 

Impressions from Great Dixter

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. 

The entrance to the house. The great hall on the ground floor spans the whole width of the house. The garden encroaching on the house can be seen from every window combining inside and out. 


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  ....