As we left the Cotswolds on our way to Tunbridge Wells, we did two more gardens--Bourton House and Barnsley House.
Bourton House is still a private residence and has an award-winning three acre garden surrounding a fine 18th century Manor House.
The garden features luxuriant terraces and wide herbaceous borders with stunning plant,
texture and color combinations. Imaginative topiary includes a knot garden,
parterre and topiary walk
and there are several spring-fed water features including a raised basket pond from the Great Exhibition of 1851.
They were doing some renovations on the house so you may see a bit of scaffolding in the pictures.
We saw some very unusual plants and great color combinations.
It was a glorious day, cool, yet sunny.
Then it was off to Barnsley House, the home to the late Rosemary Verey.
We divided our large group in half when we arrived. Half ate a wonderful lunch while the other half of us toured the garden with the head horticulturist, Jen Danbury then we swapped.
Featuring knot gardens,
statues by Simon Verity, the Laburnum Walk and an ornamental fruit and vegetable garden,
the grounds are among England’s most famous settings. It was Rosemary Verey who began redesigning Barnsley House’s gardens in the 1950s, to both critical acclaim and global interest.
Mrs. Verey actually greeted us the last time I was here in 1998. The gardens were lovely with so much color.
The Barnsley House is now a hotel and wedding venue.
Absolutely lovely gardens. Then it was off on a 3 hour bus ride to Tunbridge Wells, our home for the last three nights.