Thursday, September 18, 2014
Mark and Gaz
Our next stop after spending the morning at Urban Jungle was East Ruston Old Vicarage Garden, an iconic garden that is usually heralded as one the finest in the UK.
For more information about the garden, it's background and history I'll just refer you to their website and wikipedia but chances are you may have heard of this garden before. It is frequently featured in various gardening books and magazines and generally receives ample publicity.
We certainly have heard of this garden before and last Saturday was the day we finally get the chance to see it in the flesh. And we weren't disappointed, it certainly lives up to the plentiful praises it frequently receives...
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| A not so ordinary way of storing firewood |
We came there with no itinerary in mind. Instead we intentionally just let ourselves mindlessly wander around, discovering parts of it as we went along. Every turn was a delight! Most important of all, we all felt so relaxed and enjoyed just being there.
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| Don and Gaz putting the world to rights |
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| Tetrapanax rex, short stocky plants, presumably cut back each year |
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| The garden is full of interesting features, some good looking, others more whimsical |
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| Clever display of aeoniums in pots on staging, framing this doorway in the sun |
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| Shabby chic in the greenhouse, we are not normally fans of brightly flowered pelargoniums but they worked so well in here. We spent quite a lot of time just sitting and chatting in the warmth on these benches. |
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| Long borders |
Garden art...
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| We loved this water feature made from copper pipes |
The garden is huge and although we did arrive in the early afternoon we also soon realised that one visit would not be enough to see everything. We wandered around in a casual pace and we felt so relaxed and simply enjoyed just being there. It was almost closing time already when we felt hunger pangs. Fortunately there was still enough time left for some tea and cakes in their cafe before we had to leave.
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| Large garden structure home to a scrambling Vitis coignetiae |
We finished our visit with tea and cakes in the brightly decorated tearoom. Our visit last Saturday served as just a taster and by not seeing everything it became an incentive for us to come back again relatively soon.
Mark :-)
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
It´s beautiful! I´m curious! what are those plants in the water that look like bromeliads?
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa, they are water soldiers, Stratiotes aloides, a hardy pond plant here :)
DeleteIt´s the first time I´ve seen them. Thanks for the id.
DeleteIt's all so veddy veddy British...and I mean that in the nicest possible way.
ReplyDeleteI know Ricki :) have to say though it did feel like it when we visited, especially after capping it off with tea and cakes!
DeleteBeautiful and fanciful at the same time - that's not a combination every garden can pull off. Your pictures are wonderful too! The colors jump right off the screen.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear the photos came out well Kris :) the design flair of the owners are very evident as they came out with a fab garden
DeleteGorgeous! Does one have to be an old vicar to live there? It might be worth a change in vocation:)
ReplyDeleteNot sure Peter but vicar costume would do :)
DeleteAlways good to see photos of East Ruston, it's one of my favourite gardens. It helps I only live about 5 miles from it ;)
ReplyDeleteAhh didn't know that till now Jon! Next time we're up your way we'll let you know, be nice to finally meet up :)
DeleteI've visited a few times and East Ruston never fails to inspire! Looks like things have changed since my last visit - the log piles and the fountain I haven't seen before. And was the tea room always like that? I think it's had a zingy orange makeover :-))))
ReplyDeleteIt is a very inspiring garden Celia, could see ourselves visiting it often if it was near us :) it's possible the zingy orange makeover of the tearoom was recent as it all looked very pristine still
DeleteWhat a romantic setting, I had never heard of this garden until now, so thank you! So those topiaries, what are they supposed to be? A teacup and....? Nice that you were able to relax and enjoy it, the best way for sure. Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteA pleasure Tamara :) those topiaries are watering cans, good fun!
DeleteSo much colour still, how do they do it. Brilliant idea for a log store. If it works I could do with one of those here. Perhaps a bit smaller!
ReplyDeleteSuch a well designed garden Jessica. And yes that way of storing logs would be a great idea for your garden :)
DeleteIt is a truly amazing place. I like the way they have combined all the forms of gardening, most of which I don't like, and produced something that I really do like. :-) Absolutely fantastic.
ReplyDeleteWitty comment as usual Don :) not all parts will be to everyone's taste but as a whole it's a great garden.
DeleteSuch an impressive place, and one that has long been on my wishlist of places to visit. Thank you for all the great pictures!
ReplyDeleteA pleasure :)
DeleteWonderful! However looking at this on the iPad all the photos loaded except "Don and Gaz putting the world to rights" I had to refresh and click on the photo and refresh. All because your caption was such a tease. Thanks for the fun!
ReplyDeleteA bit of a mystery why all but that photo would load instantly, hmmm. Glad you still managed to see it though Loree :)
DeleteOh yet another garden that has been on the list to visit for more years than I care to remember :) It looks fabulous from your photos, the only discordant note (to my eyes) being the lady in shocking pink. Hope that it's not long before you are able to return and linger for longer.
ReplyDeleteThat lady actually looked haunting from a distance (actually even near) especially as its in a rather shady area. Hope you get to finally visit it soon Anna :)
DeleteYou are clearly having a fine time in Norfolk - I love E Rushton but reading your post on Urban Jungle, I see I need to visit them.
ReplyDeleteYou can easily visit both on the same day Catharine :)
DeleteI most enjoy being able to wander around and discover the delights of a garden at my own pace. LIke you, I would need more than one day to explore this garden. The firewood huts are amazing! East Ruston seems to have a lot of personality.
ReplyDeleteThe personality of the couple who owns it clearly resonates in this fab garden Debs :)
DeleteMy favourite garden to visit! I go as often as I can and I've only managed to have tea once. I ALWAYS run out of time!
ReplyDeleteNot surprised Sarah, you need a day or two to fully explore the place :)
DeleteNow that is a place I would really love to visit!! I'd not heard of it before - your brilliant photos have really made me want to see it all. And visit the tea room!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ingrid and yes you must visit it soon :)
DeleteLooks extraordinary, and vast! Lots of interesting ideas too. Definitely somewhere you could spend all day exploring and relaxing in.
ReplyDelete