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Houghton lodge g a r d e n S
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The gardens are glorious, with beautiful trees and swathes of
lawn sweeping down to the River Test, with far reaching and untouched views
across the valley and over the water meadows. |
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Photograph Nicholas Tripp |
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Informal Gardens
At the end of the
eighteenth century there
was a gradual move away from the formal layout and plantings of English
parks and gardens to the desire for ‘natural’ landscapes. An increased
sensitivity to the world of nature,
and the importance of the picturesque and romantic movements led to the
development of the Natural Style.
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Architects
and garden designers set about softening the boundaries between house and
garden with delightful contrivances such as conservatories, french windows,
terraces and verandahs with vases of flowers and plant containers in
profusion both inside and out. Houghton Lodge is a textbook example of
this. There is total harmony between the shape of the house, its carefully
contoured lawns and the sweeping bends of the river.
We sadly do not know who
designed the gardens at Houghton Lodge, but it is one of the most charming
examples of an eighteenth century informal garden designed in the 'Natural
Style' that you could find. We have been busy restoring it to
how it might have looked in Georgian times, and people say they have never
seen them looking more beautiful than they do now. Please do
come and share them with us.
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the
Walled Kitchen Garden
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Photograph Nicholas Tripp |
Photograph Michael Tozer |
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The Kitchen Garden wall is said to be the finest and most complete produce
garden wall made of chalk cob still in use today for its original purpose. |
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Contained within these giant walls bedecked with ancient
fan trained peach and pear trees, you will find a beautiful herb garden,
rose arbour, avenue of old apple trees,
peony walk, fruit cages with strawberries, red & white
raspberries, asparagus beds, neat row upon row of succulent vegetables,
and sweetpeas elegantly entwining their way up their bamboo canes.
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Photograph Nicholas Tripp |
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Photograph Michael Tozer
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the herbaceous border
This magnificent border has year long beauty, bursting with
bulbs in the spring, a tapestry of colour in the summer, and dahlias
to brighten your heart in the autumn.
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The
peacock garden
A beautiful Topiary Peacock garden, with these magnificent birds crafted out
of Box and Yew, ( our yew clippings are used to produce Taxoxophen, a
powerful medicine in the treatment of cancer).
In 2004 we began to see signs of dieback and watched in dismay as more and
more plants were affected. The Royal Horticultural Society confirmed
that the cause was a fungus Cylindrocladium buxicola for which there was no
cure. All had to be burnt, the ground sterilized, scorched and rested.
It is now planted with Buxus Sempervirens which has a bigger leaf and is
less prone to infection.
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Photograph Nicholas Tripp |
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the dragon
This very special topiary dragon hides away in the darkness of the Dogwood,
guarding his eggs. Beware all those who dare go near……….!
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The
Shrubbery
In 2001 we started to renovate the shrubbery, which over the years had
become overgrown. This now gives you a wonderful woodland.
Trees and undergrowth have been cleared, revealing stunning views over the
river as never seen before. In 2002 we replanted with the
original natural species of trees and shrubs which you would expect to find
in an eighteenth century shrubbery.
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The River
Test
This must be one of the most fabulous views in the world. Sit on the
bench and quietly watch the river. Swans gently gliding by, the water
vole busily going about its daily business, the trout rising for a quick
gulp of a plump and delicious mayfly…
On the bank
there is a fishing hut, providing crayons and paper for children,
and a shelter from a shower for all of us. The land by the edge of the
river is a site of Special Scientific Interest.
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Photograph Michael Tozer |
Photograph Michael Tozer |
Photograph Michael Tozer |
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The Park & Water
Meadows
There are 15
acres of beautiful parkland and water meadows to roam through. Magnificent
Plane and Lime trees frame the view.
The grass is
grazed by Tom and Dick, our new Alpacas! The park and Water meadows
are designated as an
Environmentally Sensitive Area.
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The Greenhouses
On the site of the old
glasshouses we have built a Hydroponic Greenhouse. This is very much a
garden of the future in a garden of the past, being enclosed within the
walls of the Walled Kitchen Garden.. Hydroponics is a way of gardening
without soil. It supplies strawberries, lettuces, tomatoes, herbs and
flowers for the house throughout the year. It also provides wonderful
shelter from showers of rain! For further information on this
fascinating form of gardening click here:
The Hampshire
Hydroponicum
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Click here for opening times
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The
Orchid House
For those of you who are enthralled by these
exotic flowers this must not be missed. They have been gathered from
all over the world, and form a unique and inspiring collection. They are
another example of how plants can grow perfectly well without soil.
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