Hidcote Manor Gardens (Gloucestershire, UK)

Posted on 3 Sep, 2009 13 comments

Hello Friends,
A couple of weeks ago we enjoyed a family day out to these beautiful National Trust gardens – lots of different styled, mainly quite formal garden “rooms” designed originally in the 1920s. I had not yet managed to upload all of the photos from our trip, but here they are in all their glory now.
We loved the croquet, and I got lots out of wandering around the kitchen garden too, as well as the flower gardens. Plants on sale looked good but expensive. Naturally the only time it rained was when we sat down to our picnic – there may be a photo of that treasured moment to come later…

I think my absolute favourite part was the long red borders, gorgeous colours, look –

There was a nice little quiz for the smaller people visiting – hunting out flowerpot men with funny names hidden around the gardens

My cousin and I were stumped by the “rose garden” which contained hardly any roses – ? in August?! – but there were loads of lovely sweet peas still out, most wonderful fragrant ones and they had done a great job of making the supports almost invisible, or more natural-looking and attractive.

That pretty blue-and-yellow part was Lady Somebody’s (Winthrop?) Garden. Lucky Lady Winthrop I say.

My only grumble about the whole place is that they put the picnic area too far away, outside the gardens (probably an agreement for the trade for the catering outlet inside) but the sheep made a pleasant view anyway. There is a maize maze next to the gardens currently, I think not run by the National Trust at all, and charging an arm and a leg so beware!

Otherwise, it was a great day. Nice of you to join us!

Comments

Spindle

Wow, it looks wonderful. The reds are fabulous. Thanks for sharing :0)

3 Sep, 2009

Drc726

Thank you that was a lovely blog.

3 Sep, 2009

Louise1

Lovely ! Good photos too !

I keep meaning to visit this garden, it's under an hour away from me but i never get around to it :(

4 Sep, 2009

Lily2

Lovely photos Weeding. It's looks a lovely place for a day out, glad you enjoyed it.

4 Sep, 2009

Clarice

Great photos enjoyed them

4 Sep, 2009

Indypendant

Great tour thank you ,it looks like you all had fun. I'm jelous of the veggies, they look superb! Nice pics and blog weeding!

4 Sep, 2009

Andrewr

Thanks Weeding. This is my favourite garden and I haven't managed to get there this year so seeing your photos gave me my 'fix'.

Lily - it's only two hours from here so treat yourself to a day out :-)

4 Sep, 2009

Wagger

Note to self- must remember to grow Ricinus communis next year, great with all thos hot colours. Greeat photos, Weeding.

4 Sep, 2009

Sid

I've been intending to visit Hidcote for the past few years....never managed it yet! Thanks for the enticing pictures tho! I'm guessing those rows are trial beds are they...?

14 Oct, 2009

Weeding

I wonder if it might be possible to have a GOY outing here one day - maybe next Spring or summer?

15 Oct, 2009

Sid

Certainly seems to be a lot of us reasonably local....?

15 Oct, 2009

Weeding

it would be lovely wouldn't it, whatever the weather.
I think they may be "trial beds" Sid, but I'm not sure what that means really - ? does it mean they are trying out new seeds?

15 Oct, 2009

Sid

Think so....there are a few plants named after Hidcote e.g. Lavandula 'Hidcote'. I suppose the plant was bred there? I think RHS gardens are used to trial plants to give them the garden merit thingy rating. When I visited Wisley they had trial beds - beautiful rows and rows of Delphineums stick in the memory....

15 Oct, 2009

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