It is ten years since I last visited Winterbourne House and Garden, ten years! I feel slightly ashamed. I know I have mentioned previously I am a member of the Garden Media Guild, and one of the benefits of being a member is that they organise rather good garden visits for their members. This day was going to be a tale of two gardens: part one in the morning was Winterbourne and part two I will write about shortly.
The morning was a little overcast and there was a vague threat of rain. This was not going to deter me from having a good explore.
The house and gardens were first owned by the Nettlefold family who had the house built in 1904. They lived there until just after the First World War. It went through a couple more hands before being left to the University of Birmingham in 1944 where it became a botanic garden. It is had a few changes of role and is now a museum and seems settled with this. There is an excellent cafe (always important) and lots to explore.
These yew columns are an original feature, just imagine what they have witnessed over the years.
The pergola has been restored and has three types of wisteria growing over it as well as other climbers. The scent from the wisteria was wonderful.
The garden has great proportions and draws your eye to wander further.
and you can turn back to look at the house to get wonderful views. You may notice the Box hedging has seen better days. Like so many gardens they know they have to get this replaced as it has been seriously damaged by box blight. This is a shame, but also an opportunity.
I wandered into the dell area, where there is lots of colourful planting. It was cool and pleasant to be near the stream and pools.
This was one of my favourite parts of the garden.
I got very excited when I realised that the walled garden has crinkle-crankle walls. They are such a superb feature: beautiful and functional. An economical way of making a strong wall with only one width of bricks. So clever. I wonder who worked out how to do this?
Can I also mention that wandering into the glasshouses is always worth a nosy.
Look at this wonderful aloe.
As is my usual habit I am not going to show you everything there is to see,
as it is well worth a visit and I don't want to share too much and spoil it for you. They have exhibitions in the house and a good calendar of events. You can see outdoor theatre, learn about propagation, even take an RHS accredited course.
I don't have to say that I intend to visit again soon, because I already have another visit scheduled. I am meeting a friend there for lunch soon.
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