Following on from yesterday’s post when I visited Mount
Stewart Gardens and showed you the most beautiful flowers that are still blooming
at the end of November, today I invite you to come with me as we walk round
many parts of the very interesting garden.
The essence of Mount Stewart is the Italian garden that runs the entire
length of the south-facing neoclassical house front. Such a grand background demands a substantial garden
and this one does not disappoint. For more photograph of the gardens in different seasons (Look in Labels RH column - under Mount Stewart)
Divided in
the centre by a lawn, the two parterres are split into beds, with symmetrical
fountains, and planted with herbaceous plants and shrubs. The garden was
started in 1919, using local labour, particularly Thomas Beattie, the craftsman
who made the stone animals and other sculptures that make this such an
intriguing part of the garden. (see tomorrow for the fountains)
To
the west of the house there is another formal gardens, the Sunken Garden. An English
influence shows in the sunken garden. The orange, yellow and blue planting was
designed by Gertrude Jekyll and can be seen in the summertime. In late spring, orange azaleas dominate the
scene but the raised walk and pergola
that surround it is home to a vast array of interesting plants spilling down
the rock wall. This gives the garden a fresh palette of plants that would
otherwise not thrive in this moist garden.
Lily wood
By now the
lily wood and other areas beckon.
Here, among
the 80 acres you will discover beautiful lilies, shrubs, the finest and rarest
of rhododendrons, massive cordylines and bamboos, exuberant ferns and delicate
meconopsis.
The view of
the house from the Italian garden is framed by two remarkable bay trees in
‘pots’. Bought by Lady Londonderry in 1953, they are now 125 years old and said
to be the largest potted bays
Spanish
garden
More
formality awaits you south of the Italian garden as you step down into the
Spanish garden. Some large pots, filled with beschornia, a large yucca-like
plant with bright pink flower spikes in the summer, and the formal pool suggest a Moorish
influence but its name is derived from the roof tiles on the summer house which
are from Spain. All this is surrounded by an immaculate hedge of ‘Leylandii’
showing what a good plant this can be if it is kept under control.
Quite a number of plants have been protected from
frost.
Shamrock
garden
The last
show of formality is provided as you turn your back to the house and enter the
shamrock garden. Named after its outline, this is a concentrated taste of
Ireland with its harp topiary and Red Hand of Ulster bed, decked with red
begonias in summer however at the moment being planted with Primula. The top of the hedge is rather more intriguing, decorated
with intricate topiary depicting a hunting party, taken from Queen Mary’s
Psalter (dating from the 14th century but named after its 16th century owner).
Dodo
terrace
On the southern
boundary, pillars support strange goat-hoofed monkeys clutching urns above
classical busts. Turn to the east and the dodo terrace entices you with its
eccentric range of figures. Someday I will do a post on the many interesting sculptures however I leave you with just three for now.
When I entered the garden, I notice there was going
to be a tour at 2 O’clock so I booked that and for the hour before it started, I quickly went round parts of the a garden hopefully head of the crowds. At 2 o’clock I went to the Crockett lawn to
meet with the group and much to my surprise, I was the only one! I met Lisa, an interpreter Garden who works at Mount Stewart permanently, and she
said as I was the only one, we could go anywhere we liked. So for nearly the next 2 hours it was a privilege
to see and learn about this wonderful garden through her eyes.
Crossing
the terrace brings you to the Mairi garden, named after Viscountess Bury who
spent much of her time here in a perambulator when it was just waste ground. In
the centre now is a statue of her and the garden is a depiction of ‘Mairi,
Mairi quite contrary’ for there are silver bells (campanulas), cockle shells
and little maids (saxifrage)all in a
row.
We went back into the Lilly Wood again and for me, the
most special tree and the only one the garden has, was the Ginkgo Tree. (Left below)
After we went through all the formal gardens and wood
again, Lila asked if I would like to see newly acquired acres of land and what
their hopes and plans where for it. I
was thrilled to have this opportunity. This area above, Neil, the Head Gardener is making into a fern area and already there have been over a 100 tree ferns have been planted. So watch this space!!
The
Dairy
The Dairy is where Lady Londonderry made cheese, butter
and yoghurt etc The fountain in the middle was used to cool the cheese.
Close up of the raised tiles around the walls of the
dairy
which are possible Spanish in origin.
This is said to be an old fridge.
Looking out from the dairy you see what was the Rose
Garden and the Orchard beyond with a very large greenhouse with vines still
growing n them looked like. These are 2 photographs
I shot of what the rose gardens were like in Lady Londonderry’s day and Mount Stewart gardens hope to recreate it as it looks in her day. How exciting!
This shot is looking over part of the orchard and I just thought this tree was a beautiful shape and still
had its yellow leaves and of course a fence for this post today!
A view to the left of the Orchard and
in the distance
you can see the greenhouses.
Lisa and I walked round the lake and these shot were
especially taken for Tex’s meme, GOOD FENCES and to wish you all HAPPY
THANKSGIVING especially the USA bloggers.
Tomorrow I will be showing you the very beautiful views
of the still autumn colour and reflections of them over the lake. I promise you, you will NOT be disappointed!
Thank you for visiting and also for those you kindly leave me comments.
