Kiftsgate Court Gardens - 3rd August.

Our latest visit by coach was to Kiftsgate Court Gardens in Chipping Campden, Oxfordshire. We selected the right day for sunny weather before we went in July. The backcloth of a stunning stone mansion, provided the wonderful ambience, with the flowers surpassing beauty. Numbers of visitors entering the garden on pre-booked tickets meant that we never felt crowded.

The vistas from the top of the hill were extensive. Most individual garden ‘rooms’ are on level ground and for those of us who were more intrepid, we went steeply down the rocky path to a lawn with a reflective half- moon pool overlooking dense forests and distant views.

The colour and texture combinations were inspirational. Gardens for different seasons included the sensual white and silver sunken courtyard, and a border of bright yellows and orange. Although the roses were over, including the famous tree rose ‘Kiftsgate’ for which the gardens are known, we were able to still revel in the variety of ferns, orchard fruits, and unexpected use of plants.

The gardens have evolved since the beginning of the 20c with an earlier designer Heather Muir, influenced by her friend Lawrence Johnston of Hidcote who owned a neighbouring garden. Her successor opened the gardens to the public and now Anne Chambers, the third plantswoman, and an incredibly knowledgeable designer and gardener with an eye for colour, has continued the earlier themes with varied plants choices.

 Of course, as usual we endeavoured to bring back special plants from their extensive sales area.