Walking through the gates into the walled garden never fails to take my breath away, no more so than now, however, when the Achillea bed is in full bloom, the Sweet Peas flood your senses with their fragrance and stunning visual display, the American Pillar rose is rambling away, awash with with a pink that really is dumbfounding and the vegetables are starting bare fruit.
It is so easy to forget in the midst of Winter, what is still to come, actually, we know it is there, but forget just how stunning it is. This is why Houghton is so magical because it takes you firmly through every season. After the spring flowering bulbs come the truly incredible Peonies, that line the rose arch walk. We wait and watch expectantly as the buds form, knowing that soon they will burst into a riot of colour and form. Short lived as they are I wouldn’t change them for the world, they lift my spirits and tell me summer is on the way. I mourn their passing, only to walk down into the Well Border to see the gigantic Nepeta staking it’s claim for ‘the showiest plant of all time’!
The Well border has been newly renovated and the planting is just over a year old, but doing so well. We have kept to the original blue, white and yellow colour palate and the Delphinuim Black Knight Group and Lupin Chandelier are romping away as though they have been there for years.
The Long border changes daily, as the alliums die back the Dahlias start pushing their way through against the back drop of the climbing roses and honeysuckle. Space allows this border to be positively dramatic with large clumps of Hemerocalis and Echinops dominating sections of the border. The colours are bolder here too, showing just how versatile nature can be.
The absolute joy for me though, is when I am head down working and hear one of our many visitors exclaiming with wonder. The ‘Oohs and ahhh’ as people walk round are constant, whether it be Jackmanni Clematis climbing through the Madame Alfred Carrier rose, the Scent of the Philadelphus in the wedding border, or Wisteria in the courtyard.
Houghton has an embarrassment of riches that makes me feel like a hundred dollars every time I turn up for work.
By Georgina Quinn
