One of the two pergolas at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
I've seen two incredible pergolas here in the
US recently, which gave me the inspiration to write this entry. The first is at
the Daniel
Stowe Botanical Garden near Charlotte in North Carolina (above), which
has not one, but two of these wonderful features; and the second is at Fairchild
Tropical Botanical Garden in Florida (below). Glorious additions in any
garden, since they provide strong architectural interest and are an important
structure for climbing plants.
I've seen two incredible pergolas here in the
US recently, which gave me the inspiration to write this entry. The first is at
the Daniel
Stowe Botanical Garden near Charlotte in North Carolina (above), which
has not one, but two of these wonderful features; and the second is at Fairchild
Tropical Botanical Garden in Florida (below). Glorious additions in any
garden, since they provide strong architectural interest and are an important
structure for climbing plants.
The 560-foot long vine pergola at Fairchild
Pergolas are open structures with no walls,
with columns supporting crossbars and therefore ideal for all kinds of plants.
They were extremely popular in Renaissance Italy where they were used as grape
arbors, and became a real hallmark of Gertrude Jekyll gardens last century.
Indeed, Vann(below), where Jekyll also designed the water garden, has a fantastic
pergola, which makes an impressive sight in the summer months as the foliage
begins to spread. Spring must be coming because Vann opens to the public in
April and May - it's one of my favourite gardens in the world, and I'll
certainly be making my annual visit. No year would be complete for me without
it!
with columns supporting crossbars and therefore ideal for all kinds of plants.
They were extremely popular in Renaissance Italy where they were used as grape
arbors, and became a real hallmark of Gertrude Jekyll gardens last century.
Indeed, Vann(below), where Jekyll also designed the water garden, has a fantastic
pergola, which makes an impressive sight in the summer months as the foliage
begins to spread. Spring must be coming because Vann opens to the public in
April and May - it's one of my favourite gardens in the world, and I'll
certainly be making my annual visit. No year would be complete for me without
it!
West Dean in West Sussex (right) has a pretty impressive pergola too - a
sight to behold even when it's bare on a cold winter's day - when you get the
reflection in the water below. And of course, it's truly joyous in the summer
months when it's covered with greenery. Gertrude Jekyll designed the water
garden here too, but this is definitely a garden for all seasons and there's
always something going on here, because the garden organises wonderful themed
events throughout the season, so it's worth checking their calender. There are
also specialist courses at West Dean College.
sight to behold even when it's bare on a cold winter's day - when you get the
reflection in the water below. And of course, it's truly joyous in the summer
months when it's covered with greenery. Gertrude Jekyll designed the water
garden here too, but this is definitely a garden for all seasons and there's
always something going on here, because the garden organises wonderful themed
events throughout the season, so it's worth checking their calender. There are
also specialist courses at West Dean College.
Hever Castle, another of my favourites in England, has one of the most
impressive pergolas of all (below), which stretches as far as the eye can see
and is a delight in full bloom. This is just part of the wonderful Italianate
garden there, and is worth planning a special visit to see when the weather gets
better. Definitely 5* gardens and a must-see if you're in the area.
impressive pergolas of all (below), which stretches as far as the eye can see
and is a delight in full bloom. This is just part of the wonderful Italianate
garden there, and is worth planning a special visit to see when the weather gets
better. Definitely 5* gardens and a must-see if you're in the area.
And the pergola that sticks in my mind from my
visit to the South of France last summer is the wonderful edifice at Villa
Hanbury in Ventimiglia (below). And here it really came into its own for
me because it was such a hot day when we visited, that I was only too happy to
hide from the sun in the shade below. Visit any of these gardens on a sunny day,
and you'll be doing the same!
visit to the South of France last summer is the wonderful edifice at Villa
Hanbury in Ventimiglia (below). And here it really came into its own for
me because it was such a hot day when we visited, that I was only too happy to
hide from the sun in the shade below. Visit any of these gardens on a sunny day,
and you'll be doing the same!