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6/6/10
Open Gardens 2010
Anyone looking out on the grey excuse for a dawn on the last Sunday morning of May could have expected this year's Open Gardens afternoon to be something of a washout, but as the morning progressed the cloud thinned until just before noon as the gates of gardens across the village swung open to reveal the secret worlds within the skies turned that beautiful shade of blue that tells of a warm and sunny afternoon to follow.
On any normal day a person walking the streets and pathways of Kedington would very soon become aware from the front gardens alone that the village is not short on skilled and industrious gardeners, but it's truly the case that it's not until you get out into the back gardens that you realise the full extent of those attributes and the imaginative designs for which they are employed. Over the last few years the annual Open Gardens event has allowed people from Kedington and beyond to gain access to those back gardens and see for themselves some of the wonders there contained. For three pounds visitors were given a program allowing access to numerous gardens across the village with proceeds from that and lunches served in the garden of Orchard House going to church funds. Also cream teas were available in the church it's self.
This year the cold winter running late into the growing season gave us a different but no less stunning selection of flowers in the village's gardens over open gardens weekend. Irises and Lupins and Alliums being particularly prominent this year.
The Garden Of Madge and John Pelling
Set on Dash End Lane, the lush flower beds of the front garden give a clue to the carefully crafted garden behind. The garden is entered through an extended pergola which offers shade to a terrace area with the aid of a covering of Wisteria. Beyond this a curving lawn plays host to examples of modern sculpture as they flow between wide well planted boarders, a shaded wildlife pond and green garden making the most of the structural beauty of ferns. The path ends at a fruit and veg area that looks likely to provide an excellent harvest later in the year. A particular point of interest was a pane of dycromic glass set in one of the flower beds. The effect of this glass is to change the colour of anything seen through it dependant on the angle of the viewer to the glass. This was put to great effect set among an explosion of low white flowers.
The Garden of Owl Cottage.
Also set on Dash End Lane, Samah and Martin Green have turned this tree shaded strip of garden into a fantasy woodland where you wouldn't be to surprised to come face to face with fairies or be savaged by small yet immaculately dressed woodland creatures. At one end of this garden a space in the trees allows for a brightly lit patio by the back door of the cottage. This overlooks a pond well stocked with fish and shaded by an arching canopy of trees and given an air of magic by it's rocky surroundings and fantasy ornamentation, which is only added to by the presence of a genuine well next to it. Beyond the patio around the corner of the cottage is a secluded and shady patio surrounded on all sides either by the cottage or trees (which also serve for a roof) A low wall topped with a rock garden and home to a few ferns give a meditative air to this part of the garden . This area was excavated a couple of years back with the soil being used to create a pathway along the side of the brook which had been eroding it's way into the garden. On the far side of the brook is a high, fern covered bank while on the dry side of the path a wooded area creating a dark woodland pathway leading right to the other end of the garden where it exits onto a lawn edged on one side by a flowerbed well in theme with the woodland feel of the garden. This leads back to the patio past another small water feature.
The Garden of Kingfisher Cottage.
Set on the steep bank running up from The Mill Race to the church, gardener David Lee has made great use of the terrain in this garden. Steps and pathways run up and down the slopes between banks of flowers and trees and the occasional terraced flower bed. This leads down to the river it's self where King Fishers can occasionally be seen to pass. At the top of the garden can be found a fruit and veg garden and a terrace with formal pond and shading pergola.
The Garden of Watermill House.
Whilst selling the programs for this event from the newsagents the question that turned up more often than almost any other was "Will Watermill House be open?" I was glad to tell them that indeed it was and I'm glad to report that as ever it did not disappoint. Set along the banks of the mill race the garden is the result of 12 years work by Sue and Mike Berridge. The pathways of the garden's eastern ranges over steep wooded banks covered in a beautiful array of ferns and other greenery. These banks lead down to the a lush green lawn alongside a large pond surrounded by a wide and interesting range of plants many aquatic or suitable for wet areas. Towards the south end of the garden the pond returns to a state of riverhood and it is here a bridge allows passage to the western side of the garden where the lawns are home to various trees including several willows and a group of white birches. The over all effect is both natural and peaceful.
The Garden of Jess and Terry Lifford.
Set on Kings Meadow the back garden remind me very much of the suburban gardens of the late 70's which I grew up with as child. A lawn surrounded by neat boarders of impeccably kept flowers (including an exceptional good display of Lupins) grown in neat rows. In one corner a well ornamented garden pond with a small fountain. This garden brought for me a sense of nostalgia. At the front of the house a more modern feel was in evidence with gravel beds laid out with pots of flowers (again some excellent lupins) and heather beds.
The Garden of Lyn and Phil Clarke
Set on school road Lyn and Phil have been working on this garden for the past two and a half years and this marks the first time they have opened it to the public. It has certainly been worth the wait to see this brilliantly designed garden. The greatest strength of this garden is the series of vistas that have been created within it so that walking round any corner of this garden is likely to result in you being met with a perfectly constructed scene. The focus of this garden is the riverside terrace, a mostly paved area with beautifully constructed raised beds and an impressive Acer. This can be reached from two directions, either via a zig-zagging woodland path beside the river or across the lawn via a pergola both of which give such a feeling of flow as to give one the impression that a feng-shui expert has been at work. The planting of this garden is already interesting but as yet incomplete also many plants are as yet mature so the development of this already impressive garden over the next few years will be well worth watching.
The Garden of Cathy and Bob Dellar
Set on Silver Street this large garden when viewed from the gate is a riot of flowers from a broad range of interesting varities. These burst from well packed beds which surround and erupt from the lawns. These flowers also continue around and indeed into a pond in which one may be lucky enough to see newts. If this great variety is not enough for you then behind the pond the garden holds a secret. A shaded woodland pathway guarded by a large gargoyle and home to an interesting array of shade loving plants.
The garden of Linda and Laurence Freel
Set on Silver Street this cottage garden is given a Mediterranean feel by a white painted wall adding to the light in the large brightly planted beds. The curving lawn and a pathway lead up to a shady gazebo. The over all effect is throughly pleasant and restful whilst providing much of interest.
The Garden of Candice Danleigh and Mike Freed
Set beside a small cottage on Rectory Road, this is a beautiful example of a classic cottage garden. Gentle planting is used to great effect to create a restful and authentic cottage garden feel making it a wonderful place to rest and relax. The warm colours of the planting give the feeling of nearing sunset even in the middle of the afternoon.
The Garden of Ketton House
Set on the Eastern edge of the village in the grounds of what was once Kedington's rectory the 12 acre garden tended by Diana and Max Dyre-Bartlett aided by their gardener Mr Turner is probably at least twice the size of all the other open gardens put together. This calls for an entirely different approach to gardening with landscape very much a part of the mix. Trees are also a very important part of the garden which is blessed with a large area of mature woodland. The most mature of the trees is a 300 year old mulberry to be found at the end of the drive way. A stroll into the woodland is well worth it as one may be lucky as I was and see a deer. You will certainly come across a set piece glade with pond, swing chair and steps leading up to the open meadow in which one can find a child's fort and a stone circle. The gardens also include more formal features nearer to the house such as formal lawn, ornamental hedging and a curved terrace with raised beds. More beds at the front of the house and beside the tennis courts also add to the verities of flowers to be seen .
Article and pictures by M.P.Upton - 6/6/10
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