|
Great Dixter GardensEast Sussex’s famous flower spotBy Barbara Ballard
In designing the gardens, Lutyens used curved (such as found in the yew hedges) as well as straight lines. He also took advantage of existing features—a chicken house’s rotten walls were turned into a loggia supported by laminated tile pillars. Other found objects he used were cattle drinking tanks within a cattle yard that was turned into a rose garden. It has since been re-created as a late summer “tropical effect” garden.
To the right of the meadow gardens lie the Barn Garden (its name taken from the tiled-roof barn) and the Sunk Garden—a mass of red and yellow in the summer—the Walled Garden, and an 1890 oast house. Fig trees, a particular favourite of Lutyens, are found in the Barn Garden. The Brunswick fig was chosen for its decorative effect.
There are a number of brick arches that date from the design in 1910. Lutyens also designed seats for the gardens at the top of the Long Border and in the Topiary Garden at the back of the house. Yew topiary is a feature of the garden as well as high hedges of olive green holm oak. An Exotic Garden features purple and white blooms alongside banana trees. An orchard is at the rear of the property, and a nursery and garden shop are nearby. Geometric paths, rare perennials, topiary, a mix of formal and informal outdoor rooms—Great Dixter offers many garden highlights. Dixter Road House and gardens Nursery Opening
Hours For further details visit the official website: www.greatdixter.co.uk ©2002 Reproduction of this work (including photographs) in whole or in part, and including reproduction in electronic media, without the expressed permission of the author is prohibited. by Barbara Ballard |
|
TM
The gardens at
Great Dixter were created in 1910 by English architect, Edwin Lutyens, in
the manner of cottage gardens on a grander scale. The gardens are set in the
grounds of the manor house, first built in 1220 and added to in 1464. The
house boasts an impressive timber-framed hall, one of the largest surviving
in the UK. The Great Hall’s roof with its oak frame and crown post, is of
particular note. It is decorated with carved shields and contains a
fireplace, one of Lutyens additions. The gardens and home are owned by well
known gardening author and lecturer Christopher Lloyd. 
Over the years
Lloyd has altered some of the original plantings and designs by Lutyens
using his own style of planting and original mixtures of colours in the
cottage garden. 
The
series of small gardens surround the manor, connecting with each other in
the manner of rooms in a house. Birds, especially green woodpeckers, find
the gardens a pleasant sanctuary. On either side of the entrance walkway of
the house are meadow gardens. Here n
To the left of the
entrance pathway are the Peacock Topiary Garden and the High Garden. 18
birds fashioned of yew are of special note. Although vandals cut off the
heads of a large number, yew is a plant that easily regenerates itself, so
the full splendor of the garden will remain a feature. The High Garden
contains narrow flower borders, espaliered fruit trees, and vegetables.
On
the south side and behind the house, beyond the High Garden, are the Orchard
Garden and Long Border. In the Orchard Garden are many