Rococo Gardens

Snowdrop Pilgrimage Becomes Valentine’s Day Event

by Marilyn Loeser

After visiting Rococo Gardens on Valentine’s Day, the flower I will now associate with this day for lovers is the snowdrop. As a February visitor to this Cotswold gem near Painswick, I found acres of the tiny blooming gems filling the horizon as I walked through the garden, originally laid out in the early 18th century.

I was surprised to see all the cars lined up along both sides of the garden entrance and after sloshing up the drive, I found the parking lot packed as well. Apparently other romantics — and flower and garden lovers — had the same idea as I did.

All along the narrow road I could hear mothers instructing their children to put on their ‘wellies’ as I tried to keep myself on my own two feet as I walked along the muddy side of the road.

But as soon as I passed the statue of Pan, the God of Love standing guard over the entrance to the garden, I was immediately enchanted with the spectacle on this winter’s day.

Although there was snow on the ground and a bitter chill in the air, what could be more romantic than spending the day strolling among the ruins with snowdrops at my feet?

Painswick House was built in the mid 1730's for Charles Hyett who came to Painswick to escape the smog of Gloucester. When Charles passed away, his son Benjamin created the garden in a valley behind the house.

Because Benjamin had a local artist paint the garden in 1748, garden historians had an easier time restoring it in the 1970s when it looked more like an overgrown jungle than an important part of English history.

Garden historians were interested in the period between 1720 and 1760, a time of great change when gardens were a place for parties — a place for Georgians to let their hair down. These garden historians named the period Rococo.

With the help of Lord Dickinson, a descendant of Charles Hyett, the garden historians began the work needed to restore the garden to its origins.

In 1988 he handed control of the project over to the Painswick Rococo Garden Trust and granted the Trust a long lease of the garden.

 I walked along a gradual slop along the perimeter of the garden taking in the view. Respectful of the delicate little flowers, even children stayed on the paths while photographers bend low to take close up photos of the delicate little flowers offering the promise of spring and warmer days ahead.

At the far side of the garden is the Anniversary Maze, planted in 2000 to celebrate the 250th birthday of the garden. Although the three goals are easy to see among the bare hedge branches this winter day, it was a delight to watch children chasing each other among the massive numbers — 2, 5, 0.

All year there are events and special flowering seasons, but the garden is most famous for its glorious snowdrops, and now, I certainly understand why.

If you go:

The gardens are open January 10 through October 31 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Rococo Gardens also offers an excellent gift shop and restaurant.

The gardens are located on the B4073, 1/2 mile outside the village of Painswick. The nearest train station is Stroud and there is a regular bus (No 46) from Cheltenham and Stroud.

For more information check the website www.rococogarden.co.uk/.

Photo by Marilyn Loeser