| Mark how the yellow iris wearily Leans back its throat, as though it would be kissed By its false chamberer, the dragon-fly, Who, like a blue vein on a girl's white wrist, Sleeps on that snowy primrose of the night, Which 'gins to flush with crimson shame, and die beneath the light. The Garden of Eros. Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) |
Abbey House Gardens
Here is a remarkable five-acre garden in Wiltshire, created since 1998 by Ian and Barbara Pollard. Their passion and enthusiasm are reflected in the exuberant design and planting schemes. The unique setting around a late-Tudor house (Photo 1) beside the Benedictine abbey in Malmsbury is overwhelming. This was the final resting place of Athelstan, first King of All England; here St Aldhelm, the first Abbot of Malmsbury, sang, preached and converted. William of Malmsbury, the 'Father of English History' was librarian of the abbey in the 12th century.
Thousands of roses (claimed to be the largest private collection in the country), cling to walls, scramble through trees, bound over fences and weave through borders (Photo 2).
An enormous herb garden encircled by an arcade has been built in the 'mediaeval' style with raised beds as described in a 9th-century poem Hortulus by the Benedictine abbot, theologian, and poet Walafrid Strabo. A pond with a fountain forms the central feature, enclosed by a colonnaded structure which is home to vines, fruit cordons, roses and clematis. The oak lattice work has been pegged and hand tied (over 4000 knots), just as the monks would have done. There are nearly 2000 herbal plants here, all of beneficial use to man in a culinary, medicinal or aromatic way and a magnet for bees and butterflies. There is a generously proportioned laburnum tunnel and many other triumphs.
A Celtic cross knot garden reflects the fact that a Celt from Iona founded Malmsbury Abbey in the 7th century. The patterns on St Martin's cross have been recreated in traditional knot garden plants, cotton lavender; wall germander and also box (Photo 3). The date of its planting - 2000 AD is clearly marked at one end and a border added in a Celtic 'S' shape which means 'Everlasting' - going forever forward but looking forever back - rather like this garden!
There are huge herbaceous borders in riotous colours, water features, a river and woodland walk (with kingfishers and water voles if you are lucky), rhododendrons, and a bog garden with an occasional display of meconopsis in spring.