The purpose of the evening was to combine business with a bit of pleasure. Mrs Privet in reality is a really charming girl after my own heart. Blessed with a family and a reasonably sized plot of garden that is a challenge. The garden had been quite neglected by its previous eccentric owners but I can tell that at some stage it was quite nicely planted up. Now it is a bit of a sleeping beauty with parts prone to waterlogging, a mares tail problem, some seriously straggly shrubs, sloping terrain and concrete paths.
I have a feeling that Mrs Privet is simply overwhelmed by the task and cannot fathom that this garden could look very different. So far all she wants is some control over her garden hence the need for rigid structure and the wish for privet.
It could not have gone better. Not only were we greeted with a glass of Pimms, we also had the gardens all to ourselves. With not a soul in sight and armed with a map, drinks, camera and notebook we took a leisurely stroll to admire the formal and informal borders, the walled kitchen garden, yew hedges, ...
An hour and a half later I had taken a few dozen photographs of plants or ideas that Mrs Privet loves. I now know that she loves a deep dark red, dark stems and foliage, movement, grasses, architectural plants, dahlias, cobalt blue penstemons and heaps more. No more privet was mentioned.
Kelmarsh Hall is open for the rest of August on Thursday evenings between 6 and 8pm. Admission is £5 and includes a glass of Pimms or elderflower cordial.
I share Mrs P's taste to a t
ReplyDeleteLast weekend we visited friends near Winchester , and what did we buy at the Sunday morning market? Cobalt blue penstemon, dark dark red penstemon , and several fab grasses sold by a lovely local man who grows them himself.
The problem...where in our crowded London garden will they fit .
Love your blog, it makes me want to get my hands dirty instead of directing from a deckchair..