Simply..idyllic, and for sale....

I was commissioned a few years ago to design a traditional cottage garden for Weir Cottage in Botolph Claydon, Buckinghamshire.

There was only grass and a very narrow path. I made the path appear wider by adding a strip of gravel in a similar colour to the brick to either side, and softened that by planting clumps of the lovely erigeron karvinskianus along it - the flowers are a pinky brick red and sprinkle about in a very naturalistic way.

To the left of the path is a border of blue - catmint, geranium Roxanne, linaria - foxgloves and feverfew (volunteers) were allowed to stay..

Apricots and pinks are predominant on the other side of the path - roses, apricot foxgloves, achillea, lavatera, rock roses and potentilla, and of course alchemilla mollis....you can see the pink foxgloves jumped in too - they were pulled out every now and then - but the feeling was of a relaxed natural mix so we weren't too ruthless about interlopers.

Over the fence is a duckpond with entertaining ducks and geese and a large willow. A fine bit of 'borrowed landscape' looked out on from the windows of the house (and the responsibility of the farmer...).

Looking back down the path from the house. There is a little sitting area surrounded by roses tucked in to the right with a young flowering cherry planted close by for shade. There is a small sunny lawn, a patio, and on the pond side of the house a flourishing herb garden.

A few metres of native species hedging will by now be screening the cars from the lawn you can just see on the left. (The gravel parking area will take several cars.)

What a lovely commission it was, and what a joy to stay there on many happy occasions - such a wrench to leave it, but pastures new....

To view the inside of the house estate agent details are here - do let me know if you decide to buy it!
 
I do hope it goes to a garden lover..