This past week, I finally saw THE GARDEN outside of London in Kent – Sissinghurst. Alex surprised me with a day trip to both Sissinghurst and Hever Castle & Garden last Sunday while in London, and it was unforgettable.
Amazing lilac growing on the side of the structure
Woodland garden
I have heard about Sissinghurst for years but had only imagined it from pictures and stories from fellow gardeners who had already been there. And we arrived at a near perfect time – the wisteria, peonies, irises, lilac, azaleas and many of the roses were in full bloom. In another three weeks, the roses will be even more spectacular, but the lilacs, irises and wisteria will be on the decline or finished…
Yellow and orange azaleas with white wisteria on one side of a very colorful allée
Purple wisteria was in bloom throughout the garden
Vista from the property as you head to the vegetable garden
A little background about the castle itself, according to the National Trust, who owns and maintains Sissinghurst. The castle was originally built in the 12th century and has had many uses over the years. During the Seven Years War (1756-1763) it was used as a prison to house up to 3000 French sailors.
My favorite iris from the day: ‘Peggy Chambers’
Sissinghurst’s garden was created in the 1930s by well-known poet and gardening writer Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson, who was an author and diplomat in the 1930s. Sackville-West wrote a regular gardening column for The Observer.
Sissinghurst in 1932
The garden was designed as a series of rooms, each with a different color palate and/or theme. There are brick walls or tall hedges separating the rooms with openings that allow you to see into the next room. Each room is as beautiful and unique as the next. The room I was most excited to see was the famous white garden. I love green and white gardens; I think they’re the most romantic gardens of all. All of the garden rooms were open to the public, save the cutting garden which is only open on Tuesdays and Thursdays. (It is the garden pictured below beyond the curved wall).
A view from the tower in the house
The white garden
And the vegetable garden space was incredible! It was a little early so not all of the garden was planted yet. The berries and hops were well on their way, but the beans and tomatoes were just getting started. I would love to see it again in August when it should be really humming. I loved their fantastic trellises, signage and hoops.
Must do while you’re there? Allow two hours to see it all. Plan on having lunch there where the plants are sold and their own garden vegetables are served. We didn’t do that but it looked like a cute spot. Get there early. You will not only be able to navigate the garden before it’s crowded, but be able to climb the tower to see a view of the entire property before a line forms. The view provides great context before seeing the garden.
This was a day I will never forget…
