The Rookery: One of London's Secrets (Part 2)

Welcome to the Member Ideas area! This community feature is where our members can post their own ideas. These posts are unedited and not necessarily endorsed by the National Gardening Association.
Posted by @NEILMUIR1 on
The wonders of this Garden never cease to amaze me. I hope you enjoyed your tour in Part 1. Now let us see what other delights we can find in this 3 acre wonder.

I left you in Part 1 looking at these wonderful subtle bedding plants, so lets have a look around this area before moving on.

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/bd6460

How beautiful is this, and what a setting.

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/e6f5d1                               2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/52a7c0

A look into the middle.

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/0437a0                               2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/ab9763

Some more!

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/c60956                               2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/dbdd37

Now to the bottom of the water garden. Unfortunately the water was not flowing properly, so they have a bit of a problem with duckweed or Lemna minor. Here is a lovely Gunnera manicata often wrongly called giant rhubarb. This Brazillian plant has massive leaves and flowers. To the right is Bergenia cordifolia and the bottom of the Gunnera.

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/308094                              2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/ee1f93

As we climb up there are some stunning sights to see, the water normally runs between all the plants as it tumbles down.

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/77c4e7                              2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/7968a8

You really cannot have a water garden without Japanese maples.

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/d10076                              2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/09ad6b

More Gunnera.

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/10ee92                             2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/e44847

A Gunnera leaf and some Cardoon, that looks like it has escaped from one of the Herbaceous Borders.

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/e42878                              2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/d89564

A rather green pond and one of the little streams that run down. There are a lot of these little streams and places for the water to flow down as you will see.

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/532f8c                              2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/206d0e

I love these! The way the water runs between the pathways, what a treat to see, as it trickles down to the next stream or pond.

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/7558c8                              2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/122ee6

This is the top of the stream that goes into the pond. Then as you look up on the right, you may think the water comes down the steps, but it actually comes from the channels in the pathways above.

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/46c37f                              2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/995331

Does this litle bit of water come from nowhere, don't be deceived it is clever. On the right, this is beautiful!

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/9eb1b3                              2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/90c60d

Looking back through the trees at some of the pathways. If you look closely in the left hand picture, you can see the channels in the pathways where some of the water flows through. On the left looking through a Japanese Maple down to the water Garden.

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/b1b6e8                              2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/86ffc7

Teasel in the water Garden, it looks like the bees and the birds have had fun with these.

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/64aaad                              2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/a08c4d

More Japanese maples and on the right some Rhododendrons.

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/140e2d                              2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/6b66bb

A Hosta on the left and one massive Gunnera.

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/290ee0                               2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/ec3219

A false Castor Oil Plant or Fatsia japonica by the water. Some more of the ponds.

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/788448                              2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/8f5872

A wonderful quiet place with a Buddleia davidii and a nice seat. As you come around the corner from this restful area another channel through the pathway.

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/c8af2c                              2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/1b9b6d

A Cherry then a Japanese maple and finally a purple Beech, what a sight! looking back on the water Garden.

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/96f021                              2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/c77d95

It gets better in here with sights like this. Then it was back down to these long Rose Pergolas, although you can get out at the top.

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/6aecc5                              2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/31ac4c

I wanted to go through here and find out what was there, I did not expect a Squirrel!

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/3868e2                              2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/ffb76a

Here was the quite amazing sight of a very old English oak. Then as you get out into the open, the bottom of that huge blue Cedar!

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/4d09e6                              2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/0ee30f

Looking down the Garden from the right side and then back up to the seats. On the left, if the picture is enlarged the real size of that blue Cedar can be seen.

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/266e3c                              2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/fad603

This is in the wildlife area at the top of the Garden on the left as you come in, most people go straight on down the path to the seats overlooking the Garden!

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/f37c77                              2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/b07545

Some nice Holly on the left. They leave the logs as they are, particularly good for wildlife.

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/fd49eb                              2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/3f0d33

I did wonder what this huge and beautiful cat was doing in the wildlife area?

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/d0e1f4                              2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/18842f

I adore wonderful enticing entrances like this, or a peaceful seated area.

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/70fafa                              2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/1b9ccf

They had an Artists sale outside the gates, and on the right is the Cafe. They have an Ice Cream parlour, hot & cold food and coffee etc., plus restrooms.

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/8ddb16                              2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/89a1d7

I leave you with this Agapanthus as I was pleased to see them here in flower.

2010-09-02/NEILMUIR1/b37583

 I do hope you have enjoyed your tour of the other bit of this beautiful place. I love coming here as there is always more to see and find as you wander around. Thank you for being with me on my trip down memory lane.

Links.

 Part 1.

The Rookery.

Map.

Regards.

Neil.

 

 For Nancy.

 
Comments and Discussion
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Untitled by murielw1 Nov 1, 2010 7:14 AM 1
What a Delight! by Petalpants Oct 23, 2010 6:26 AM 9
absolutely wonderful by cececoogan Sep 10, 2010 9:53 AM 10
clip-clop by Ridesredmule Sep 7, 2010 11:23 PM 10
Absolutaly lovely by kareoke Sep 7, 2010 8:01 PM 16

Explore More:

Member Login:

( No account? Join now! )

Today's site banner is by Zoia and is called "Good Morning!"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.