Les Jardins d’Étretat by Charles Hawes
” I am informed that the trampoline is modelled on the boudoir of Marie-Antoinette, (really? That must have been some strange room).”
The Best Garden I visited: Dixter x Two
I have heard it said that you shouldn’t meet your idols and while this doesn’t strictly apply to famous gardens, our visit to Great Dixter hadn’t been at all what I had thought it would be.
The best garden I visited this year: a competition.
A small competition everyone – be a star and write me a piece about the best garden you’ve visited this year. Remember – this is thinkingardens. I don’t want any ‘lovelies’ or long winded description and tour of a garden. I want to...
Plume Puzzle by Adam Hodge
Jardin Plume is one of those gardens which not long ago got featured everywhere. So when Charles Hawes was in France for the Chaumont Garden Festival he made a long trek to go and see it. And I waited for his response with eager anticipation. He was disappointed. (Is...
Berchigranges Garden reviewed by Noel Kingsbury
Another garden review, and, as Noel says, also an opportunity for someone to get in there and wreck it..maybe take over. Anyone game? And is it the most beautiful garden in the world (apart from Veddw, of course)? And do you share Noel’s criteria for a special...
Sudeley Castle, a review by Tristan Gregory
If you are of a delicate disposition, look away now. Tristan is back. He visited Sudeley Castle, site of the grave of Katherine Parr. As usual, Tristan is unintimidated. And I too, was unimpressed when I last visited. I apologise for the photographs. Tech is not...
A Keeper? – The National Botanic Garden of Wales reviewed by Tristan Gregory
It’s garden visiting time – come to Wales! You could visit Veddw (I know – sorry….but you’d be passing within 4 miles of us if you were visiting the National Botanic). So here’s a review of the National Botanic Garden of Wales, by...
Criticism of criticism by Anne Wareham
“Your descriptions of Seats & Gardens . . . are often imperfect, frequently flippant, & sometimes false…….Be advised therefore from a friend to your Fame, as well as your Peace of mind; and do not print any thing that will either hurt or...
Rousham reviewed by Tristan Gregory
I have said before, in the introduction to Alison Levey’s piece about Rousham, that I have taken far too many trips to Rousham in a vain attempt to discover why it is so very highly regarded. Now it seems Tristan also has been disappointed. Why two pieces about...
Award worthy? a review of Abbotsbury by Tristan Gregory
Another review from the excellent writer, critic and plantsman Tristan Gregory, my most reliable garden reviewer. (yes, that is a heavy hint, laced with rebuke, everyone else..) A visit to Abbotsbury – voted HHA/Christie’s Garden of the Year 2012, which...
Will they get it? A review of the Native Plant Garden at NYBG by Susan Cohan
This is an interesting review of a garden – and, as all good reviews do – it raises an interesting question. You don’t need a postcard to let us know what your answer is….. but you do need to view the post in your browser rather than in your...
They fell asleep.. a review of Kiftsgate by Anne Wareham
I didn’t intend to write a review. I was just having a good day off and taking some photographs for Tristan’s piece. But it didn’t turn out like that: I found I hated the probability that all the masses of tourists at both Hidcote and Kiftsgate were...
Powis Castle: a review by Tristan Gregory
Gardens are reopening, and it’s garden reviews time again. Remember thinkingardens when you make a visit.. And, just by the way, – I am now blogging regularly and personally here. (Even about gardening. Sometimes… here’s piece on weeding and...
Sezincote – of elephants and water by Alison Levey
The name Sezincote has acquired a kind of magic for its associations: Brighton Pavilion, India, the Raj… Does the garden live up to this magic? Alison Levey visits for thinkingardens (and herself) and, as ever, offers an astute opinion… Anne Wareham,...
Recent Posts from: Veddw
Favour the Ferns
Many years ago The Financial Times sent me to do a feature on the RHS ‘Flower Show’ at Tatton Park . I was totally naïve and had no idea what I was supposed to do or to write about. So my excitement was tempered by acute anxiety. The term ‘imposter syndrome’ could have been invented for me. […]
Snowdrop mania is coming…
In the UK, right now, the horticultural world is about to drive us all mad with snowdrops. Pictures of. Articles about. Gardens with them. Anything people can think of to bash us over the head with snowdrops.
Brilliant Brecon
Recently we made a visit to Brecon. This is not far from us, in case anyone was getting over excited about the possibility that I might have been travelling again. It’s in Wales, in the Brecon Beacons, recently re-christened Bannau Brycheiniog.
You should have been here Next Year
Charles made a complaint recently when we were walking in the garden.
When I complained about him complaining he told me that it was good for me to have complaints about the planting.
Garden Seats – to make and sit on.
I am discovering more and more often that it is important to have a great many seats in the garden. In fact there should probably be one every three feet or so.
