Photos from a recent afternoon at Broadway in the Cotswolds. I was struck by how many of the front gardens had chosen evergreens such as box and yew to give permanent structure and interest. It's very popular in that part of the world and it always looks good, even in the depths of winter.
Something I always love to see is plants growing out of stone paving with seemingly little soil. Wisteria does this beautifully, with ancient plants growing to the size of a tree with no soil surface around its trunk at all. In the picture below right there's one to the left of the door growing out of paving stones. It's reached the full height of the building. It reminded me of
the yews growing out of the pavement in Painswick that I wrote about a couple of years ago (photos halfway through that post).
Others have gone for a more formal look for their classy Cotswold houses. For those of you from other countries I'll just mention that these are expensive houses. It's quite a touristy area though, so you do have to put up with people like me taking photos of your front garden. Anyway, as I was saying, lots of clipped box and symmetrical pots of stuff.
I like the pretty softer country cottage look too though. At this time of year the fruit trees are in blossom and leaves are starting to spread out over old stone walls.
It's a lovely place for a wander and a little gathering of inspiration. Some of the yew trees must be ancient. I hope people are still planting them now. I have a couple of small ones in my front garden, although I have delusions of grandeur, my little house is nothing like these gorgeous Cotswold homes. A cat may look at a king though. And even put it all on her blog if she feels like it. Hope you've enjoyed having a nose round with me.
I thought that I recognised your photos as we did spend a day there once. I prefer the traditional cottagey gardens to with the realtor the scrambling up the walls and lots of flowers.
ReplyDeleteGosh, what a gorgeous, picture-postcard place. I haven't been to this part of the country for years and your photos have reminded me how beautiful it is. I love to wander around places like this and imagine what it'd be like to live there. Box and yew are such good-value plants – I think they're a great foil to softer planting. Lovely post, CJ. Hope you're having a good week. Sam x
ReplyDeleteAren't they beautiful? I've a friend who lives in the Cotswolds and her house is that same lovely mellow stone colour. Quite formal gardens in your lovely photos- perhaps because they're on show? Beautiful though xx
ReplyDeleteI love looking at houses, especially with that beautiful Cotswold stone. That topiary is amazing; it always reminds me of the illustrations in Dr. Seuss' books. xx
ReplyDeleteA beautiful part of the country to live, very impressed with the gardens, although I do prefer a little less informal. Nice to take a stroll along with you.
ReplyDeleteLots of interesting pictures. Here many of the front gardens are bigger but sadly now mostly used to park cars and wheelie bins on. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteI have always fantasized about having a garden like this. It's not really done here, except in the bigger cities where people might have small planter beds in the front instead of an actual yard. I agree with you about wisteria; I have some that seems to grow in mid-air. I'm sure it's connected to the ground somewhere, but I honestly have no idea where because it's wrapped up with another vine and I only see the base of the other one, if that makes sense. It's weird, but I so love having wisteria.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos. I love getting out of Oxford and exploring different Cotswold villages when I'm visiting my son, We usually start with a good pub that has excellent food and it is surprising how often they are in picture perfect villages. I have a couple of healthy box balls (shapes!) in my front garden (grown from cuttings from my parent's garden). Because of box blight I'm frightened of cutting them too much so in recent years they have got quite large. I should take cuttings and be braver. I use a pair of sheep shears when I trim them. My wisteria is always threatening to engulf the garden. Lately I've seen it growing as a free-standing small tree rather than smothering a building or arbour and I rather like the idea of growing mine in a more restrained way.
ReplyDeleteWow, you did an amazing job of capturing the beauty of that place. It's like a story book to me. I love that one place that has the collection of trimmed topiaries in the front of the window in all different shapes. Amazing. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteIt all looks so pristine and timeless. I'd love a tightly clipped yew. The two trees I have resist all attempts to clipify into nice compact shapes.
ReplyDeleteThanks CJ for the photos and thoughts and for your link back to your post about yews. I am surrounded by nurseries where I live, near Teresa Kasner, and there are some growing rather whimsical looking evergreen type trees. Now I am curious to know if I am looking at any yews among them. I am better at raising weeds than the lush and varied plants of my dreams, so I am fascinated to observe gardens where trees and plants have been coaxed to thrive in fantastic shapes and for many many years and often in little soil! How can this be?
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful houses and gardens - you can't beat the deliciously buttery hue of Cotswold stone!
ReplyDeleteDreamy. Love Broadway. Especially the quieter end where you were.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos. It was fun clicking on a row and seeing them up close. Everything is so well kept! Almost unreal.
ReplyDeleteThere are some incredible gardens and they are beautiful maintained!!
ReplyDeleteI remember visiting Broadway a few years ago and loving it, loving the whole area. That Cotswold stone just exudes warmth. I really enjoyed these photos, CJ, thank you. I'd quite like a nice clipped bay tree or something on my front step, to detract from our upvc front door.... ;-) xx
ReplyDeleteI'm a terrible nosy parker. Windows, gardens, you name it. It's all done in the name of research, of course - how else do people get ideas? ;)
ReplyDeleteThe formal planting does look lovely with those imposing, historical houses but yes, the more rustic style is beautiful too. And I doubt there are very many gnomes or windmills about!
I'm now going to have a closer look at your pictures *twitches curtain*
S x