5 in 5 Design at it’s Very Best

I nearly forgot all about this month’s 5 in 5 but an outing today gave me the opportunity to join in. Our visit to this lovely garden yesterday came about really because we needed to get our car serviced. The car goes back to where we bought it in Taunton for anything that needs doing. This is normally not a problem because they collect and return it. Times are however not normal and so we had to take the car down ourselves. Visiting the garage was a different experience in itself. We had a courtesy car so decided to stay local for the day.

Hestercombe Gardens are a short drive north west out of Taunton. I have been a couple of times previously some years ago. Like many gardens they are struggling at the moment. They have managed to reopen on a booking system but have only a limited number of gardeners at present. They have done remarkably well to keep the gardens up together. My photos for my 5 in 5 are in the formal gardens designed and created in the very early 1900’s by the architect Sir Edwin Lutyens and garden designer Gertrude Jekyll. They have been lovingly restored using her original drawings and plans. A combination of different levels, steps, water channels, careful planting and a background view of the Blackdown Hills result in beautiful gardens. These five photos give a mere snapshot. I shall include more photos in other posts.

1. Looking across one of the main flower beds to the Pergola.

2. There are many sets of steps all lined with the daisy Erigeron Karvinskianus.

3. These beautiful flowers were growing in several locations. Any suggestions as to what they are?

4. A more extensive view across the main garden.

5. One of the many fountains and water channels.