The Walled Garden at Petworth House

Sue Marsh reports on our visit to Lady Egremont’s private garden in July:

From the little wildflowers (Pride of Sussex, a particularly loyal joy) planted on the terrace at the south end of Petworth House to the greenhouses full to overflowing with pelargoniums, all was wonder and privilege at Petworth in July.

It was a special treat to be able to walk from the house through the park to the walled garden, great eighteenth century urns amongst the trees and open spaces, wildflowers still blooming in the long grass, and into the garden.

Lady Egremont is a garden designer and the planting within the strict rectangular lines of the garden was inspirational.  As we entered, Wisteria floribunda ‘Alba’ had finished flowering, but the atmosphere as we looked through the pergola to the distant green walks of the garden remained. And being told that this Japanese wisteria turns anticlockwise round its supports, where the more common Wisteria sinensis winds in a clockwise direction was pure horticultural enchantment!  White hollyhocks bloomed along the length of the wisteria walk and grey leaved Verbascum thapsus (or great mullein) spread its pale powder over the gravel of the dry garden, a pale garden that was enlivened by the brilliant blue of agapanthus and lavender.

As a foil, and partner, to the dry garden, the water garden delighted us.  We walked down into the space, the borders along the top of the surrounding, Erigeron-covered, stone walls full of roses and gladioli and the central square pond joyous with shining pink water lilies.

Along the garden wall that bounded the south facing wall of the garden the borders were full of colour and the green walks elsewhere were a miracle of calm, one lined with great green topiaried “stele” (guardstones of the space), another with Magnolia grandiflora – and the orchard, with apples beginning to ripen and the grass long, a delight.

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In the middle of this space was another Egremont urn and, when one turned and looked through both the gate leading into the orchard and that leading from the garden into the park, there was another urn, in the parkland and exactly in line with that in the far orchard!  Yet another example of the respect given to the strict parameters of the garden and its aristocratic provenance.

In another space sheep ran up to inspect us and the mutability of Rosa x odorata ‘Mutabilis’ growing along the fences was proved with blooms ranging from deep pink to pale apricot!

The vegetable garden was another treat, great sunflowers dripping yellow dust, dahlias and other flowers for cutting and fruit in cages that were edged in thyme and other herbs so that scent was everywhere.

And here we entered the greenhouses and were treated to elderflower juice and lemon drizzle (or could it have been elderflower drizzle!) cake before driving home, our cars full of pelargonium and bunches of flowers kindly selected by the gardeners and sold as continuing memories of a magical afternoon.