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BORDE HILL GARDEN

The visit to this garden, open to the public for 55 years in order to collect donations to help the most disadvantaged, was a surprise. We had planned to end our summer journey in the south of England with a visit to Sheffield Park and Garden, not far from there. With the pandemic crowned, each visit had to be booked and we ideally had to buy our tickets online when arriving on UK land 15 days earlier. Obviously, spellbound as soon as we arrived, we forgot each other. It was two days before the visit that we tried the impossible, in vain; all tickets were already sold.
So we looked for another garden to visit in the region, with availability, and we bounced back to Borde Hill garden, with a lot of fun.

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This garden, nestled in the heart of Sussex, has been passed down for 4 generations, from plant collectors to plant collectors.

 

A TUDOR house

Obviously, the azalea and rhododendron season has passed, but the garden remains magnificent. We discover the rose garden, with the Victorian greenhouses and a breathtaking view of the house built in 1598 by Sir Stephen Borde.

In this season, the greenhouses still welcome agaves and aloes

 

Here and there, the artists have deposited their treasures, all in sensitivity.

    
                                                                                                                       'The Dream - Birthbath'  -   Christine Baxter

 

Lodges, staged, address Italian inspiration.

 

Balance games inspire, who will resist the most? The cat won, he remained unmoved.

 

Some subjects are remarkable, like this Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Irene Paterson'​

   

 

Plants from ELSEWHERE


Allocasuarina zephyrea (Australia)                                                                                               Angelica gigas (Korea)
    

 

     
Crinodendron patagua (Chile)

 

    
Myrrhidendron donnellsmithii (Costa Rica)

 
Cryptomeria japonica 'Elegans' (Japan)

 

On the way to the ITALIAN garden

This is the opportunity to set foot on the vast open area in front of the house and to embrace it in its entirety.


   

 

CLASSIC Renaissance inspiration

The borders of perennials, entwined with low walls, announce the Roman staircase.

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The magnolias organize the background of the scene, the opportunity to observe some repeat blooms.

    
Who said that a flower without a petal is no longer attractive?                            Magnolia grandiflora 'Kay Parris'

 

The ROUND DELL

This is the most tropical part of the garden, with its contemporary layout.


   


Sculptures inspired by the organic world :  'Spiral Fern on Oak' - Chris Kampf

 

The CHAMPIONS of Borde Hill garden

The garden has 83 champions from England and Ireland. We were particularly impressed by these.


Discaria discolor (Hook.) - 4.5m high and 59cm in diameter in 2010

    

 


Maackia amurensis (Rupr.) - Height of 5m and diameter of 56cm in 2010.

 

The LONG DELL

Time to marvel at the fluffy and graphic leaves of rhodos or the feats of cyclamen.

    
Rhododendron falconeri ssp. eximium                                Rhododendron pachysanthum x pseudochrysanthum

    

 

This is where we discover a very intriguing box. We could imagine ourselves at the Chelsea Flower Show!


    

 

It's the end of the WALK

An ice cream at the foot of an Acer griseum, Always so much wonder in front of the silhouette and the bark of this small tree.


   

 

A tour of the nursery

    
Phlomis lycia                                                                                                                Pittosporum 'Nutty's Leprechaun'

 

And our last look...             'Krestel Landing' by Paul Harvey

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