It's nice at this time of year to look back at garden visits and start planning for the next year. I only have a tiny patio garden with pots so don't get to do much gardening for myself so have to experience it at local open gardens. Fortunately there are plenty of wonderful ones in the north of England.
I'd like to share Howick Hall with you.
Howick was home to Charles, 2nd Earl Grey and Prime Minister, famous for the blend of tea which was created for him. Howick has been owned by the Grey family since 1319. The current house was built in 1782 and is not open to the public. A fire destroyed the interior in 1926 and it was rebuilt in 1928. The family now live in the west wing.
Last summer Lady Howick's private garden was open to the public for small donations to go to the restoration of Howick St Michael & All Angels church which is on the estate.
Howick has a wonderful tea room where of course they sell the Earl Grey tea. Lovely cakes too! The borders outside are fabulous and you can sit and watch the birds at the feeders as well.
I would love to be served Earl Grey tea at Howick Your photos og this bautiful garden are so lovely. What are the blue flowers in front of the house? Englist bluebells?
Magga the blue flowers are agapanthus. Lucy Howick's not geared to wildlife as much as some other gardens I've visited but they do have the feeder outside the tea room and also encourage red squirrels (Northumberland is one of the few remaining areas that our native reds survive).
There is a wonderful yew hedge enclosed border which in Spring has alliums which later give way to an old variety of kniphofia.
The rockery leads down from the urn border above and you pass the church and burn on the way to Silverwood which is Howick's arboretum section of the gardens.
Silverwood is the glory of Howick Hall gardens. It was begun by Lord Grey in 1930. It has some very fine rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, magnolias, eucryphia, pieris, enkianthus and Clethra. The trees and shrubs are underplanted with a marvellous collection of woodland perennials and ferns and new plantings are being added each year.
At the other side of the estate is the Pond Garden which is a delight. The pond is filled with rudd and surrounded by some very choice plants including hostas, irises, arisaema, salvia and lilies.