To prevent a general revolt over a daily onslaught of postcards from June 2017, you’ll be glad yo note I’ve left out at least four more galleries from David Austin Roses in Shropshire, the delightful Chastleton House and a mooch around Woodstock and Blenheim Palace. For the not so feint-hearted, please search for stories from June 2017 and all will be revealed.
I could not miss out Arundel Castle and Gardens in West Sussex though, the last leg of our journey (we broke the trip back in London to vote and headed south after that. And I’m so glad we did. Enjoy.
Shropshire, Wales, Oxfordshire .. we are putting in the miles together! But the last leg is in Sussex in the beautiful town of Arundel – which is presided over and looked down upon by the rather spectacular Arundel Caste. Part genuine medieval fortification and part Gothik 19th Century confection – it truly is an amazing building. Each room left me more slack-jawed than the last and there were a lot of rooms. I urge you. Go!
The entire top of the hill, surrounded by the medieval curtain walls, is a park with broad avenues and wildflower meadows and these extraordinary collection of gardens. Principally created by the talented garden design team that is the Bannermans, these are whimsical, lush, formal, extravagant, cottage and potager, fun, horticulturallly diverse, breathtaking in their concept and execution and taking full advantage of their extraordinary location within the castle grounds and under the glowering presence of the Cathedral. I. Am. Smitten …
These photographs, once again an inventory of the gardens and castle exterior, should hopefully give you the determination to go and see them for yourselves. I can’t believe that it has taken so long for me to bag them and count them as a garden to return to time and again, season upon season.
This truly has been the highlight of the week – even more I think than Powis Castle, though that may be more to do with a drizzle v sunshine debate …. but I urge you to visit Powis and Arundel – and Wollerton Old Hall, Blenheim, Erddig, Chastleton, Attingham Park and Chirk Castle, David Austin Roses of course, and all points in between!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arundel_Castle
http://www.arundelcastle.org/the-gardens/the-collector-earls-garden.html
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/aug/30/gardens
http://www.bannermandesign.com/
http://johnbrookesgardendesign.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/arundel-castle-collector-earls-garden.html
http://thegallopinggardener.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/arundel-castle-opens-in-blaze-of-colour.html
I leave you with a trip to Climping Beeach and then a walk through the woods and upland South Downs’ chalkland of the Slindon Estate. A fine week altogether and I hope you have had the pleasure of joining me on this trip in these past weeks’ posts. Abroad can be fine, but there is so much to explore here at home – old friends and new favourites. Enjoy.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/slindon-estate
The Teddington Gardener 
Fantastic – really liked photo 6201. I have realised (in my own inexperienced way) that the difference between typical family gardens and great gardens, is hedging, weathered walls and use of box and yew. I am a slow learner, but getting there eventually ! Thank you for sharing all this.
I am unlikely to ever see any of these wonderful places in person, (though I was fortunate enough to have a very brief stay at Sissinghurst nearly 50 year ago),and am so enjoying them vicariously. And I’m amazed there’s so much beautiful countryside left in England.