My Walk this Week 162 – Hampton Court Gardens

My walk this week takes an informal look at what would often be described as the formal gardens of Hampton Court. The gardens behind Hampton Court Palace are indeed formal and you only need to look at Google Maps to see that formality of design.

pergola tunnel

But the Wilderness Garden (above) and the Rose Garden also have a formal layout – it’s just not as noticeable when you look at the individual plants and flowers.Continue reading

Hidden head

Intentional Garden Design – Reviewing the Walk

The details of this Dorset garden, where my walk this week took place, show just the kind of garden I like – informal but with elements of intentional design.

hanging basket

It is a mistake, in my opinion, to try to control nature – nature will always come out on top in the end – but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy arranging different aspects of it in our gardens. That is how we end up with  interesting collections of patterns and textures connecting the man-made with the moss, the rust with the rose hips. Continue reading