Waterperry Gardens, in Oxfordshire, is a veritable cornucopia of all things horticultural, edible, cultural and shoppable. The gardens themselves are extensive and would need a visit of several hours to do them justice.

A small white footbridge crosses a stream at Waterperry Gardens, framed by overhanging trees and lush planting. — The Truth Trail

A Small Piece of British Horticultural History

Beatrix and Avice originally founded the school in 1921 at Pusey House in Oxfordshire and moved to Waterperry Gardens in 1932. At the time it was rented from Magdelen College.until they bought it in 1948. All students paid their own fees until 1958, when scholarships were granted by some county councils. The diploma was accepted as one equal to those issued by Kew and Edinburgh. Beatrix was awarded an MBE in 1960 and the Royal Horticultural Society Veitch Memorial Medal and Victoria Medal of Honour in 1965. For many years Beatrix won gold medals for her strawberries at Chelsea Flower Show.

The Gardens rose to fame in the middle of the 20th century as a residential horticultural college for women run by Beatrix Havergal (allegedly the inspiration for Roald Dahl’s Miss Trunchbull). The college closed on the death of her life and business partner, Avice Sanders, in 1971. The property was bought by The School of Philosophy and Economic Science in 1971. Beatrice and Avice’s garden has been maintained as they knew it and it has also been extended in scope and content, although it is not clear what is original and what is new.

The Long Herbaceous Borders

The gardens are large and quite varied. You are guided into the gardens along the Truth Trail, over a bridge and through light woodland. Under another bridge the long herbaceous border suddenly appears. It is banked up on one side allowing plants to tower over the pedestrian.

A curving herbaceous border at Waterperry Gardens backed by a stone wall, with white phlox, veronicastrum and joe-pye weed — The Herbaceous Border

These borders are still pretty impressive in August with billowing mounds of purple Eutrochium purpureum (Joe Pye weed), white Veronicastrum virginicum Album, yellow Achillea Coronation Gold and white Phlox paniculata.

A long herbaceous border at Waterperry Gardens in late summer, with joe-pye weed, phlox, yarrow and loosestrife lining a gravel path. — The Herbaceous Border

A Canal and a Silent Space

A canal pool at Waterperry Gardens with a bronze figure of a running girl, water lilies, and white and dark herbaceous borders behind. — The canal

I was surprised this was called a canal, more like a large pond to me, looking a little marooned in a large lawn.

A bronze statue of a girl holding a lamp stands among sedum flowers, framed by clipped yew hedging at Waterperry Gardens — Silent Space

The Formal Garden was created by Bernard Saunders and Mary Spiller, a former student and then tutor at Waterperry Horticultural School. The sculpture, Girl holding the Lamp of Wisdom, is by Nathan David. It is a Silent Space, part of a network of gardens of where people can be silent and switch off from the outside world and to take time to reflect.

The Colour and Modern Borders

I particularly enjoyed the Colour Borders - these colour co-ordinated mixed borders make use of perennials, shrubs, bedding and bulbs to give all year round colour and interest.

Close-up of blue geraniums and purple asters mingling in a Waterperry Gardens colour-themed border. — The Blue Border

Close-up of a Waterperry Gardens border mixing white potentilla and black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) flowers — And Yellow Border

The Modern Borders look good at the end of summer with grasses and later flowering perennials. The wavy edges are reminiscent of the 1970s.

Late summer grasses and perennials in a Waterperry Gardens border, with seedheads, sedum and ornamental grasses catching the light. — Modern Border

A naturalistic grasses border at Waterperry Gardens with feathery ornamental grasses and Russian sage beside a mown lawn. — Modern Border

The Georgian Walled Garden

This is probably the piece de resistance in August - deep borders of kaleidoscopic dahlias and summer annuals, the old mellow brick walls setting them off perfectly.

Close-up of pompon-style pink dahlias in the walled garden at Waterperry Gardens, with a brick wall behind — Walled Garden

A long dahlia border in the walled garden at Waterperry Gardens, with mixed pink, red, orange and yellow blooms against brick walls. — Walled Garden

Pink and orange dahlias in full bloom against a brick wall in the walled garden at Waterperry Gardens

Close-up of pink cosmos flowers swaying above a colourful border in the Waterperry Gardens walled garden. — Walled Garden

To See Another Time

I managed to miss The Mary Rose Garden, Yew Henge and orchards - more to see on another visit, perhaps in the spring.

Refreshments

Beyond the gardens there is a nursery, shops of varying descriptions, art gallery, museum, cafe and outdoor theatre. I didn’t have time to try the cafe. It would be worth taking a picnic as its a long walk to the cafe if you want refreshments part way through your visit.

Waterperry Gardens