Home · Notes from the garden ⸻

The Garden Designer’s Journal

A light-hearted but informative blog on gardens, garden design and gardening – from opinions on the Chelsea Flower Show to the quality of tea and cake at open gardens. "...she is always available for an interesting conversation..."

Jane Shankster 2/27/25 Jane Shankster 2/27/25

Waterperry Gardens

Horticultural, edible, cultural and shoppable, and once a residential college for women gardeners, run by the formidable Beatrix Havergal. Allow several hours, and take a pcinic.

Gifts for gardeners

The only reasonably sensible list for gardeners: no cashmere pyjamas, no pink suede gauntlets. Felco, Showa, Silky Fox, a day out with lunch, and one bespoke cedar greenhouse for the ambitious.

Ham House

It’s been a few years since my last visit to Ham House. The garden has a strong French influence: formal avenues of trees radiating out from the house and the garden is divided into a number of smaller, though still very large by modern standards, walled areas.