Magnificent Magnolias and an Amazing Garden

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Little did I realise the treat that was in store when I visited Knightshayes Court, Devon.
I had never been before but with the sun shining in a blue sky, I thought I would make the 7 mile detour from the M5 on my way home.

[you might want to make a cup of tea at this point ~ sorry there are quite a few photos]

I was pointed first in the direction of the walled garden:
the Victorian garden has been restored, it is huge!

The polytunnel at 100 yards by 30 yards was the biggest I had ever seen ~ its bigger than my house and garden!!

With its seating area in the centre by the herbs Im sure it would have been perfect for a rest and cup of herbal tea!

There is one full time gardener, two seasonal workers and the rest of the work is done by volunteers ~ all credit to them, it was immaculate:

not a weed in sight!

And here is the very proud Henry, sharing his space with ducks, chickens and geese:

All down one side was the rhubarb, doing well I thought considering this is only mid March!

Having been somewhat overwhelmed by the sheer hard work and perfection of the walled garden I walked back towards the flower gardens, nearer to the house, I love the brilliance of the colour of these:

Admittedly in a couple of weeks time this will come into its own and be a picture, nevertheless I loved its symmetry and in particular the two wonderfully shaped trees at the back:

Cut into the hedge that enclosed three sides of one of the smaller lawns were ten leaping dogs ~ great fun! I’m sorry they are not very clear in the photo [I could only fit three into this picture]

I always think celandines mean Spring is really here!

I have to confess that although the more formal gardens are wonderfully planned and maintained this is what I really love ~ a wild bank with moss, daffodils, chinodoxa, cyclamen, fritillarias and many others:

I’m sorry to say I don’t know the name of these:

But they make a lovely blue carpet:

With the sun shining in a beautiful sky I was thoroughly enjoying myself and felt I had already seen a lovely garden when round the corner I spotted a rather hastily written sign saying ‘Magnolias this way’; not knowing quite what to expect I followed the sign.

I am so glad I did!!! They almost took my breath away! I had never seen such huge flowers and so magnificent. This was the first of many:

Just to give you some idea of the size of these I held a daisy next to one:

Across the glade the darker pink magnolia tree almost glowed, soaring into the sky:

The sheen of the petals gleaming through:

Like pink silken cloth:

Do you think heaven is decorated like this?

Perfection in pink:

Apologies for the amount of photos of these but I couldn’t quite believe my eyes!

It was hard to tear myself away but I wandered on into the woodland garden and was lucky enough to spot the dark red trilliums:

Camellias just coming into flower:

No colour yet on this acer and I was sorry not to see it in the green, and yet it still holds a fascination with its wonderful twisted branches:

Views and surprises around almost every turn and path:

The wonderful Gothic mansion of Knightshayes Court:

I spent so long in the garden I had little time to look round the house [ I should have been back on the motorway an hour ago!!] but what I saw was fascinating and beautiful.

Cedar trees have long been a favourite of mine:

Borders of promise for summer colour:

I felt so lucky to have had such fabulous weather and then to find so many lovely surprises, those magnolias were like discovering the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!

No visit would be quite complete without checking out the cafe, housed in the old stable block, now what shall I have?
Healthy tomato and beetroot soup:

or a meringue nearly as big as the magnolias?

I shall definitely visit this lovely place again:

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/knightshayes-court/

29 Mar, 2012
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Pimpernel

Fantastic blog from start to finish...Love Magnolia. Did you have both the soup and meringue ?

29 Mar, 2012

Magnificent Magnolias and an Amazing Garden

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