Technically, I was on holiday but, of course, the garden designer within couldn’t miss the opportunity to photograph gardens when the opportunity arose!
The first, Osborne House, a fond favourite of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. It’s set in an impressive 240 hectares.
Whilst I wasn’t overly drawn to the formal landscaping around the house, I did like the walled kitchen garden which was beautifully planted…
Shame we didn’t visit a week earlier, we’d have caught the lavenders in full flower!
Here’s a glorious way to grow vines – with a lovely border underneath of Verbena bonariensis mixed with what looks like either a Phlox or possibly Gaura.
Lots of one of my favourite combinations of blue Agapanthus and old-fashioned roses.
Having the backdrop of such a wonderful old wall certainly doesn’t hurt!
And one always needs a good place to sit and relax. I did rather love the flowers spilling through and around the bench. I must admit I’m not entirely sure what they are. My best guess is a Phlox of some description but I’m not 100% on that. So if anyone knows, please leave the name in comments!
The main house garden wasn’t to my tastes but it’s of its time and still looks impressive with the grand house.
Our next stop was the other side and end of the Isle of Wight – the botanical gardens at Ventnor, which has some of the mildest temperatures during the winter months.
Whilst they can’t grow quite the variety that they do on Tresco, it was lovely to see the large flowering Echiums towering towards palm trees.
Lots of lush, lovely planting, mostly laid out in borders from their country of origin.
If you visit this garden, you have to enter your car registration into the machine at the entrance so that you’re not fined!
It would have been rude not to check out the cream teas – I can highly recommend!
Both the gardens are dog friendly btw!
Where to next?
We had a lovely time on the Isle of Wight and hope to go back next year. Which other gardens should we visit? Please leave your suggestions in the comments below…
