I am lucky enough to live in a part of the country with a number of diverse and interesting gardens to visit from Sussex Prairies, seen recently on Gardeners World, to the National Trust garden at Nymans, with Charleston and Denmans in between. Of course I mustn’t forget Great Dixter and Parham.
Parham is one of the closest gardens to me and I went there yesterday. We were lucky to have a day sandwiched between too many wet days, although it was overcast and very warm and muggy. Our last visit was at the end of May when everything was just bursting through and coming into its own. Now at the end of August the garden had been beaten down by rain and was beginning to look decidedly autumnal.
The Rose Garden in May was beautiful and the muted colours of pink to purples looked splendid, now just on the cusp of September it is decidedly overgrown, nevertheless still charming to wander around.
Parham Rose Garden – May 2015
Parham Rose Garden – Late August 2015
The Herb Garden was in a similar state.
Herb Garden Parham – May 2015
Herb Garden Parham – Late August 2015
I don’t have a photo of the sunflowers in May, the gardeners were in the throes of planting a long bed of very straggly sad looking sunflower plants that looked in need of a good drenching and some were looking as though they would never make it. However the sunflower border was very impressive and I am glad I have seen how well they have done three months on. Many of you have already seen this as it as also shown on an episode of Gardeners World.
Sun Flower Bed – Parham Late August 2015
I love the way gardens change color throughout the seasons from the bright and cheerful “hurrah we are the other side of winter” yellows to the regal and wonderful deep reds and maroons at the end of summer of Sedum, gladioli and Echinacea.
I am in fear of doing Parham an injustice to the great team of gardeners. Not all borders are beginning to be past their best. A large part of the garden has beds containing a mixture of cut flowers and vegetables that are enclosed by box hedge. One particular bed has Amaranthus and Curly Kale, a clever combination of colours, other beds have runner beans giving height in the middle surrounded by dahlias and other cutting flowers.
The photos below are of two of the other borders.
Fifty years ago the garden had a team of 20 looking after it, these days there are 7 and even on a Sunday there was one of the team with his note book, wheelbarrow and secateurs keeping a watchful eye on this much loved garden.
If you have never visited Parham, I would suggest you put it on your Gardens to Visit list, and if you haven’t been for a while remember to pay a return visit. If you are a RHS member the entrance is free!
Parham House & Gardens are open from 5 April – 27 September 2015 Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sun & Bank Holidays.
During October Sundays only.
Gardens only 30th, 31st October & 1st November.
