The first of our brief tour of gardens in the Oxford area was to Waterperry Gardens close to Oxford.
It is always a bit hit and miss visiting gardens at the end of September, you never really know what you are going to see as so much of the summer planting is over. However, judging from the photographs on Twitter, we were on a pretty good bet at seeing some fabulous Asters or Symphyotrichum as they are now called.
Brief History of Waterperry Gardens
Beatrix Havergal and her friend Avice Saunders established a Ladies Garden School in 1932. During World War II Waterperry was home to ladies in the Women’s Land Army who worked on the land digging for victory. By the end of the war Waterperry was established as a well respected gardening school. When Avice Saunders died in 1971 Waterperry was sold to the School of Economic Science, who continued with day courses for horticultural teaching which is still does to this day. Many courses are run including the RHS Level 2 Principals of Horticulture. Miss Havergal died in 1980.
I wrote a book review about First Ladies of Gardening. in March 2015 and Miss Havergal is mentioned in this interesting book. Back now to our visit to the garden.
We were right in hoping the Asters would be good. They were spectacular!
As to be expected there was still a lot to look at.
The borders with grasses looked good, although there were some tall grasses at the front hiding shorter plants behind. Whether this was deliberate planting or trial and error I am not sure but it did seem a pity. I know that sometimes when a planting plan is new, it is not always easy to guess exactly how tall plants will grow and things like this are rectified in following years.
Waterperry Gardens is open daily apart from Christmas Day and New Years Day. In October it is free for RHS Members.
