A curse on the fickle English weather that drowns a holiday weekend, inundates the greedy land hides the sun with cloud, yet promising bright light scurrilously withdraws its favors. Ah, yes, a trip that brought me to Penshurst Place Gardens, the home of one of my favourite character in history, Sir Phillip Sidney, poet and all round useful bloke.
Penshurst Place was finished in1341 beginning with the huge Baronial Hall and in later years added to as a residence which, I am pleased to say, is still in use today. Surrounded by farm lands and the lovely Penshurst village in what I call ‘Posh’ Kent, the building is imposing and worth a visit.
However, although many visitors want to see the house it is the gardens that are the attraction. Started when the original building was built the gardens have remained, if not exactly the same, more or less original with themes adapted to the times. The attraction is that it was untouched by Victorian cultural vandals and as a result we can enjoy a garden that li
ke any gardener tending an original garden has developed with the gardener and not subjected to the fickleness of newcomers.
For me the highlights of the gardens are the Rose Garden, the unique Union Flag Garden and the Peony Beds. Which is why I am moaning about the weather. I wanted to take pictures of the peonies in full sunlight but, fickle the weather was and fickle it stayed, defying me to grant me one small burst of sunshine, and one I missed because I was inside the house at the time. Bah! Humbug!
One pleasure, out of many, was talking to a Dutch visitor, one of a party, who were visiting gardens by the coach load, and enjoying the conversation beside the peony beds.
I note that for the garden watcher a season ticket is the answer because like many such gardens they need to be seen at all seasons to appreciate their special beauty. A few years ago I was at Penshurst in high summer. In contrast my recent visit gave me a taste of what was to come – a garden that is so vibrant with summer colors that it takes your breath away.
Penshurst Place was finished in1341 beginning with the huge Baronial Hall and in later years added to as a residence which, I am pleased to say, is still in use today. Surrounded by farm lands and the lovely Penshurst village in what I call ‘Posh’ Kent, the building is imposing and worth a visit.
However, although many visitors want to see the house it is the gardens that are the attraction. Started when the original building was built the gardens have remained, if not exactly the same, more or less original with themes adapted to the times. The attraction is that it was untouched by Victorian cultural vandals and as a result we can enjoy a garden that li
ke any gardener tending an original garden has developed with the gardener and not subjected to the fickleness of newcomers.For me the highlights of the gardens are the Rose Garden, the unique Union Flag Garden and the Peony Beds. Which is why I am moaning about the weather. I wanted to take pictures of the peonies in full sunlight but, fickle the weather was and fickle it stayed, defying me to grant me one small burst of sunshine, and one I missed because I was inside the house at the time. Bah! Humbug!
One pleasure, out of many, was talking to a Dutch visitor, one of a party, who were visiting gardens by the coach load, and enjoying the conversation beside the peony beds.
I note that for the garden watcher a season ticket is the answer because like many such gardens they need to be seen at all seasons to appreciate their special beauty. A few years ago I was at Penshurst in high summer. In contrast my recent visit gave me a taste of what was to come – a garden that is so vibrant with summer colors that it takes your breath away.
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