I’ve been to most of the ‘great gardens’ of England, and a fair few around the world, yet Great Dixter in Sussex remains my favourite. Despite being grand, it has a human scale, a warmth and such a joyous approach to planting that just makes me smile.
The gardens were began by arts and crafts architect Edwin Lutyens for Nathanial Lloyd at the beginning of the last century, but it was the son Christopher Lloyd who wasn’t afraid of playing with and pushing the garden to new approaches and heights of dizzying colour.
“Every year,” says head gardener Fergus Garrett “we plan a kaleidoscope of rich tones to bring the garden to a late crescendo”. These photos are in no way touched up…the hues really are that giddily gorgeous. It’s an inspiration for what can be achieved in late summer/autumn. You have to go!
Here’s a link to Fergus’ article in The Guardian today on some of the perennials he favours. It prompted me to share this photo essay.
Visiting information is here: Great Dixter website: how to find us