GARDEN OF THE MONTH

The garden of two members in Wiltshire

Abbey House's late Tudor elevations are built above C13th foundations previously part of a Benedictine Monastery which crowned the mediaeval hilltop from the late C7th.  The Pollards have developed formal gardens in front to respond to the building's architecture and reflect some of the site's history.

An archway of stones cut in Saxon times splits two levels of formal gardens in front of C16th Abbey House.  Yew topiary and box hedging in the lower level, define the circular beds in the Celtic cross garden and are filled with pansies, hyacinths and later flowering fritillary imperials for Spring.

Aiming to celebrate the Millennium with 2000 different roses, the Pollards under planted with tulips for a wonderful spring display.  There are over 180,000 planted in the ground which ensures a 6 - 8 week display of riotous colour in the formal areas.  The bold colouring is a reminder of the stained glass windows which once were much in evidence in the site's long gone buildings.

Tulips and other spring bulbs give way to roses after iris and lily in the formal gardens.  The celtic cross garden clearly shown here contains patterns taken from a celtic cross standing on Iona to remember the first monk who settled on Malmesbury's hill and began a school from which the Abbey sprang.  He was a Celt.

A clump of Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' makes a beautiful show in late spring next to glorious oriental poppies.  Geraniums, astrantia, delphiniums, thalictrum amongst many other herbaceous plants fill the spaces between shrubs and fruit trees making a kaleidoscope of slowly changing colours through the double borders in this former orchard area. 

Ian Pollard is particularly fond of hostas.  His collection is doing well in the river gardens hosta walk.  Snails are kept in check with a good number of 'beer traps' regularly topped up with the dregs from the local hostelry convenient located at the top of the drive.

Although the grounds are largely alkaline, the river gardens in spring are home to rhododendrons and azalea which grow in soil to which sulphur has been added at planting to improve the acidity. The gardens enjoy a surprising range of microclimates too explaining why there is such a huge range of plants to see. 

The Abbey House Gardens are open regularly, including for the NGS scheme