I have always associated Badminton with the Horse Trials and memories of standing feet away from the late Queen, informally equipped as she was with a head scarf, wellingtons and binoculars – watching her daughter clear the jumps.
This year’s event begins on Wednesday, May 6th, and preparations to receive riders and spectators were very much in evidence when we arrived at around 9.30 am on Sunday to view a part of the estate we had never seen before.
More than two thousand people would be joining us for the first of three days this year, during which the beautiful gardens surrounding the home of the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort are opened.
We were certainly lucky with the weather and amazed to find that the whole incredible floral layout is tended by just four gardeners.
Obviously, others are brought in to cut the extensive grasslands.
www.badmintonestate.com/badminton-estate/badminton-estate-events/open-garden-days/
will give you more information regarding open days in June and September – and l would like to quote from that website to give you some idea of what we were able to enjoy.
‘There is a great variety of plants to view, from the formal beds on the east side of the house, designed by Russell Page, to the South Garden with its water squares, hedges, beds and borders.
Glorious displays of roses and borders of soft summer colours are combined with herbaceous perennials, campanulas, penstemons, geraniums and phlox.
The Walled Garden, a short stroll from the house through the park, is home to the Badminton House kitchen garden, providing fruit and vegetables as well as cut flowers for much of the year.
An archway, running the full width of the garden, is covered with roses, clematis, wisteria and yellow laburnum. The greenhouse is used for propagation and houses a fine display of pelargoniums.’
Running alongside what was on view outdoors was an exhibition in The Old Hall featuring paintings from the collection of Mary Somerset, First Duchess of Beaufort and dating back to the beginning of the 18th century, when she commissioned Everard Kik, a Dutch botanical artist, to create a series of paintings showing the extraordinary variety of plants she had grown from seeds sent to her from all over the world.
The final collection of 178 paintings included some created by her footman-turned-artist, Daniel Frankcom and were later bound into a two-volume album. One was on display, the other on loan to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.
Overall l have to say we were most impressed by the underplanting where wide varieties of tulips were simply scattered across the grass beneath the tree cover.
Why is it that the sight of such colour reminded me of Elizabethan embroidery?
I am so glad we went early, as the gardens rapidly filled with other people who, like us, were enjoying the cool and colourful beauty of it all. Not so easy then to get a shot of things without people.
Do check out the website.
Another floral event coming up is the RHS Badminton Flower Show from July 8th to the 12th. You can book via rhs.org.uk/badminton
