Goddards is the kind of garden where you want to relax in the sunshine with a good book, or waft around in a long dress, with a parasol. There were various little nooks to settle in.
Narrow, secretive paths led you off on winding tracks through the various areas of the garden. Towards the bottom were several linked ponds although, with the dry weather, they were rather silted up with algae and dust.
As well as roses in bloom, there were peonies, such blowsy, extravagant flowers.
Foxgloves thrived in the wilder areas.
There was spiky sea holly (eryngium), though not as silvery as that at Harlow Carr.
Even the fallen petals of a climbing rose seemed rather pretty: nature's confetti.
Did the Terry family have children? This garden is the kind that I imagine when I read Edith Nesbit's books, when the children are left to roam freely and come up with all kinds of wonderful games - and sometimes magic - in the garden.
ReplyDeleteI've found a press article that says: Noel Terry, who died in 1980 aged 91, was the great-grandson of Sir Joseph Terry, the first Terry of the business. He had four children with wife Kathleen - Peter, Kenneth, Betty and Richard. The name of the house comes from Noel’s middle name, that of his grandmother Frances Goddard. Looking around, pictures and photograph albums paint a picture of an idyllic childhood for the youngsters - a Famous Five-style existence, having fun and camping in the gardens.' So yes, you're right!
DeleteWonderful paths, benches, and oh the flowers! That fuchsia and cream peony is simply delicious.
ReplyDeleteYou find so many beautiful gardens.
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