The prospect of another gloriously sunny weekend added to my eager anticipation of visiting Boxford Open Gardens in Suffolk – celebrating its 20th year.
In 2016, on a scorchingly hot day, I had to juggle my time between Boxford’s delights and the beautiful garden at Leaven Hall in Leavenheath – which had its doors open under the National Garden Scheme.
I was therefore looking forward to covering more ground at Boxford this year and definitely managing to visit some of the outlying gardens in Edwardstone & Groton.
Full of determination and excitement, I purchased my programme and made a start opposite St Mary’s Church – at Chequers, a former coaching inn …
Chequers.
My quest of photographing 24 Gardens in 6 hours seemed remotely feasible until I stepped over the threshold into this awe-inspiring garden, which managed to captivate me for well over an hour !
I started in the Walled Garden and was amazed to find that the land behind the house was far ranging. There were many beautiful flowers, arranged in an informal style – the borders flowing harmoniously from one colour to the next.
When I turned around to face the house, I was pleasantly surprised by the most picturesque view of St Mary’s church tower rising up behind the characterful Chequers itself.
I loved the gentle nature of Walled Garden. Nothing grand or showy – just charming … I found the palette of colours – provided by Geraniums, Veronica, Alliums and Euphorbia – to be very pleasing.
There were many individual flowers that caught my eye -:
A path from the Walled Garden led through a vegetable patch to a gate in a crinkle-crankle wall …
Once through, the garden opened up into an area of more greenery – trees, shrubs and a slope down towards a wooden bridge.
This bridge led me across the River Box (which flowed delightfully through the wider expanses of the garden) and took me onto a huge meadow area with trees, a pond and natural planting.
I was enthralled by Chequers, despite now being seriously behind schedule – yet couldn’t think of a better place to lose all track of time …
Mary’s House.
This was my first stop along Swan Street – a tiny, but quaint cottage garden. It belonged to a home bequeathed to the church by its owner and was a sun-trap full of colour.
Hendrick House.
The sun was at its hottest whilst I was visiting this beautiful garden, presenting me with some tricky conditions for my photography. It was a fun challenge to work with that in order to produce images which truly represented the beauty of the place.
The garden occupies a large area backing onto the River Box and the garden at Chequers. It has similarly beautiful views of the church.
The following are my favourite photographs, with a special mention going to the impressive delphiniums, whose bold blues & purples were still able to wow me even in the extremely bright sunshine -:
I mustn’t forget my favourite garden sculpture, which I remembered fondly from last year …
Number 17 – Swan Street.
This was my favourite garden from last year and it was easy to see why I had been seduced by its beauty. Smaller than the previous garden (which it abutted), this still had the wonderful feel & atmosphere to it that I had loved so much before. The look of the garden was quite different to last year, due to the flowers all blooming earlier. There were, however, most capable & beautiful replacements to step into the limelight. It was tricky to pick out individual areas as favourites because it was the overall planting design and combinations of colours that meant the whole garden worked for me as a delightful place to sit, relax and stare ( and take photographs, of course).
Mention must go, however, to the gorgeous climbing rose, Constance Spry (above & below), Â which I had spotted eagerly from the previous garden.
The Iris siberica were coming to an end – yet were still as beautiful as last year.
I especially loved the owner’s new planting arrangement of Poppy, Geranium, Cerinthe and Valerian.
I was also lucky enough to catch a cheeky photo of Hacker the dog …
Weavers House.
Next stop was the garden belonging to Maggie Thorpe, from the Suffolk Plant Heritage Society. Always a pleasure to meet and so knowledgeable; Maggie has a gorgeous suntrap of a garden with an abundance of beautiful plants worked perfectly into a small courtyard area, Â full of interest and attractive combinations and colours.
My favourites this year (as it looked quite different to last) were the dainty rose, Ballerina, and the exotic Carpenteria Californica – with flowers like Japanese anenomes.
Number 55, Swan Street.
This was a new garden of a recently-built property, a little further along Swan Street. Related to the family at Hendrick House, the owner had set out some very attractive landscaping & beds – ready for what will be a beautiful garden of the future. The owner explained that lots of plants had come from her family’s garden, so it is clear that it will be a garden with an excellent choice of species. Starring already were the striking delphiniums and lupins in the rear borders – as well as a lovely rose in the front garden.
I look forward to seeing how the garden has matured by 2018 !
Crown House, Groton.
My last garden of the day involved a trip out to Groton on the shuttle minibus. Maggie had encouraged me to visit – saying that Crown House was a garden not to be missed – and one to linger in for the remainder of the day. I was also swayed to venture up the hill by a message I had recently received, regarding last year’s Boxford article on my Wildcarrot blog. Â A fellow blogger, under the pen name ‘Chloris’, had visited my post and sent her hopes that I would come to visit her garden this year. I had no idea which of the outlying gardens ‘Chloris’ had created, but was keen to see if I could find out. I was delighted to find that I chosen the correct one – and was able to meet ‘Chloris’ in person !
So many delightful plants, unusual varieties and a lovely serene, peaceful feeling about the garden, soon let me know that I had chosen well. There were lots of interesting elements – such as the beach garden – which inspired me and renewed my interest in getting my beach hut & beach area finally underway. It was especially interesting to see the horned poppy – which I will definitely be planting at Marlborough House.
There was also an interesting alpine gravel garden – with an eye-catching Rhodhypoxis baurii …
Here are a few of my other favourites -:
My overriding pleasure from this garden, however, came from the roses. Firstly the 2 tree-climbers: although one, Grace, is not a climber – it has just taken to its location superbly well and adapted to tree-living …
The single/semi-double roses were a joy and it made such a refreshing change to see them featured so prominently.
There were also plenty of beautiful doubles in a myriad shades of pink. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a lovely collection of roses in such a natural, cottage-garden setting – truly wonderful.
I’m so glad I finished my thoroughly enjoyable day here, as there was so much to see & photograph.
I would love to discover the name of every rose I’ve featured and I’m hoping that ‘Chloris’ will let me know in due course, so that I can update my galleries.
This is the longest post I’ve completed so far on my blog, which is a testament to the extremely high standard of gardens at this year’s event. It is much too tricky to pick a favourite …
Thanks to all the friendly, welcoming owners who were happy for me to spend a long time in each of their gardens, enabling me to get some amazing images. I do hope that you’ve enjoyed seeing your wonderful creations displayed in my post.
See you all – and hopefully a few more in 2018 …
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Wild Carrot Photography 
A lovely post Amanda. I would like to reblog this so that everyone can enoy your amazing photos.
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Thanks Chloris – I’m glad that you liked it … I would be very pleased for you to share the post with others – I have emailed the owners of the gardens already, but it would be wonderful if more people could enjoy my photos !
Thank you for sharing your wonderful garden and inspiring me …
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Thank you for reblogging this, and as you say lovely photographs. In my diary for next year.
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I enjoyed seeing Chloris’s garden through another lens, as well as the other beautiful gardens on your tour. Thanks for persevering through what must have been a long day. I can’t imagine visiting – and photographing – so many gardens in a single sweep (even though most of the gardens on tour in my area of Southern California don’t merit more than a glance).
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Thank you very much – I’m glad that you enjoyed it !
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Yes, I am pleased Chloris was kind enough to reblog this so we could share all these wonderful gardens. It is always refreshing to visit a group opening of gardens and appreciate the variety of styles and plants. And your photographs are wonderful
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Thank you for your kind words about my images …..
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Your photos are beautiful! You’ve really captured the wonder of every garden.
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That’s very kind, Quaintrelle, I’m so glad that I have been able to convey that – as my wish is to share all the beauty I find with others – I’m thrillled !
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Boxford seems to have an above average level of skilled gardeners. From reading Chloris’s blog I could see that she is, which you have now confirmed. Thank you for the tour.
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