After today I am suffering from an extreme case of garden envy! I went with my friends Lynn and Karen to visit the Stellenberg Gardens and what an incredible treat it was.
Divided into a series of garden "rooms" the first room we visited was to the side of the homestead and consisted almost entirely of white flowering plants with just a smattering of the palest pink peaking out here and there.
Imagine sitting out here in the evening overlooking this magnificent garden when the white flowers really come into their own!
This table underneath a wisteria would be the perfect cool spot for a cup of tea on a hot day. I particularly loved the chandelier.
After that we made our way to the veggie garden which I completely fell in love with. From the water feature in the center, to the row of pencil cypresses (Cupressus sempervirens), to the bamboo trellising to the citrus trees in Anduze pots, to the wicker baskets for collecting veggies or clippings... I wanted it all!
We left the veggie garden through this beautiful metal gate and made our way to the rose garden with its perfectly clipped box hedge....
....then through a pretty shady walkway and onto the herb garden...
....with a jasmine arbour at the centre.
I loved this bay tree in a wooden planter clipped into a pyramid shape...
....and these runner beans making their way up bamboo trellises.
After the herb garden we walked onto the main lawns in front of the homestead with the most beautiful hydrangea borders.....
....and then onto the walled garden that houses the swimming pool. I think this might have been my favourite area.
The blue and purple bed was just beautiful!
The next treat in store was this magnificent garden designed by the late David Hicks.
The central rose covered arches divide the two sections of the garden. On the left, you can see the masculine side with its precision clipped hedges and more minimalist style and on the right is the feminine side with its profusion of plants and colour and soft edges.
Reluctantly leaving this area which really is the most incredible work of art, we headed to a fairly new area of the garden that has a forest feel with a stream running through it.
...and then wandered though this part of the garden called the garden of reflection, beautiful with its series of reflecting ponds and topiaries.
This led us to yet another arched walkway with pretty fountain at one end and row of benches to the side. There are just so many places to sit and contemplate the splendour of these gardens.
Finally, we settled down in yet another part of the garden for a well-deserved cup of tea. All this garden envy is thirsty work!
Are you as inspired as I am? I better get stuck into my garden very soon while the inspiration is still fresh in my mind. Wish me luck!
I hope you all have a lovely week
Till next time
Sharon x
You can visit the Stellenberg website here
