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Tuesday, November 22, 2016

"Riccarton"


Just on the eastern outskirt of Campbell Town is "Riccarton", one of the first land grants in the area dating back to 1826 and owned by the Lyne family since 1909.


It is a charming serene oasis created amidst the "bones" of very old plantings where Poppy Lyne has created sweeping beds and graceful turns to compliment her great passion for bulbs and peonies. 


Not only do I draw inspiration from plantings, but also from gates and structures, the visual clues to the "doorways" from one area to another. 


This can still be achieved even in small gardens and they need not be expensive, just strong to stand the test of time, winds and to support the weight of growth.



I note with interest also the various ways of using rocks, plentiful on our own land, about the structures for borders and walkways.


An example of "cloud" pruning, a technique where branches are stripped bare and balls are encouraged at the ends, giving trees another design look all together. Their whimsical look puts me in mind of Dr, Suess illustrations.


Strong straight pruning lines and formal clipped hedges.


Box clipped into fences, columns and pillars.


Some focal points are as simple as taking advantage of a lost tree and using the stump as a column.


Or interesting weathered sculptural garden art,


Clever vistas...


Views beyond....


A memorial garden commemoration 100 years of Lyne ownership of the property.



A gate on the outer perimeter of the house garden looking further eastwards. 


The dovecote in the orchard.


The sheep brought in for drafting the lambs from the ewes look on bleating, a reminder of the importance of the wool industry in the district.


And a little further along we come to Poppy's vast plantings of peonies for cutting.


A grand passion and I can certainly understand why she is so captivated. So many varieties, both herbaceous and tree.


I could have stayed for hours but it's also nice to get back to one's own garden and get stuck in with fresh eyes and inspiration. 


Riccarton is a working farm and not a public garden. I would like to thank Poppy for very kindly showing us her garden and sharing her passion, it was a rare treat.






2 comments:

  1. & a lovely garden it is too, congratulate them for me for owning it for 100 years, that's something that has been lost here, children just don't want they're parents places anymore (not to mention the silly taxes they throw on them now)
    i would love a largish farm ...
    thanx for sharing

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  2. That's fabulous, Tanya. I love looking around gardens too. Here in Britain gardens seem to be under threat these days; any extra land is often released and sold to build more homes on, and front gardens are being demolished to make car parking space. It's very sad. There are some lovely gardens still surviving though, and here on the south-west peninsular we have a lot of palms and tropical plants because it's just nudging into the sub-tropics, and one of my greatest joys is to have a good look around on a garden open day. :)

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