Designed and developed by Lawrence Johnston, an American-turned-British citizen, Hidcote Manor Gardens is one of England's great gardens, showcasing a unique vision of Arts and Crafts style.
Hidcote Gardens — Influencing English Garden Design
Johnston spent 41 years developing his vision and, in the process, redefining English garden design, by combining traditional English cottage garden style and elements with new plants and new ways of displaying those plants.
Johnston was a plantsman as well as a designer, gathering and trading rare plant specimens from around the world and propagating them in his garden. He also developed his own cultivars. To showcase his plants, Johnston created garden rooms, each devoted to a specific theme. The rooms are divided by traditional hedges and topiary and range from a white room to a "wilderness," each displaying a different character but all working together to form a cohesive whole.
Hidcote Through the Years
In 1948, Johnston gave his garden to England's National Trust. For the next several decades, the National Trust struggled to maintain the original Arts and Crafts style of the garden on limited funds. Several of the garden rooms became somewhat overgrown, and some of Johnston's original plant specimens had to be replaced. Recently, following a major donation, the Trust has been able to begin to return the gardens to their original state, and Hidcote has become one of the most popular destinations on garden tours and tours of the Cotswolds, as well as being a favorite among gardeners.
Visiting Hidcote
Spring and summer are, of course, the best times to visit the gardens to see the plants at the height of their growth, but every season offers special pleasures, as foliage turns and seasonal plantings are changed out. The Red Border is a particularly spectacular feature of the garden in autumn.
The garden is open from the end of February through December; check the National Trust site for specific opening days and times.
Special Attractions at Hidcote
While the gardens themselves are reason enough to visit, Hidcote offers some special attractions. Visitors can play croquet on the Theatre Lawn or tennis on the all-weather court, in addition to enjoying the plantings in the gardens. Guides also offer informative talks and tours of the garden, and there's a cafe for refreshments.
Gift Shop and Plant Sales
In addition to the National Trust gift shop that includes National Trust and other publications, as well as items specific to Hidcote and the region, there is also a plant sales shop at Hidcote.
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