The Cotswolds’ Finest Gardens

The first day of Spring! How wonderful, how magical!

There's a warmth in the air, and the buds are swelling magnificently...

Buscot Park Gardens

In just a few short months, garden-visiting season will be upon us. If you live in the Cotswolds, or simply fancy a fantastic day out in this beautiful part of England, then grab yourself a copy of The Cotswolds' Finest Gardens by Tony Russell and get day-tripping. Each page or so is devoted to one of the gardens I've described here, with information, photos galore, and full contact details....

Barnsley House Gardens 

There are so many incredible gardens in this area; we're unbelievably lucky.

Hidcote Manor Gardens 

Hidcote Manor Gardens 

Living here, it's hard not to take it for granted that tucked away around every corner of every street, there's seemingly an incredible garden waiting for you.

Iford Manor 

Iford Manor 

Even on a grand scale like this, there's plenty of inspiration to be had, plenty of ideas for you to take away....

Snowshill Manor Gardens on Modern Country Style

Snowshill Manor Gardens on Modern Country Style

Whether its a particular pergola style, or a certain heavenly-smelling rose, you'll want to leap straight into your gardening boots the moment you come home!

Sudeley Castle Gardens 

Sudeley Castle Gardens 

Sudeley Castle Gardens 

Because the amazing part is: all of these gorgeous gardens, and many many more, are open to the public at various times of the year! That's what's soooo good about books like The Cotswolds' Finest Gardens (published by Amberley). The stunning pages are not just there to tease you but to entice, to lure, into a reality that can be very much yours.

What are you waiting for?!!

Take Care Until Next Time,

Sarahxx

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The Thoughtful Gardener by Jinny Blom: Book Review on Modern Country Style

Remember last time, I shared one of the legendary garden designer Jinny Blom's beautiful gardens? Today, I want to show you a book that you're going to absolutely love. The Thoughtful Gardener by Jinny Blom herself has fast catapulted into my top ten gardening books. 

First off, the photographs are absolutely stunning. Image after image of Jinny Blom's designs fill every page, including sneak peeks into her own garden. Each of them will have you scrutinising every single detail, trying to work out how you can bring such beauty, such magnificent understatement into your own garden.

But Jinny Blom doesn't leave you there, drooling over her work. She very generously takes us through her whole design process: from initial examination of the site for clues of any historical or architectural features which can be incorporated into the design.... 

...through the stages of putting thought into action, and then tonnes of advice and inspiration about the planting itself.

Jinny Blom describes herself in The Thoughtful Gardener, which is published by Jacqui Small, as 'unmoved by fashion' but, somehow, whatever she does is absolutely at the forefront of what people love to look to for inspiration. Her timeless, soft planting, combined with her love of introducing a contemporary nod in the form of topiary and hard landscaping, make her one of the very best Modern Country Garden Designers around.

Take Care Until Next Time,

Sarahxx

Images via Jinny Blom

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Modern Country Garden Designer: Jinny Blom

I've got a bit of a fangirl double whammy for you here...

Two words:

Jinny Blom

Have you heard of Jinny? She's a Garden Designer Extraordinaire

and I'm a little bit in love with her gardens.

Jinny Blom designed this gorgeous garden which is based in Gloucestershire. The home is called Temple Guiting and is based in the heart of the Cotswolds.

These walls were built from Jinny Blom's plans. haven't they done a completely fantastic job at blending new with old? 

Pleached hornbeams like the ones below are such a fantastic way of providing privacy but still letting through plenty of light. Look at all that sunshine? Wishing we had a bit more of that right now!!

This is just classic Modern Country gardening at its best. Gorgeous soft planting combined with firm contemporary structure. It's utterly delicious.

Oh Jinny, Jinny, Jinny. If only you had a book we could devour; something we could learn from, to be guided by your experience, in order to make little pieces of heaven in our own back gardens...

But wait? What's this I see before me....

Jinny Blom HAS written a book!

And a full review is coming your way very soon indeed....

Hold onto your seats, my sweet peas, it's a beauty.

Take Care Until Next Time,

Sarahx

Images via Jinny Blom

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