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| THE HORTUS GARDEN |
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| When we purchased Shrubbery Bungalow in order to relocate our nursery,
we inherited a garden that was, apart from a large patio and gravel bed,
laid entirely to lawn. After surveying the third of an acre plot, we set
about planning a new garden which would incorporate some of the features
which made us fall in love with this area of the south west and decided to
include a mock beach and golf hole within the design. It was also important
to have large areas for planting, which would allow Marie-Elaine to use her
knowledge and experience to create a visual feast, providing year round
colour and interest. The garden now contains over 1,000 different plant
species and cultivars. |
| Sea border and Beach |
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Work started on the garden during March 2003 and after some exhausting turf
stripping, laying ten tonnes of pebbles, creating gravel paths, constructing
a boardwalk, building a bridge and installing a beach hut, the hard
landscaping was completed by June, when the planting began. By September,
several thousand plants later, we had a garden that combines imaginative
planting with creative flair. |
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Bee and Butterfly border |
A bee and butterfly friendly herbaceous bed brimming with colour flanks the
entrance drive, together with a new ‘Jurassic’ border created in 2006.
To
reflect our World Heritage Jurassic Coast we have collected the sort of
plants that would have lived in the area at the time of the dinosaurs.
Passing through this area, the rear garden is reached via a side gate in
front of which lies a boules piste and a Mediterranean style patio
with exotic planting in large pots. |
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White border |
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Immediately through the gate begins a scented walkway leading to a large
circular patio from which the garden radiates.
A
small bridge leads from one side of the patio across a pebbled beach
complete with beach hut, life belt and small boat, to a lawn area
encompassing a golf hole. |
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Beach and Lifebelt |
Silver border |
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Gold border |
The lawn is surrounded by coloured borders, beginning with the blue of the
sea at the edge of the beach. After a silver bed, a gravel path winds
between the golf bunker (with rough provided by ornamental grasses) and a
shady white border, to a gate with views across the adjoining farmland.
From here you will pass the rainbow area, planted with vibrant pinks,
purples, blacks, reds and oranges, arriving at a bench with views across the
garden. |
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Rainbow border - down |
Rainbow border - up |
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Beech hut and borders |
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The gold border returns to the beach hut, in front of
which is a small deck from which to view the seaside plants growing amongst
the pebbles.
The bridge leads back to the patio, where refreshments can be taken.
Finally, a boardwalk across a gravel bed planted with over 70 varieties of
ornamental grasses, leads, via the nursery, to the exit. |
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Scented herbs |
Grasses view |
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We hope you will be able to visit us and see the garden continue to develop |
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