I discovered another garden not too far from here a few weeks ago. Apparently it is used as a location in ‘The English Garden’ magazine if anyone reads that. It also has a small café in a beautiful Tithe barn serving lunches and cakes, warm lemon & treacle tart anyone? So definitely worth a visit, although on this particular day I was feeling rather ill so had to sit and watch the OH devour a lovely chicken sandwich.
This post is linked with Cee’s Which Way Challenge, Jo’s Monday Walk and this week’s Travel Theme from Ailsa which is Blossom.
Probably the first thing you notice once you enter the gardens through the Cider Press, is this gorgeous Granary with the Oast Houses. I used to think Oast Houses only existed in Kent. Not so, there are quite a few in Herefordshire and Worcestershire and still plenty of hops in the fields.
I spent a fair while just photographing these gorgeous old buildings before venturing into the gardens themselves. But what a treat awaited me.
The problem was where to start? The Pigeon House Garden? The Spring Garden? What a choice.
The Spring Garden was a delight with these jewel-like anemones flowering in the sun. A crooked path leading to a sweet little summer-house with magnolia blossom overhead.
Leaving the Spring Garden behind brings you out in front of the Manor House, with pots of bright tulips outside the porch and walls festooned with budding wisteria. The Main Lawn softens the driveway which leads to the farmyard. And a barn with bells.
The Bathing Pool Garden was intriguing, especially as this leads to the Rock Pools where Fritillaria meleagris and Pulsatilla vulgaris flowered around the pool and blossom hung overhead.
Doorways and water features entice you into the Elizabethan Garden with violet-blue clematis dripping over the wall.
Next the Long Walk leads you past the Kitchen Garden, the Sunken Garden, the Pillar Garden and finally the Paddock Garden. See the blossom?
With plants and pots and watering-cans to catch the eye.
The path leads down to the Dingle, the furthest area of this lovely garden and where the Spring and the Grotto can be found. A very peaceful place to stop and rest and absorb the beauty of nature.
Lots of little paths to wander along.
And a wider one which leads to the Grotto. But watch your step!
Finally on the way back to the exit there are the Iris Walk and the Greenhouses which I can never resist having a nosey in. The irises weren’t in flower, so another visit is required, very soon. But I did find some mistletoe growing on a fruit tree.
Before you leave, have a browse around the plant sales which is behind the Cider Press and where you’ll find the Rill and a pair of Welsh Dragons 🙂
I hope you have enjoyed your visit to Stockton Bury Gardens in Herefordshire. It has a very long history as there has been a dwelling on this site since 660. The ‘Bury’ is a Saxon word for Court House or Mansion House and was given the status of a Manor in the reign of Edward III.
TRAVEL WORDS 
It is so beautiful there!
It is! I want to live there – just have that delicious Granary barn converted for me and I’d be happy 🙂
It looks lovely, Jude. I’ve just been to Winkworth Arboretum to try and get some more images – alas too late for the Azaleas (shouldn’t have gone to Turkey!!), so I’ve had a real wander and a virtual wander – two gardens in one day! 🙂
Winkworth will always be there, getting to Turkey may be more difficult. Hope you are going to post some photos of the trip! We’ve just got home from another visit to the garden to see the wisteria and peonies. It’s incredible how different it looks in just a month – positively lush!
I’ll get around to posting some images from Turkey soonish, I hope…there were some in Lingering Look at Windows post! But I’ll do something colourful next…
A real find Jude, a little gem close to home. It did remind me of those villages in Kent though, oast houses everywhere.
Regards as always, Pete. x
Yes, wish I’d found this 3 years ago, it would have made up for losing RHS Wisley which used to be my flower fix. This is a plantsman’s garden and stuffed full of different plants so I’m definitely going back in different seasons. Went over today in glorious weather and it has changed dramatically since this visit in April. Hope you got the garden sorted without straining any muscles 🙂
These are gorgeous which ways and photos from your adventure. Thanks for playing.
Cheers Cee, I know you love gardens too, and today the irises were starting to flower 🙂
Jude what a beautiful walk. I feel more peaceful for having seen this post.
Gardens are definitely relaxing, especially when someone else does the walking 😉
Haha Jude. Perhaps by bicycle would be easier?
Bit difficult to photograph the flowers then I think 😉
All right you have a good point there Jude:)
That dragon… so cute 🙂
And cake Simone!
THAT goes without saying 🙂
What a wonderful treasure trove of buildings and plants. I think I would never want to leave such a paradise.
Ah Jo, it was hard to leave, but fortunately only 9 miles away so I can visit again 🙂
Lucky you. A garden like this must provide a never ending variation for you to enjoy and relax in.
First reading made me write why didn’t you contact me? then I realised it was Herefordshire not Hertfordshire.
Easily done Mrs C 😉 Fortunately not so far to travel!
Enjoyed walking with you! So different to here in the desert.
Oh yes, I don’t think there is anywhere as good as a real English garden in spring. Though desert gardens have their merits.
Beautiful set of pictures, especially as you were feeling under the weather – oh how we suffer for our art !