This is a photo of a damaged pine tree in the pinetum at Chatsworth. It looks like it has suffered some sort of trauma in a storm and the top of it has split off. It seems to be flourishing again, I don’t know what it looked like before it was maimed but to me it looks beautiful now. It might sound daft but I think that that tree could be a lesson to us all!
I have a bit of a penchant for box hedging so this wee bit of the garden appealed to me even although this is a very simple design. As you can see there’s a sculpture there too. There are quite a lot of modern art works dotted around the park. At least the Devonshires are still supporting living artists, just as their ancestors did.
Years ago I bought a few box plants for my own garden and every time I trim them I take loads of cuttings so now I have them all around the edges of my garden in various sizes. I intend to make a Celtic knot garden with them in my new garden when we move. Hopefully it’ll be a lot more intricate than the Chatsworth design. I first saw that sort of planting years ago in Ludwigsburg, Germany in ‘Mad’ King Ludwig’s garden. It looks stunning there.
Thanks for the tour of Chatsworth. I’ve never been there but am enjoying the gorgeous gardens and house.
I love boxwood, too, and did the same thing you’ve done. Cuttings are so easy to take and grow, so it’s simple to enlarge a hedge or make a new one for free!
Joan,
I’m glad that you’re enjoying Chatsworth!
We are so similar it’s spooky! I love taking cuttings and as you say box is so easy. It’s also easy to transplant so I plan to take it with me when we move, I’ll tell whoever buys the house of course. I’ve been gathering seeds this year too because I got a shock when I saw the prices of some very common plants nowadays. Making a garden from scratch must cost a fortune!
I love that tree, it is somewhat defiant it in its survival.
Jo,
I agree, and the damage just makes it more unique too.
I really enjoyed this tour of Chatsworth! As lovely as the interior is I think I also preferred looking at the parkland. Maybe it is because I live in the desert and any time I see green, green gardens I am fascinated!
Anbolyn,
It’s amazing how much we just take the greenery for granted. I remember an American woman gasping over the landscape when I was on a PanAm plane which was landing in Glasgow years ago. As a 12 year old I couldn’t think what she was going on about! I love cacti so I’d like to see them growing naturally but I know I couldn’t stand the desert for long!
I visited Chatsworth about 2 years ago Katrina and loved it! There is such alot to see, there was some wonderful sculptures in the garden – I seem to remember a huge baby lying on its side – not sure if it is still there, what a day out. I’m off to Derbyshire any minute now for the weekend, will comment on my blog when I return, thankyou for looking!
Michelle,
As you say, there’s loads to see at Chatsworth. I think we’ll be visiting Derbyshire and Chatsworth again. I didn’t see a huge baby but we didn’t get around everything, I’m sure. You’re lucky that it isn’t such a long way for you to travel. I’m looking forward to your blogposts!
I have returned from Derbyshire, this time we visited a very different house from Chatsworth! Actually the contrasting houses would be good to see in the same visit. Calke Abbey was a beautiful country house and gardens but now shows the dramatic decline of these houses as happened in the twentieth century. It is known as the ‘unstately home’! Some rooms have been somewhat renovated but the rest show the house as found in the 1980’s with peeling plaster and an amazing clutter of ‘stuff’ horded by a very eccentric family. There is also a lovely walled kitchen garden to see. The first time I saw it I found it a little depressing but this time appreciated it in a whole new way. Next time you are down this way check it out!
Michelle,
I definitely will check out Calke Abbey next time. I remember reading about it years ago but I didn’t realise that it’s in Derbyshire. The county seems to be stuffed full with large houses I think we’ll have to make a list of places to visit in Derbyshire for the next time! Thanks.