An Addition to the visit from Brockweir, Hewelsfield and St Briavels Garden Society’s feedback
The group leader now points out to me that I only asked about the people who didn’t appreciate the garden: the majority did like it. And she asked me to add a new last paragraph, which is below.
Late evening sun in August
A Tour Group Leader: (with permission)
It was generally the people who are “controlling” in their own gardens that didn’t like it, they admired parts of it, especially the reflecting pool. They seemed to find the very formal structure of the hedges and clipped trees juxtaposed with very informal planting hard to cope with. Some of them have liked both separately in other gardens, it is just the two together that they found disconcerting.
They didn’t like the “grass” parterre at all (which I absolutely loved) because, would you believe it, of lack of colour. I have always disliked mass planting of grasses but done as a parterre it is wonderful. If space permitted I would absolutely love to do the same with all the “grasses” that can be used in basket making including the day lilies, irises and crocosmia.
View to the Grasses Parterre
Some didn’t like the getting lost/how do I get out of here element which only a first time visitor will experience.
Two people who have visited before said it is a garden that definitely grows on you, it is so unique it’s a bit of a challenge to one’s perceived ideas of what a garden should be like, on a second meeting it is much more “friendly”.
Really got people talking which is good in itself.
Addition: “My lasting memory of Veddw is the very first glimpse of it as you approach from above. Nothing prepares you for this, no reviews, no photographs (sorry Charles), nothing. What you see is a garden with definite boundaries, made up of individual elements, some if which are quite unique. The real magic is, however, the way in which these individual elements combine together to form a wonderful tapestry that fits perfectly into the surrounding countryside. Love it.”
The Coppice
Another Tour Group Leader (2017) (with her permission)
Thank you for allowing us to visit your truly amazing wonderful garden. It was great for me as I received much praise for ending our tour on such a fascinating thought provoking note…everyone was tired and your garden WOKE them up! Thank you Charles for an brilliant introduction and the most excellent map.
A few comments…
The professional gardeners agreed they started off with their hands twitching to reach out and cut back and weed! But said they soon stopped noticing and appreciated the natural exuberant feel. I think that’s quite a compliment! Everyone adored the use of plant contrasts of colour shape and texture, and said they were inspired to try some at home.
They liked the vistas you have created and the lovely views out of the garden.
I just loved the little plants in the patio and conservatory and once I had dragged the reluctant other half from the patio and his book he admitted “Charles Garden” was truly something startling and he really liked it. Especially as he has recently learned what a Heuchera is. He was very pleased with himself.
Nothing negative …everyone appreciated you have created something very personal to you and the site.
By the way I am not really a “flatterer” I am quite cynical and critical… which is why I like your writing.
While I am not brave enough to have coach parties Anne, I do have visitors to the garden. The best feedback I got was from a 5 year old – who went running down a path and then returned to her Mother saying “It is a silly path – it doesn’t go anywhere”.
She was right, and the following year I changed that bit of the garden. “Out of the mouths of babes” and all that!
One day, one day I will get to Veddw
K
We need lots more Babes and Sucklings!
This is a test comment.
That arrived. xxx
It’s that plan you give out wot’s the problem. I’ve helped people who were holding it upside down. If you were to add in photos of the front and back of the house, they’d be able to work out which half of the garden they were standing in (possibly on their heads).
Every time I give out a plan I show people where they are on it. Xxx
you see – constructive critique lobbed back. This man has a valid point, people forget things. Can’t you just write a note on each plan to show the position and then it will be another little problem sorted.
xx
Thanks but that doesn’t make sense!
I think writing a little note on the 1000 odd plans I have would be rather over the top for a problem I’m not 100% sure exists. John is a bit hyper critical at times…
I think you misspelled the word “thinkin” on your website. If you want to keep errors off of your site we’ve successfully used a tool like SpellPros.com in the past for our websites. A nice customer pointed out our mistakes so I’m just paying it forward :).
That was no misspelling.