mWhile the formality of the Italian garden dominated the green spaces of the most sumptuous European royal residences, a movement arose in England that deconstructed gardens by drawing on the tradition of the “cottage garden” to conceive lively, colorful and (only apparently) disheveled spaces. A riot of flowers and trees that excite. A landscape style that is celebrated today in all its forms more creative variations during the famous Chelsea Flower Show.
This spring we invite you to discover the most beautiful English gardens with us, with a truly exceptional guide. The journey of iO Donna: London, the English Gardens and Chelsea Flower Show (4 days / 3 nights Departure 05/25/2023, 4* hotel, meals and guided tour) includes 4 stops that will drive green lovers crazy.
The Hampton Court maze
It starts from Hampton Royal Palace Court, in the London borough of Richmond upon Thames, built in the first half of the 16th century and occupied by Thomas Wolsey, King Henry VIII’s chief minister, until 1528. From 1528, King Henry VIII began to live here until it became one of his favorite residences. Today it is owned by Charles III. This mansion is famous for its gardens, from Private Garden still perfectly preserved today and famous for the famous twelve grids made by Jean Tijou which represent different parts of the reign of William III of England.
We will visit then the labyrinth designed by Capability Brown around 1700 in the shape of a trapezoid, it covers a third of a hectare and is the oldest hedge maze in the UK. We warn you, this labyrinth is famous for the confusion it generates in visitors, due to the path full of curves and dead ends, but don’t worry we will watch over you.
Kent Gardens
At Winston Churchill’s house
On the second day we will set off to discover Kent, the region south of London known as the “Garden of England” for its magnificent villas. Among these we will visit the suggestive Chartwell estatethe country house where Winston Churchill lived for over 40 years. Surrounded by a vast forest and several small thematic gardens that reflect the former premier’s love for nature. It is also interesting to visit the house and the various rooms inhabited by the British Prime Minister and his wife Clementine Hozier.
Cat lovers will not get excited discovering the love that Churchill had for his ginger cat Jock. In his will he demanded that even after his death a ginger cat named Jock was always supposed to live in the Chartwell house. And so it is now to this day. With a little luck we may meet Jock VII among the blooms.
Pictured is Jock VI, a resident of Chartwell in 2015. The first Jock cat was given to Churchill on his 88th birthday and when the Chartwell residence was donated to the nation it was requested that such a cat should always reside there. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
The Gardens of Vita Sackville West
The Elizabethan Tower of Sissinghurst Castle, 1930, designed by Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson, Kent, United Kingdom. (Getty Images)
The other unmissable garden that we will visit is that of Sissinghurst Castlea “refuge dedicated to beauty” created in the 1930s by Vita Sackville West, innovative poet and gardener. His volume “Garden Book” of 1968 (in Italian “Del Giardino” trad. A. Pizzetti Vettori, edited by Philippa Nicolson, Rizzoli, Milan, 1975) is an indispensable compendium for all garden lovers, novices or experts who they are.
The garden of Sissinghurst it is famous for its “room” gardens, each linked to a color or theme, such as the exciting White Garden. We don’t reveal too much because every corner reveals a surprise.
Sissinghurst Garden by Vita Sackville West, Kent. (Getty Images)
The Chelsea Flower Show with an outstanding guide
Inspired by so much beauty, we will dedicate the third day to the spectacular event Chelsea Flower Show, Britain’s largest flower show and one of the oldest, organized by the Royal Horticultural Society. In addition to discovering the magnificent offers of plants and bulbs (stock up on exhibitor contacts to then order comfortably from Italy), we will explore the most original part of this appointment: the exposed gardens. The most important landscape architects from all over the world challenge each other every year by creating small magical gardens around an innovative theme. Even Princess Kate Middleton made one.
To guide us we will have none other than the Italian landscape architect Filippo Desterin competition with his Hamptons Mediterranean Garden, of which he will reveal every detail, also allowing us to visit it (the gardens on display are normally closed to the public) and who will be on hand to answer any questions we may have about the gardens and plants.
Philip Dester’s garden
Without giving away too much of the surprise we can already anticipate that the Hamptons Mediterranean Garden will resemble the look, feel and smell of sunny Mediterranean landscapes. A peaceful place where architecture, full of sculptural features and warm textures, will blend with nature.
The palette of Mediterranean plants includes clouds of fragrant sub-shrubs, herbs and drought-tolerant ornamental perennials and everything is designed for a changing climate in which theconscious use of water is essential, it is ideal to encourage biodiversity and provide its inhabitants with edible fruits and herbs.
Kew Gardens glasshouses
The Temperate House at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, England contains over 10,000 plants, it is the largest Victorian glasshouse in the world. (Photo by Tim Graham/Getty Images)
To finish on a high note, we will say goodbye to London with a visit to the complex of Kew Gardens, a World Heritage Sitewhich thanks to magnificent Victorian greenhouses and the wide variety of trees, plants and flowers it is a veritable paradise for the senses.
Prepare comfortable shoes and notebooks for taking notes, impossible to resist the varieties of English roses that dot the meadows!
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