Autumn Special at Savill Garden, part 2

autumn crocus, colchicums, form the lower level on the woodland floor. Amongst russets and oranges, our tour treated us to the fiery reds of maples and the buttery yellows of witchhazels. The scented flowers of the latter were delightful, but more powerful was the Katsura tree which stopped us in our tracks with its strong toffee caramel scent which brought back memories of a similar tree enjoyed at Highgrove. (We were interested to learn that the Head Gardener of Highgrove was trained at Savill Garden). The garden contains many rare trees, and our attention was drawn to a pterocarya fraxinifolia with its ash type leaves, growing alongside a vintage oak. Several trees form climbing frames for other plants like a magnificent wisteria, a monstrous Montana, and a vine, clothing its host tree in a voluptuous cloak of red and orange. Beds of hydrangeas gave a variety of colour through pink, red, white and blue. In the Formal Area we enjoyed the rich deep colours of the herbaceous borders, planted to give a long season of interest through colour and form. A border full of dahlias gave a stunning show, with trees in the background complementing the reds and yellows. Roses, planted in single colour beds, made a bold impact. It was thought that the only thing missing from this formal area was a house, so, a 5 metre high wall was built to represent the wall of a house. It is actually built using bricks from houses destroyed in London's East End during the Blitz. The wall faces due south, providing the ideal backdrop for a wide range of wall shrubs and climbers, with nerines and alpines planted beneath. Drawf conifers form a permanent textured backdrop. In the Jubilee Garden is a striking modern water feature surrounded by pots of flowering and foliage plants with benches between. Created in 1978, this area is planted mainly for autumn colour, as is the Dry Garden nearby, giving further opportunity for diversity of planting with its herbs and airy grasses. Here an

Arbutus tree caught our eye with its splendid orange, flaky bark. More orange caught our eye as we headed for the Queen Elizabeth Temperate House, named for the Queen Mother. Pumpkins were arranged in groups for great visual impact. The Temperate House aims to 'bring the woodland garden under glass' and, to this end, is planted with broadleaved trees, rhododendrons and camellias, with ferns at their feet. We were lucky to be given a preview of a new water feature, waiting to be unveiled. Water forms a cyclone as it fills two copper bowls, eventually to overflow, revealing the beauty of the metal. A stunning gift from The Friends of Savill Garden. Savill Garden has many watercourses and, after crossing a bridge over one of these, we ended our tour by walking beside the lush planting along the edge of a pond. Our Special day was nearly over, but there was just time to browse in the gift shop and plant centre, before finishing with a 'Pathfinders tradition' of tea and cake in the restaurant.

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