Christopher Lloyd loved colour, and as I stand on the upper pathway of the Sunk Garden, here at Great Dixter, I notice the pops of colour from the spires of pink-purple Lythrum and terracotta-orange Crocosmia all around me.
Designed by Nathaniel Lloyd, Christopher Lloyd’s father, after WW1, this south-facing and sheltered sunken garden is enclosed by two barns, a magnificent yew hedge and a wall on the southern boundary, thus creating its own micro-climate and the plants love it!
Standing at the northern section on the upper level, visitors can admire the overall design – a collection (some very choice) of trees, shrubs, grasses, perennials, annuals and bulbs set within a rectangular, terraced framework. Steps lead down to the focal point, a formal waterlily pond, the warm-pink of the waterlilies setting the tone for the surrounding colour scheme.
The garden, as always, is lush, and as visitors step through the archway into the garden, the imagery before them takes their breath away. It’s just so beautiful.
What did I see? I saw the tall foliage and flowers spilling across pathways; the shimmering of heat; the shadows; the stillness; the reflections and glimmer of the sun on the surface of the pond; the insects darting and humming; and the vast array of exciting planting merging together as a whole, thus creating – to my mind – a contemporary and harmonious work of garden art. Just Gorgeous!
Anna L
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I love your description of the sunken garden at Great Dixter Anna. It’s very evocative of the variety and lushness of the planting. The head gardener, Fergus Garett and his team do a fantastic job to keep up Christopher Lloyd’s creative ethos. I’ve visited quite a few gardens this year and Great Dixter is definitely my favourite.
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