Page 3
Because the hedges and almond trees were already mature, the new white garden quickly assumed an air of maturity; this added to its appeal with the public, and it has remained the most popular of Sissinghurst's gardens. The color scheme has often been imitated, but the imitations are rarely as successful. This is partially because when most people plant a white garden, they focus on white blooms; while Sissinghurst's white garden always reflected the vision that Harold had for it when he wrote in 1949 that he pictured the garden "as cineraria in masses, rabbit's ears in masses, lad's love, santolina and the whole background being predominantly as gray as rabbit's ears, then out of this jungle I wish reagale" lilies to rise. Harold also wished for the white garden to have a touch of color; he suggested the pink of china roses, but he supported Vita's decision to add a touch of yellow. Such touches make the difference between a garden being a collection of plants, and a garden as a work of art.
In my next article, I will focus on the plants in the white garden.
Bibliography
Bibliography
Featured Course: Women Gardeners |
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Kirk Johnson's Garden Design topic, please visit the Discussions page.