Structure and views

From December through February, the garden is calmer, but it is far from empty. Winter suits anyone who enjoys structure, light and big skies. 

“Over winter there is less colour, but you still have the structure of the box parterres and many other evergreen plants,” says Phoebe. “The wisteria loses its leaves over winter but looks beautifully sculptural, especially once the winter prune has been completed.” You’ll also be able to enjoy some very early narcissi in February. These small, bright flowers mark the moment when the garden starts to move back towards spring.

“The view is always amazing but during the winter the early sunsets are stunning,” Phoebe adds. Low sun picks out the lines of the pergolas, the clipped box and the seedheads of ornamental grasses, especially on frosty mornings. It’s a quieter season, but a good one for noticing how the garden is put together – and how it rests before the bulbs and wisteria start again.

Why visit in winter: come for clear views, early sunsets and the garden’s bare bones.