we visited Tintinhull today. I’ve wanted to see it for many years, having read Penelope Hobhouse extensively and seen her using it as her laboratory. Obviously the house and setting is beautiful and the bones of the garden set out by Mrs Reiss are there and wonderful.
In fact, although the planting is lovely, particularly the pots, it is the symmetrical and straight-lined elegance of the layout that inspires the most. Every line is meticulously planned, every line of sight ends in something pleasing and hedges and walls divide the space up into elegantly proportioned spaces. It’s harmonious, that’s what.
I think the planting, although there’s lots to covet and admire is a bit old fashioned, but the pots are really lovely and have made me resolve to ‘do better’ next year. My pots are boring monoculture I realise.
They also had LOTS of scented leaf pelargoniums, which I love and never grow enough of, and besides I lost a load in last year’s greenhouse debacle, so more of those too.
Ruby&Ruch 