Year of the Border marked in North Yorkshire garden
Newby Hall Gardens marked the Year of the Border with its famous double herbaceous border – one of the longest in the country – reaching maturity. The 172-metre-long border, containing about 6,500 plants, has been a highlight of Newby’s 25-acre gardens since the 1920s.
In 2013, refurbishment work began and thousands of new plants were propagated and planted up in a new, more naturalistic design by Newby Hall Gardens’ expert team. Star plants in the two-metre-deep border include Agapanthus, Aster, Campanula, Eryngium, Iris, Persicaria, Salvia, Sedums and Veronicastrum.
Pastels offset with magenta and lime
Drifts of softer pastels were strengthened by vibrant lilacs, magenta pink, lime green, claret and silver, all colours reflected in the trees beyond. Architectural plants contrasted with the more traditional cottage garden favourites to give an entire season of colour and interest.
The scale of the border meant that staking the plants in the spring takes three days. Cutting it back in the autumn takes more than a fortnight!
Newby Hall Gardens, near Ripon, is one of the country’s most important and beautiful 20th-century gardens. It has 14 ‘rooms’ within the main, formal garden, including an early 20th-century rock garden, white garden, traditional rose garden and even a ‘hot’ tropical garden.
Other things to see at Newby Hall Gardens
- Silent Space: Sylvia’s Garden is the regular silent space and other quiet areas are highlighted throughout the season.
- Riverboat trips and train rides: Down the River Ure and rides on the Newby Hall Miniature Railway.
- Events calendar: See the website for further details.
- Harrogate Autumn Flower Show: The three-day event in September has monster veg and fabulous blooms. Visit www.flowershow.org.uk for more details.
Newby Hall Gardens is also home to the National Collection of Cornus (Dogwoods) and a New World Salvia collection. It has one of the most historic and diverse orchards in the North of England, planted in 1897.
For more information, visit www.newbyhall.com.
