The Footsteps of Giants

Charming discussion at Charleston Farmhouse as part of their garden festival focusing on the gardens of four iconic female gardeners

Annie Guilfoyle ably chaired the event and was  joined by Rebecca Lemonius, custodian of Long Barn (where Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson created their first garden); Julia Boulton, Beth Chatto’s granddaughter and CEO of Beth Chatto Plants and Garden and Claire Greenslade, former Head Gardener at Hestercombe Gardens designed by Gertrude Jekyll.

Amongst the exchange of ideas they discussed what it was like to manage a historic garden and how they felt the influence of their predecessors. Lemonius said the wonderful quote of Vita “I hear her words but they are written”. Greenslade remarked on bad decisions made by Jeykll which they have to live with like planting in walls which breaks them.

As ever the questions at Charleston were insightful and fun. 

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