CHEEKY CHARLESTON FARM

by | Jun 15, 2017 | Cottage Garden, Garden Tour

Charleston Farm
CHARLESTON FARM

CHARLESTON FARM

 

I went to Charleston Farm to satisfy my interior design aspirations after seeing this image in an advert for Sanderson fabric a few years ago. It’s been on my bucket list ever since for its chalky colours and hand-painted designs. However, I was not expecting the garden to be so well kempt or charming but by lucky happenstance it has created this bonus blog. This visit was in mid-May 2017.

BLOOMSBURY SET

Charleston Farm was home of Vanessa & Clive Bell during WWII and a focal point for the Bloomsbury Set of which they were part of.  It continued to be lived in by at least one of them, until Duncan Grant’s death in the 1980’s. The pond at the front of the house pre-dates the group, however I believe is was enlarged and beautified by them during their tenure. 

INJECTION OF HUMOUR

Style wise it’s a traditional cottage garden surrounded by a flint wall, always a pleasing combination. However looking back at the images I am struck by the fact that it really demonstrates it’s possible to get humour into garden design without it being kitsch.

COTTAGE GARDEN STYLE

The planting is composed of the cottage garden favourites; foxgloves, delphiniums, stachys byzantina, alliums, tulips, euphorbia. Mauves and lavenders with pink and contrasting yellows of the euphorbia.
INJECTION OF HUMOUR
Cottage Garden Planting
THE PLANTING
THE PLANTING 2

CHEEKY

As you can see from the cover picture, the hedging and paving is more quirky in style, making it rather fun and no doubt reflecting the personalities of the previous occupants.

And is it my imagination or can I see the references to a lady’s bottom in this gorgeous planter!

 
CHARLESTON FARM
CHARLESTON FARM PLANTER
The Charleston Farm House is also delightful in its muted but colourfully eccentric interiors.  All in all, well worth a visit. www.charleston.org.uk. There is also Middle Farm, 5 minutes drive away, with a pretty and well stocked plant nursery, and a very impressive ceanothus hedge – so a good day out was had!