Really once you get beyond the security guards and fences, you would think you were at Hidcote Manor or Sissinghurst.
The emblem of St. Christopher is the Magnolia Tree and they are everywhere in the garden. St. Christopher, among his other responsibilities, is the patron saint of gardeners. Legend goes that he used a branch as a staff when crossing the raging river with the infant Jesus on his shoulders. On reaching the bank, the infant ordered that Christopher plant the staff on the bank. The staff sprang to life and flowered like Enchanted April.
The Garden of St. Christopher sits on a seven acre garden estate in Hyde Park. It is a "cool garden" of mostly blues and purples which I love. Clematis, delphiniums, digitalis. And there are 50 varieties of my other favorites, camellias!
Highlights include a Pergola and Parterre, an Oval Reflection Pond and Azalea Bowl, a Bird Garden, a Butterfly and Bee Garden, and a Meadow (!). There is also a shady Gem Walk lined with beautiful raw gem specimen "sculptures" and a Tiger's Eye Cascade.
a "natural" reflection pond ...
a formal pond ...
and the tiger's eye cascade.
the fern and gem walk
the parterre
and path to the ...
pergola
statuary in the meadow
the meadow
the bird garden
the butterfly garden attracts a red dragonfly
the house hidden from view
the "rare plant" nursery ... rare in South Africa that is ...
orchids for sale
a very English scene in the tea garden. They offered champagne and bruschetta, cappuccino and biscotti, tea and ...
scones. I like the presentation of these scones, complete with jam and cream.
The Garden of St. Christopher is open to the public on October 5 and 6. Park at the Hyde Park High School and take the free shuttle.
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