Great Comp Garden Tour

On 25th September, 17 members of Brenchley & Matfield Horticultural Society set off for a guided tour of Great Comp Garden.  The day was dry and sunny, unlike our original booking on the 3rd which was postponed due to torrential rain.  Great Comp is well known for the salvias grown there by William Dyson. William is a trustee for the Great Comp Charitable Trust and is also Curator of the gardens. William was unable to be with us but we were introduced to Christina who led the tour. Christina proved to be a most knowledgeable and informative guide and we all appreciated her most enjoyable talk as we progressed around the garden. Christina is the only employed gardener. Under William’s direction she leads teams of volunteers to maintain or regenerate the gardens.

 

Starting on the North Lawn, the front garden to the house, we were surrounded by salvias – short, tall, bushy and herbaceous. Colours were just as varied, blues, reds, pinks and purples. One of the most striking was Roman Red, a new cultivar still being tested for winter hardiness.  We moved on through the “bambooserie”, ruins and follies to the crescent lawn, edged with borders colourful with dahlias and of course salvias. Seats were found everywhere inviting visitors to pause and enjoy different vistas in the garden. En route we heard that Downderry nursery has now closed. The lavenders have been relocated to Wisley, whilst their rosemary collection, part of the salvia genus, has found a new home at Great Comp.  As we continued to the Italian garden, we heard more of the magnificent trees planted throughout the garden. Finally we arrived at The Square at the rear of the house. Here looking towards the house you find two herbaceous borders flanking the lawn – cool on the left (the shady side) where purples and greys predominate and hot on the right (full sun) with dahlias, red-hot pokers and of course salvias included in the planting.  This was where Christina took her leave. She had given us a potted history of the origins of the house and garden, and a wonderful insight into the development of the gardens to the present day. With information along the way and many questions answered she made this a most enjoyable and memorable visit.

 

After a cup of tea and slice of cake we checked out the nursery before heading home with our newly acquired salvias.