On Monday many of you joined me for a walk at Seaton Sluice, on the Northumberland coast. There I discovered a wonderful piece of shoreline, but my real purpose that day was to make a return visit to Seaton Delaval Hall.
It was August last year, on a cool, turning to dampish day, that I first saw these gardens. I knew then that I’d be back. As luck would have it, I was just in time to rescue the water lilies from the mischievous fingers of a small boy. Caught in the act!
The frog needed to take a tougher stance
Water and small boys. Inevitable temptation! But let’s wander elsewhere. There are plenty of temptations in this garden, and even a small nursery where you might find a little something to add to your collection. The house and gardens are owned by the National Trust, and the bank of volunteer gardeners are highly enthusiastic about their subject. Gardener Chris Brock keeps a blog which enthusiasts among you might like.
The Hall is a lovely backdrop to the Rose Garden
With roses dating back to the 1950s
This is my ‘best in show’
The borders thickly weave their spell, in subtle but beautiful swathes of colour. Here and there, an unapologetic ‘show off’ plant. If you’ve got it…
Flaunt it!
You might remember that the ‘Gay Delavals’ liked a little flaunting. They were fond of masquerade balls and staged their own theatrical productions. An invitation to one of their parties might have included anything from rope dancers to a sack race in these beautiful gardens. I browsed a little… sniffing here, sniffing there.
Here’s another Bobby Dazzler, as my Mam would say
The gardens were designed by Sir John Vanbrugh and include everything from French formal design to the landscape style of Capability Brown. The National Trust is working hard to make these gardens a success, and throughout the summer there are 15- minute Table Top talks from the gardeners and guided walks through the grounds. You can even join a Teddy Bears Picnic, if you’ve a mind. Full details of events are on the website.
A rose bower, anyone?
And the ever present house
I hope you’ve enjoyed my garden tour, and if you’re ever in the area you make an effort to see Seaton Delaval Hall for yourself. Next Thursday I will be taking you inside the house on a follow up to Restoration. I’ll say goodbye for now with a nod from the poppies.
Just a little more flamboyance
restlessjo 
Beautiful blooms!
LikeLike
They were! It’s pouring today so they definitely won’t be thirsty! 🙂
LikeLike
Hi Jo, I missed this post for some strange reason, but all I can think is ‘oh to be in England on a summer’s day’. Just glorious, I can almost smell the roses 🙂
LikeLike
It really was, Sherri! Wouldn’t be much fun today in the rain 😦 But the smells would still be wonderful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wet and grey here too Jo…
LikeLike
I wonder if it’s raining in Hamburg? Rafa’s playing there this week. Might cheer me up 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A place to wander and wonder and sniff. Fabulous photos, Jo. 🙂
LikeLike
Hello Julie 🙂 How nice of you to visit! Thanks a lot 🙂
LikeLike
Always a pleasure, Jo. 🌺
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sheer gorgeousness Jo! It is the free form borders that I am drawn to most. Your closing shot of the red poppies is stunning.
LikeLike
Just something about poppies, Madhu! I love all that flouncing around 🙂 Many thanks, hon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That gorgeous garden definitely needed its own post Jo, just stunning photos. Are you originally a “Yorkshire Lass” Jo? I wondered when you said “bobby dazzler” and you say “Mam” not “Mum” which is how I referred to my Mam and I still call myself “Mam” to my children…
LikeLike
No, we’re north easterners on Mam’s side, Pauline. Mam is in common usage round here but I more often write Mum because I don’t really like ‘me Mam’. Thanks and happy weekend to you! 🙂
LikeLike
“Me Mam” brings back all sorts of memories for me Jo….Happy weekend back to you too…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I occasionally wonder how deep man-made garden ponds are built. Lily stalks can grow quite deep. Could be an interesting place for members of the Royal Family and aristocracy to hide things.
LikeLike
Maybe I should go back with a long handled fishing net? 🙂 🙂
LikeLike
What beautiful gardens, Jo. And I haven’t heard the saying Bobby Dazzler for years! For some reason I thought it was uniquely Australian – but I must be wrong 😉
LikeLike
Just one of my many mum-isms, Dianne 🙂
LikeLike
What an enjoyable walk through this beautiful garden, Jo. Gorgeous roses. Love this gallery. 🙂
LikeLike
We were lucky to have a lovely day, Amy, and the garden was looking at its best. 🙂
LikeLike
I can see these flowers were happily responding to the beautiful day. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gorgeous photos – love your best in show!
LikeLike
Thanks, Susan 🙂 She was a real beauty!
LikeLike
love the lushness of the roses, peony and poppies – thank you for such a refreshing breaktime!
LikeLike
Happy to oblige! 🙂 Thanks for your visit.
LikeLike
Lovely gardens!
LikeLike
Thank you! 🙂 🙂
LikeLike
Now that’s a garden! THe colors are simply jewel-like! I love the water lilies, too, and I can never see them without thinking of our friend, Christine W. and her love of the lilies and lotus. I sure can see why you wanted to return to Seaton Dalaval Hall gardens, Jo. It’s very special.
LikeLike
We are so lucky when it comes to gardens, Debbie! We don’t have to travel far to see some fine ones. When I first saw the Hall, in its scaffolding, the garden was just a bonus. The house drew all my pity. Now the two are about level on points 🙂
LikeLike
Spectacular, Jo! Outdoes the mansion. I learned about box gardens when I was a tour guide in Plymouth – as the town grew, some of the more prosperous members of the community planted box gardens.
LikeLike
That must have been really interesting to do, Noelle! You would learn so much- I’d love it 🙂 And the opportunity to chat to people about lovely places. My kind of job. I’m waving my pink umbrella! 🙂
LikeLike
A beautifully written post Jo, with a beautiful muse. That house does more for formal gardens than Wilanow does: it has a bit of fading humility, which can’t be said for the Polish palace. The flowers are beautiful to an inhabitant of winter, although spring flowering is beginning by the road and the air is warmer. I’ll have a rose bower and a Bobby Dazzler please!
LikeLike
The house dug itself into my heart when I first saw it encased in scaffolding, Meg. It was quite cold then too. Now, in the proper glow of a summer’s day, it has relaxed a little and the gardens have blossomed. We had the loveliest day, with first the coast and then here.
I never saw Wilanow other than through your eyes. My friend Viveka (My guilty pleasures) has just come back from Warsaw and I shall be going to hers soon for a verdict.
The Bobby Dazzler is all yours 🙂
LikeLike
A “Bobby Dazzler”……..haven’t heard that one in a very long while. 🙂 Beautiful garden walk, Jo. Thanks for pointing out all the beauty there. That house is just so magnificent, and the poppies were a great way to finish up the tour. xx
LikeLike
I was going to do a house and garden combined post, Ad, but there was just too much. And I wanted to show off my Bobby Dazzlers 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It doesn’t seem to get more English than rose gardens with box hedges. How fun it would have been to see a theatrical production amidst those blooms during the heyday of the Delavals.
LikeLike
I gather they were quite scandalous at times, but we’re adult enough to overlook that, aren’t we? The masks came in useful 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a beautiful garden Jo. I would definitely enjoy a wander about through it.
LikeLike
Hello Colline! I’m on Jude’s blog and was just about to pop over when I spotted you in her comments. And here you are! 🙂 Summoned by the WP genie 🙂 Hope all’s well with you. Enjoying Summer break?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am Jo. I am enjoying the rest and have let go of some of my fatigue 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This looks like a true gem, Jo. Stunning photos, now a visit is our my list, thank you. Although I live abroad, we’re member of the National Trust and I love to plan short trips where we can visit NT properties. Now what would you recommend to combine with one the next time go up North?
Love and hugs from Norway and Norfolk,
Dina and the rest of the gang x
LikeLike
Thanks a lot, Dina 🙂 If you saw my Monday walk, this is only half a mile inland from some beautiful beaches. Or you could head north into Northumberland to Cragside (also NT, I believe). The history of electricity in that house is fascinating, not to mention the gardens. Then there’s Dunstanburgh Castle and a wonderful coastal walk. Is that enough options? 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great, thanks a lot for this lovely suggestions, Jo! There’s nothing like getting personal tips from someone familiar with the locations so this is highly appreciated.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
Dina and the girls in Norway and our Master in Norfolk x
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a fabulous garden portrait Jo. So many lovely colourful flowers and what a pretty formal rose garden! I do like your ‘best in show’ hope it was perfumed! I must get out to a garden soon but it has been very cloudy here all week. And I am sure the waterlilies were grateful for your rescue – I hope the parents were close by, those tots were awfully close to the water.
LikeLike
The parents were lounging in deck chairs! I’m practising for your Garden challenge, Jude. Did I pass? 🙂
LikeLike
I’d say you excelled! I am very worried…
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a fantastic post Jo and a splendid garden, I want to see it! Your flower photos are gorgeous. There seem to be some things flowering late, irises for instance and did I spot rhodies? The roses and delphiniums are beauties, but what I love most is the pudding trees around the box garden 🙂 they are a real delight xx
LikeLike
I was quite surprised the rhodies were still in bloom, Gilly. Glad you like the pudding trees- that’s a great way to describe them 🙂 I almost didn’t post that pic because it’s a bit blurry 🙂
LikeLike