How Does Your Garden Grow?

With silver bells and cockle shells and pretty maids all in a row

For our latest collection we step through the gate of Lock Cottage and wander down the winding brick patch to the glorious garden beyond. Come with us to explore the wonderful world beyond the garden gate. 

Lock's Garden

Lock Cottage stands tall with ivy growing over it's weathered walls and bunches of fuchsias hanging from baskets on the veranda, spilling over in an abundant display. A kaleidoscope of butterflies fluttering from flower to flower. A small bird floats down from the chimney disappearing into the Dovecote nestled amongst the trees. As you wander around the cottage towards the gate you pass by the pond, you see the movements of small fish hidden beneath the surface whilst dragonflies dance over the water. 

You continue on the way, the smell of the flowers in the distance growing stronger. You reach the the old garden gate, unlocking the ornate Verdigris padlock and taking in the beauty of the gardens beyond.

Looking over the garden you spot the greenhouse in the distance. Standing tall with beautiful ornate detail, overflowing with rare orchids, vines and cacti, their delicate structures growing tall and strong, protected from the winters frosts. 

The Vegetable Patch

As you walk up the path you venture into the vegetable garden. The wooden garden beds are overflowing with an abundance of vegetable. Purple radishes, carrots, cabbages and more are all lined up and ready for harvest. On closer inspection you spot Colette the Caterpillar meandering over one of the cabbage leaves, nibbling lacy patterns into the leaves as she goes. Pea shoots grow high, winding their way up the willow frames, their pods waiting to be picked ready for the first picnic of the summer.

The Cutting Garden

Looking beyond the vegetable garden you spot the cutting garden, a rainbow of flowers growing high and low. Your eye is immediately drawn to the Rembrandt tulips, rows of bold and brilliant pink flowers with flame like streaks of colour adorning the petals. As you brush past the myriad of flowers, butterflies are disturbed from their resting place, floating up, catching the breeze before landing back into the safety of the sea of colourful petals. 

The Walled Garden

Leaving the beautiful gardens and exploring past the tall stone wall, you enter the walled garden. A tranquil space that feels separate from the rest of the world, the only sound you hear is the trickle of the water fountain and the distant chirping of birds in the trees beyond. Delicate pansies line the the border of the walled garden, their vibrant purple and yellow petals striking against the grey stone. Elegant irises grow tall, protected from the winds beyond. Trellises are dotted along the walls, with sweet peas growing up and over the walls unable to be contained, the tiny delicate petals in pink, purple and blue cascading over the top. 

The small hidden shed is tucked away, with an array of seeds and gardening tools. The gardeners trusty watering can sits full of water, ready to give his plants a drink after a day in the warm summer sun. 

The Meadow

Leaving the walled garden you are immediately in a small wildflower meadow, the air humming with the sound of bees busily buzzing between the flowers. A pink gingham cloth is laid out with the remnants of a summers day picnic. Ladybirds land on the cloth mistaking the bright cloth for flowers, ants roam over looking for a crumb or two and daisies picked from the meadow sit ready to be turned into daisy chains. 

The Orchard

When you pull yourself away from the picnic, you can wander through the tall apple trees in the orchard. Looking up into the branches small birds with striking blue wings flit around collecting twigs for their nests. Fallen apples lay in the grass, with beetles climbing over them, their iridescent wings glinting in the dappled shade of the trees. Dotted throughout the orchard bunches of Lily of the Valley have popped up, soaking in the sun. 

Author: Eve Lynch

Illustrations: Jasmine Ataç