Garden Sentries

Garden ornaments, when paired, are Bossy…but in a good way.

When we glimpse a ribbon of grass that’s flanked by a duo of obelisks, or spy a terrace that’s guarded by a couple of statues, we’re involuntarily drawn toward those spaces. Even a single decorative feature, such as a flower-filled bucket, is transformed into an influential design declaration, when it finds its mate. Twinned Ornaments become Portals; they pique curiosity, indicate direction, and invite movement.

Buscot Park covers over 200 acres, in Oxfordshire. The gardens, which were established in 1782, have always been celebrated for their innovations in design. Under the guidance of Lord Faringdon, the present occupant, the Park continues to evolve, in surprising ways. Long walkways criss-cross the grounds: the terminus of every path is marked by a pair of imposing antique ornaments. Courtesy of nanquick.com

The Queen’s Jubilee Rose Garden, at Titsey Place, in Surrey, is relatively new, having been established in 2002. At the southern entrance, lichen-covered cherubs invite us inside, as they also bestow a feeling of antiquity upon an adolescent garden. Courtesy of nanquick.com

At little-known Doddington Place, which is nestled into the North Downs of Kent, there’s an abundance of great horticulture and clever ideas. In the walled gardens which are closest to the imposing Victorian mansion, a rhythmic use of pairs of simple copper planters marks the route, away from the house, and toward the 10 acres of gardens. Courtesy of nanquick.com