The South Garden was originally laid out in the 19th century by Emmetts’ owner Frederick Lubbock, a passionate plantsman who chose this spot to place some of his most extraordinary species.
Rare and exotic plants were collected from China on plant huntsman expeditions and arranged as a garden art form. This ‘gallery exhibition’ allowed visitors to see past, through and under each specimen, catching a glimpse of other plants in the distance and the landscape beyond.
Returning to the original
When a garden’s owner passes away it doesn’t take long for their original design to become clouded. Throughout the mid-twentieth century much of the South Garden was allowed to grow untamed. Some rhododendrons have grown 45 feet high and 60 feet wide.
In 2007 a box of antique black and white images was discovered at our neighbouring property, Chartwell. They showcased the South Garden in the 1920s. Underpinned by historic maps and literature, we were able to compare the garden then and now. Over the next few years our aim is to restore Lubbock’s original design.
A long term project
We started in 2014, reducing those huge plants and taking out the extra layers around the originals. We look at exactly what’s there and decide what we want to cut or keep, giving us the opportunity to pick the best from the clusters that’ve sprung up.