The garden at Hardy's Cottage
- Published:
- 14 July 2024
Wander through the traditional cottage garden that inspired the young Thomas Hardy. You’ll be greeted by a space that is beautiful all year long. Come in the spring for swathes of bluebells, summer for roses for and in the autumn to amble through the orchard.
The Kitchen garden
Take a stroll through seasonal fruit and veg in a kitchen garden that is tended to by volunteer gardeners. Look out for beds bursting with onion, leek, runner beans, potatoes and polinator friendly flowers to attract bees. The herb garden is close to the kitchen door, it offers the scent of lavender, angelica, lovage, calendula, mint and thyme which intensify in the sun or rainfall.
The orchard
The orchard is a serene and picturesque space that is home to a variety of fruit trees, including apple and pear. The orchard not only offers a glimpse into the natural beauty that inspired Hardy’s writing but also provides a haven for wildlife, including bees and birds.
Roses
Summer is a great time to visit the garden when it becomes filled with roses blooming in shads of pink, red, yellow and orange. As you wind your way through the fragrant paths you can see varieties including Maidens Blush and Tuscany Superb. The front door of the cottage is framed by magnificent Albéric Barbier. Hardy's Cottage is celebrated for it's roses and Hardy himself mentioned them often in his work.
Bluebells
Bluebells carpet the orchard at the end of April beginning of May.
Bee friendly garden
There is a bee colony in Hardy’s Cottage garden, where abundant tree pollen is available. The bees benefit from the orchard’s fruit blossoms, access to the allotment and bluebells in early spring.
