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Thursday, May 27, 2010

National Gardens Scheme Visit

Today we enjoyed a visit from the National Gardens Scheme second Hampstead Garden Suburb Arts and Crafts tour "to see four wonderful hidden treasures in this unusual Arts and Crafts ‘village’ tucked away on the edge of Hampstead Heath.

There’s still a country feel to this part of North London, founded in 1907 by Dame Henrietta Barnett to bring healthy living to all. The influences of Edwin Lutyens are everywhere and we will stop by one of his churches, St Judes, to see the famed Arts and Crafts murals.

Our four gardens are a designer’s picture-perfect garden in rich plums, pinks, purples and blues; an artist’s traditional garden given contemporary twists; a garden where topiary is taken to a new dimension; plus a garden with a long wisteria clad pergola and the definitive feel of Jekyll and Lutyens.

We will take lunch at Kenwood House in the Old Kitchen, with time to admire the view from the long terrace and see whether the enormous Handkerchief tree is out, and maybe browse inside and enjoy the paintings."