ROUSHAM HOUSE & GARDEN

I adore the grounds of Rousham.  I think it is my favorite English garden.  It's been ages since I've posted anything--shoulder surgery, old job ended, new job started.  So on this beautiful Sunday afternoon, I thought it was time to post something and selfishly, I wanted to take a little walk through Rousham on a cloudy day, because I'm here in Arizona on a sunny 82 degrees day.

The Rousham garden is the work of William Kent.  One of the things famous about Rousham is a letter written by a gardener by the name of Clary who worked with Kent and later wrote to the newest Rousham owner.  The letter is a written guided tour describing the beautiful grounds to the absent owner, in hopes that he would appreciate the beauty and be tempted to visit.

                                          Gorgeously restored bench - six in all

Our tour of Rousham was led by my Oxford tutor, Richard Bisgrove.  He read bits and pieces from Clary's letter as we roamed the grounds and now I am realizing I need to get a copy of that letter.

                                                                   Rousham House

                                                                    The Gladiator

                                                               This urn is perfection

                                                         The Praeneste Terrace

                                         Look at those wall colors! And isn't that bench glorious?

                                                                  A tempting path
                                   

                                              A pretty garden rill winding through the grounds                                                                

                                                Arches and gates make my heart leap

                                                Arches and urns also make my heart leap

                                                       Another refreshing water feature

                                                            A peek at the big house

               Killer combo of mottled walls, cascading roses, purple and white lupine, chartreuse leaves.                        

                                                   Yellow roses climbing up the dovecote

                                           (Never peek or breathe inside an active dovecote)

                                                           Spectacular orange flowers
                           
                                               This little tour was just what I needed today