Bourton House Garden is one of the best kept secrets of the Cotswolds. The most famous garden in this region is Hidcote which attracts coach loads of visitors from London so can often be a little overcrowded. No problems here. This 3 acre garden surrounding an 18C Manor House is much quieter. Located only a short distance out of Moreton-in-Marsh it is also close to the Batsford Arboretum and Sezincote and a very decent pub.
Manor House
The entrance to the gardens is through a magnificent Grade I listed 16C Tithe Barn where you will find merchandise for the home and garden and a pretty decent tea-room.
My visit to this garden was in early June in a year when spring was late in arriving, so there were lots of spring flowers in bloom. It is a plantsman’s garden with unusual, rare and exotic delights. Deep herbaceous borders highlight textures and colour combinations and there are terraces and topiary to provide interest. The Topiary Walk leads into the White Garden, attractively designed around a shallow square pond.
The White Garden
Deep herbaceous borders
Pathways lead you through to the lawn behind the early 18th century house facing the beautiful raised walk which in turn provides panoramic vistas over the Cotswold countryside. Deep herbaceous borders surround the lawn area.
18th Century Raised Walk
Vista
Orchard
From here you wander past a Shade House and splendid Knot Garden complete with 19th century statues.
The Knot Garden
In the centre of the Knot Garden is a pretty basket-weave pond from the 1851 Great Exhibition, complete with two more elegant herons by Michael Lythgoe. A pretty Fountain Garden brings you to the front of the house and a parterre.
Parterre with Gazebo by Richard Overs
With lots of interesting plants and features to explore your visit can be much longer than you might expect for a small garden. And in addition to the gardens themselves there is a small glasshouse containing succulents and a Brewhouse with containers and more topiary outside.
Late summer is supposed to be a good time to visit as the garden flourishes when many have run their course, but spring certainly has its own beauties to enjoy.
More lovely walks can be found over at my friend Jo’s place.
Earth laughs in flowers 
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Such a lovely walk, Jude. The gardens are really gorgeous and I love the Basket pond. The Parterre is stunning, but must take a lot of upkeep.
That basket pond is gorgeous – I have never seen anything like it. Overall a very interesting garden for its size. We really do have some great gardens in the UK.
When I got to the Knot Garden, I think my jaw dropped!! … then the Parterre!!. All I could think was – THE WORK!! The end result is very spectacular though 🙂
Ah, how nice it would be to afford a gardener 🙂
Looking at the condition of my yard right now, I couldn’t agree more!