Cauldron Corner

Herb Gardens Across The UK
Poem by Walter de la Mare

The photo above was taken at the herb Garden in Hardstoft, intrigued by it I decided to find out where it came from and discovered that quote was a poem entitled 'The Sunken Garden'.

The gardens below although not exclusively herb gardens form part of larger gardens, and although they are not places that you can buy herbs from or obtain herb information they are pretty herb gardens. Useful for viewing if you're thinking of planting up a new herb bed, or just if you like wandering around fragrant herbal places. Some of the old gardens like at Hardwick Hall also provide a chance to see old herbs that aren't commonly grown anymore. Although not warranting a page of their own each of the following is well worth a mention and a visit if you get the chance.

Calke Abbey - Ticknall, Derbyshire The herb bed forms part of a walled kitchen garden full of old fruit trees and old vegetables. The tall yellowy shrub is a golden bay tree, the border has lovage, angelica, thymes, sages, marjorams, rosemary, lavenders, chives and various other herbs. This is a National Trust property.
	Hardwick Hall - Doe Lea, Chesterfield, Derbyshire Not far from 'The Herb Garden' lies Hardwick Hall home of Bess of Hardwick, another National Trust property like Calke Abbey, the herb garden is huge divided by walkways the first section was bare as it was being rennovated. The large leafy mound is rhubarb, the poles have a variety of hops climbing up them. All the familiar culinary herbs were there as well as some unusual herbs like camphor plant and old herbal delights such as Skirret and Good King Henry that I'd never seen before.
Elvaston Castle Country Park, Thulston Derbyshire The herb garden at Elvaston is in the corner of the re-created 'Olde English' garden. On the day we visited it was fenced off from the public due to being rennovated, will go back again in a few months and see how it's developed. Elvaston Castle has some lovely walks and the rest of the garden is well worth a look.

The Sunken Garden
(By Walter De La Mare)

Speak not - whisper not;
Here bloweth thyme and bergamot;
Softly on the evening hour,
Secret herbs their spices shower.
Dark-spiked rosemary and myrrh,
Lean-stalked, purple lavendar;
Hides within her bosom, true,
All her sorrows, bitter rue.

Breathe not - trespass not;
Of this green and darkling spot,
Latticed from the moon's beams,
Perchance a distant dreamer dreams;
Perchance upon its darkening air,
The unseen ghosts of children fare,
Faintly swinging, sway and sweep,
Like lovely sea-flowers in the deep;
While, unmoved, to watch and ward,
Stands with bowed and dewy head
That one little leaden Lad.