Black Horse Cottage

The visit to Mrs Pugh’s garden at Black Horse Cottage in Hickling on 3 July was a pleasure. The garden was immaculately presented thanks to to the professional help of her neighbour and a local firm and the island beds, set in brilliant green lawns with their many yards of neatly trimmed edges, showed off the plants to excellent effect. Everything appeared in proportion, nothing seemed blowsy or overgrown. This must be due not only to rigorous selection but also to heavy cutting-back early in the season.

One interesting feature among many was the the planting of low, narrow, serpentine hedges – laurel or hornbeam – at the back of the more peripheral islands to create a dense back-drop. The effect was of a theatre stage for the plantings and focussed the eye on the plant performance.

Also, members were fortunate in that the garden was beautifully lit for most of the afternoon. The storm clouds kept at bay and only for a few brief moments were guests obliged to take their tea – prepared and served by the NGT – in the commodious barn, which was as spotlessly kept as the garden it served. When excessive exuberance and natural gardening is the vogue, Black Horse Cottage
was a delight [and a reassurance] to the tidy gardener.