One of Britain's most celebrated gardens, Great Dixter is a magnificent place where one can learn and be inspired. A trip there should be on every gardener's bucket list.
Although it is now mostly associated with Christopher Lloyd, it was first begun by his parents. The garden was developed over many years, first by his father, then after his death, by his mother Daisy. The Lloyds bought it as a derelict farm in 1910 and set about building a large, impressive home and a garden that integrated the existing outbuildings with other structures extending out from the home.
The entire garden was six acres and included box and yew hedges, stone paths and walks, and semi-circular steps that lead down from the house to a sunk garden that was created by Nathaniel Lloyd, Christopher's father.
After Nathaniel’s death in 1933, Daisy took control of the garden for four decades. The son, Christopher, was at school, then university, and then in the war during this time but always corresponded with his mother about the garden.
Daisy employed nine gardeners and grew a wonderful collection of flowers. Dixter's now-famous 100-foot-long border was originally Daisy's bed to display her annuals and perennials, in front of a long back layer of flowering shrubs. The family members were totally absorbed in their garden all their lives.
This is Moya Andrews, and today we focused on the Great Dixter.
