Penns in the rocks - National Garden Scheme

 

Today was my second date with the gorgeous Tilly Milnes who I met through instagram. We had been chatting online for about a year and decided to meet up in person to ensure we weren't catfishing each other.

Recently we had lunch at the Chequers Inn, in Lamberhurst where we ordered far too much wine but we had a giggle and ended up chatting for five hours. 

I was relieved when she suggested to meet again at Penns in the rocks as I had always wanted to visit a house and garden which was part of the National Garden Scheme and it also meant that I hadn't made a tit of myself and I think she wants to be friends...

She has a stunning insta feed and also writes a blog which you can view here. It's rather nerve wracking meeting someone new for the first time in adulthood, I did feel like I was going on a date! But we have plenty in common and I am hoping that I have made a new friend for life.

Anyway, enough about my girl crush. She booked us in at Penns in the rocks which is a stunning country pile located not far from Groombridge (which is thankfully only a five minute drive for me). They only open their gardens to the public for three days a year so it was awesome to be able to visit.

You drive down a long, country lane which was covered in bluebells and once parked up, we headed towards the main house (which you can't go into, which we really wanted to as we are nosey) and then followed the trail around the gardens. They have enormous rocks, with an informally planted woodland, a walled garden with herbaceous borders, stone sculptures by Richard Strachey and a lake.

It was very peaceful and very beautiful. It was so nice to visit a place like this with a likeminded person. Don't get me wrong, I adore my dates with Mr Poachie but I know that gardens and me taking endless photo's is not his idea of a fun date but he does it to make me happy.

Tilly is also into her photography and has a love for gardens so it was a happy pairing.

After pondering who might be lucky enough to live in a place like this I have done some research and learnt that the poet Dorothy Wellesley lived here during the 1920s and the 18th century Temple of Friendship recalls her occupation. Lord and Lady Gibson were helped by their friend the distinguished post-war designer Lanning Roper, whose advice brought some of the plant combinations in the borders and the ornamental varieties in the woodland. 

At this time of year an avenue of crab apples us underplanted with tulips and in the woodland sweeps of daffodils are followed by bluebells and the native trees are decorated with the rich colours of azaleas, magnolias and other ornamental trees and shrubs.

This is a garden of views, whether from the house to the south where the slope rises up to the Temple of Friendship, or to the west towards the lake made in the 1960s on the far side of which an Ionic temple is positioned to perfection.

Hopefully the temple of Friendship is going to be significant for us as we have lined up our next two dates! 

To book tickets for the National Garden scheme you can see what is available via their website and the proceeds go towards various charities. It was a lovely way to spend the afternoon so have a look to see what is near you!