Abigail Willis - Secret Gardens of Somerset: A Private Tour

Confident colourful perennial planting at The American Museum brings contemporary American garden design to Somerset.

The countys varied geography is part of its allure and the borrowed landscapes it offers to gardeners are second to none. As well as the low-lying Levels, its borders encompass a Jurassic coastline, pastoral vales and remarkably diverse hill ranges the Mendips, the Poldens, the gently rolling Mid Somerset Hills, and to the west the Blackdown, Brendon and Quantock hills. Therefore many gardens in these pages revel in stunning hillside settings (see, for example, ) hold their own against inspiring architectural backdrops.

More than ever Somerset is worth the detour, but dont expect cookie-cutter English gardens. This county has always been independent minded; its not as smart as the Cotswolds or Wiltshire. When asked to define Somersets appeal, the gardeners in this book responded with variations on a theme. Its unpretentious, its a working county, not a museum, they would comment approvingly: Its not been tidied up.

Thus liberated, Somersets gardens can be bracingly non-conformist as youll discover at Midney Gardens (see ).

Somerset is a large county and, although Ive lived here for twenty years, one of the joys of writing this book has been the chance to explore it in more depth over a glorious year. The gardens in these pages will similarly take you on a cross-county tour and I can think of no better introduction to Somerset, particularly when accompanied by Clive Boursnells beautiful photographs.

Whether visiting Somerset for the first time, or the fifth, its gardens will always be rewarding, for like all the best ones they are living works of art and are continually evolving. I hope you enjoy discovering them too.

Somersets hill ranges are heaven sent for gardeners in search of dramatic borrowed landscapes.