Enthusiasts transform Welsh garden with an array of uncommon blooms, showcasing their passion for botanical rarities
Highfield Farm Garden: A Horticultural Haven in Monmouthshire
Nestled in the picturesque village of Penperlleni, Monmouthshire, lies Highfield Farm Garden - a recently opened garden that has quickly become a must-visit destination for plant enthusiasts. Part of the National Garden Scheme, this historical garden offers a variety of garden spaces, including a vegetable area, and showcases a stunning collection of rare and exotic plant species.
Located at Highfield Farm, Penperlleni, Goytre, Gwent NP4 0AA, the garden is accessible to the public for visits on specific dates throughout the summer. Visitors can explore the garden on 10 August and 14 September, or by arrangement from June to 28 September for groups of between five and 40, for a fee of £7.
The inner plot of Highfield Farm Garden is a horticultural treasure trove, featuring various rarities such as Aralia elata 'Variegata', A. cordata, A. continentalis, Tetrapanax, and Schefflera. One particular standout is the flowering dogwood, Cornus hongkongensis, a hardy plant that opens green before turning pure white.
A striking feature in the garden is a knee-high mound of green coral, identified as Baccharis genistelloides, a shrubby member of the daisy family. This eye-catching display adds a burst of colour to the garden's curated layout.
The outer rectangular plot serves as the garden's experimental area, with an emphasis on open and 'horizontal' planting. Umbelliferous flowers dominate this section, creating a vibrant and fragrant display. The outer plot also features variegated forms of Cornus controversa and C. alternifolia, with perennials massed and scattered in a seemingly random manner, giving the garden a wild, prairie-like feel.
As the garden matures, it is starting to move towards shrubs and small trees, with the gardener, Roger, expressing his interest in "seriously cool shrubs." Two large-scale perennial planting experiments can be found in the garden, one hedged with beech and white rugosa roses, and the other airier and fenced off from open pasture.
The inner plot has a vertical theme, with grass paths snaking through bold blocks of grasses and perennials, and sentinel pillars of copper beech maintaining order. This layout creates a sense of structure amidst the garden's wild beauty.
Despite limited information available about the history and layout of Highfield Farm Garden, it is clear that this garden is a haven for horticultural enthusiasts. For those seeking more detailed information about the garden's design, planting scheme, or featured plants, contacting the National Garden Scheme or local Monmouthshire garden societies might yield more extensive, curated details.
- The Highfield Farm Garden in Monmouthshire, a horticultural haven, displays a variety of garden spaces like vegetable areas and showcases rare and exotic plant species.
- Visitors can explore the inner plot of Highfield Farm Garden, which features rare plants such as Aralia elata 'Variegata', Tetrapanax, and the flowering dogwood, Cornus hongkongensis.
- The outer rectangular plot of Highfield Farm Garden showcases an experimental area with a focus on open and 'horizontal' planting, featuring umbelliferous flowers creating a vibrant and fragrant display.
- Highfield Farm Garden is not only a must-visit destination for plant enthusiasts but also a growing lifestyle and home-and-garden trend, with the gardener expressing interest in adding "seriously cool shrubs" to the garden.
