Garden Journey continues........

The climb up from the Chinese garden in Biddulph leads to a representation of a ruined medieval building

into a Victorian oddity known as a Stumpery 

As the name implies a Stumpery is literally made from tree stumps. The pieces are arranged artistically and plants, typically ferns, mosses and lichens are encouraged to grow around or on the wood. Stumperies were a popular feature in C19th gardens, and may have been the result of the Romantic Movement which emphasised the beauty of nature but most likely they were the consequence of a growing interest in ferns

At the end of the Stumpery there are two choices - go through the archway and under the Watch Tower which leads back down into the lower garden or climb up through the Stumpery to a higher level in the garden 

The outlook from the  Watch Tower gives an interesting view along the 'Dahlia Walk'

At this higher level Bateman built his 'Egyptian Garden' complete with topiary pyramid clipped from Yew

The corridor running beneath the pyramid has two exits - this one leading to the Arboretum and Pinetum

the other exit is from this so called 'Cheshire Cottage' which eventually leads back down to the lower garden

The original Grange that Bateman bought in 1840 was burnt down in 1896 but by that time he had moved away to live in London

There is much more to see in this garden than I have shown - a Cherry Orchard, a Wellingtonia Avenue, Bowling Green, Rose, Verbena and Araucaria Parterres along with the Pinetum and Arboretum

Biddulph is a garden that provides all year round interest,

but now like departing swallows we too are travelling South for a few days

Linocut by youngest son, one of his greetings cards published by Green Pebble