The Garden Magazine, February, 1924 
343 
THE HEATH GARDEN AT GRAVETYE MANOR 
Sound sense and a sympathetic understanding of nature’s ways characterize Mr. Robinson's work and in consequence his landscape pictures are really 
pictures and all his gardening is imbued with genuine artistic quality. Gravetye is literally embedded in beauty; the summer flower garden, described 
in the accompanying article and here hidden from view by intervening shrubbery, being only one of its many lovely features. Of the making of this 
Heath garden Mr. Robinson says; “This ground, now so clear and airy, when I began was covered with small trees and the mixed shrubberies which 
were without meaning or value. Below it were clipped Spruce hedges—hard lines which hid the view of the house from this point of view. The trees 
were cleared away and a bowling green formed, which secures besides its other advantages an unplanted surface. A piece of rough ground lay above this, 
and having no advantages in other ways, it lead to the planting of a garden with the Heaths of Britain and Western Europe, which have been a joy ever 
since, in midwinter as well as midsummer. In this way the views both to and from the house became clear, and the picture tells the rest. Any conifers 
near we did not allow to feather down as they usually are allowed to do, as we want the view beneath and moreover it is the natural way of the great Pines” 
In the South Garden 
/. Roses Mme. Leon Pain, La Tosca, and Golden Emblem, also Pentstemon 
barbatus, the whole having a carpet of Tropaeolum polyphyllum. Edging: Cam¬ 
panula muralis and Gvpsophila muralis used alternately. The background 
to this bed consists of Lonicera sempervirens. Clematis ccccinea, and Tra- 
chelospermum jasminoides. 
2. Contains Souvr. de Gustave Pratt Roses with an undergrowth of Carna¬ 
tions. Edging: mixed Crocus beneath Rock Scabious. 
?. Princess de Sagan Rose; undergrowth of Swan-river-daisy (Brachycome). 
Edging: Crocus. 
4. Rose G. Nabonnand, Gladiolus primulinus. Edging: Blue Bindweed 
(Convolvulus mauritanicus). 
5. Roses Lady Waterlow on rough stake, and President Carnot with an 
undergrowth of mixed varieties of Pinks. The background to this bed con¬ 
sists of Clematis lanuginosa. Clematis Comtesse de Bouchard, Japanese Wis¬ 
teria, and Horse Briar (Smilax rotundifolia). 
6. Rose Ophelia. Undergrowth of Platycodon grandiflorum Mariesi. 
7. Rose Red Letter Day, Perovskia atriplicifolia, with an edging of En¬ 
crusted Saxifrage. 
8. Rose Prince de Bulgarie, Lilium speciosum magnificum, carpeted with 
Tufted Pansies Councillor Waters and White Swan. 
9. Madonna Lilies in groups. Late red Dutch Honeysuckles; ground-work 
of Pentstemon heterophyllus. Edging: purple Crocus beneath white-flowered 
Thrift. 
10. Border, right of porch. Small collection of Iris, Belladonna Lilies, 
Sweet Verbena, and China Roses. Undergrowth: Campanula muralis. Edg¬ 
ing: Carpathian Snowflakes and Rockfoils. On wall in rear of border is 
Trachelospermum divaricatum, Abutilon vitifolium, Clematis, Rose, and Jalap 
Plant (Exogonium purga). 
//. Long, narrow border, left of porch, contains white Caucasian Scabious 
at one end, edged with Pink Princess Mary, also Campanula muralis, Stern- 
bergia lutea, Kaffir-lily, Amicia, Nerine Bowdeni, Belladonna Lilies, Iris tingi- 
tana, Iris stylosa, and Sweet Violets. Trained to the wall behind is the Jap¬ 
anese Wisteria, Rose sinica Anemone, Rose Lamarque, and L' Ideal; Magnolia 
grandiflora, Solanum jasminoides, Phygelius capensis, Pomegranate, and Lonicera 
sempervirens. 
12. Rosemary in variety carpeted with Lady Knox Violas 
14. Tritoma excelsa and Madonna Lily with an edging of Blue Bind¬ 
weed. 
