Hauser & Wirth - First Visit

Hauser & Wirth towards the Radić Pavilion

Hauser & Wirth 

For our Friday 'day out'  just over a week ago, we headed out to visit the gardens at Hauser & Wirth near Bruton, which they call the 'Oudolf Field'.  I can't fathom why we haven't been before, as we have driven past them many times, and of course had a stroll round Bruton which is a lovely small Somerset village where we often stop off at 'At the Chapel': a lovely bakery cum café cum restaurant with their wood fired ovens. I can't believe I have not posted a blog about Bruton yet, as we visit quite regularly.

I suppose it may have been that I had wondered when the best time to visit would be, or maybe even whether it would be worth the admission fee if it wasn't quite the right time to visit.  I now would say that anytime would be worth visiting to see what appealed in the gardens and just to enjoy the location of the gardens. Also on arriving we found that access to the gardens and the gallery are free, and at ten in the morning we almost had the garden to ourselves.  Watering was taking place which explains how the gardens were looking in tip top condition, and luckily they have their own water reserves.

As we walked around the beds, our eyes were drawn upwards towards the Radić Pavilion, which is quite a size set on large blocks of stone.  It is a large space internally and very enjoyable to walk on its sloping deck.

Sitting in the cool out of the sun this is the long view over the surrounding countryside.

I took photographs just for my usual notes on plants etc., and it is far more interesting than what can be seen here.  We shall certainly be visiting again soon.

The spent flowers added interesting textures and forms.  Seeing planting in groups like this was a revelation and whereas a single specimen having gone over is probably best removed or cut down in my garden, blocks of plants offer the possibility of keeping the whole block to enjoy its development from flower through to seed and seeing its form in the winter.

I couldn't see names for all the blocks and have ordered the book about the planting of the gardens from our library to learn a little more.

I hadn't seen this plant growing before, and using the Google Lens found it to be Datisca cannabina.. It certainly had a wow factor.

Datisca cannabina

I could finally appreciate the value of growing plants in clumps, and with quite a good range in my garden I have the idea to follow this trend more so.

One bold clump of colour is probably even more effective than many close together, and the foil of green clumps or others with form and texture taught me much. I can understand that careful design and choice of plants is paramount to achieving this effect, and is a signature of the designer 

In places I think two or three different varieties of plants were used together, something that I hope to learn more about from the book.

The waterlilies were lovely as well as the floaters and marginals would be an inspiration for anyone wanting to create or improve on their pond.

I guess planting distance with the clumps of plants helps to get this pleasing cushiony and very pleasing effect.

At the end of our walk we enjoyed a delicious brunch in the courtyard of their Roth Bar. 

The sculptures from the Niki de Saint Phalle & Jean Tinguely looked vibrant in the sunshine and against the clear blue skies. 

There are lots of activities going on that I will be looking over these to perhaps time our next visit to the garden so as to be able to sample those, but then the gardens would probably not be as quiet!