Some of the most beautiful gardens of the Queen of England: in Burkhall and in the residence of May

Passing the gallery

Transfer: Alexey Dramashko

Materials: - (c) East News/C.S.Sykes

Text: Stephane Bern

Magazine: 52 (2001)

In addition to her own country, the Queen of England has at least three passions: horse racing, dogs and gardens. In her 100 years, Queen Mum, as the British affectionately call her, is still passionately involved in gardening. Together with the gardener, we examined some of her most beautiful possessions. In France, which the queen is very fond of, she made three discoveries for herself: the pleasure of good wine and a good table, a passion for horses, and more - Voltaire philosophy, following which "everyone should grow their own garden." While still a child, Elizabeth loved to dig in the ground, processing her small, almost toy garden. And after almost a century she did not lose the taste for gardening. She needs plants in the same way as a traditional gin and martini cocktail before a meal, or a hat decorated with flowers to enter the city. In London, within the four walls of the Clarence House garden, the queen mother feels as if locked up. Rose bushes, lawns and a few plane trees too much limit the flight of her imagination and craving for creativity. The queen would not go round so often her green possessions, if the gardens, created practically by her hands, would not so captivate her mind and soul. Here she greets every guest with an unchanging benevolent, supportive smile.Thousands of flowers One of the most beloved gardens is located in Burkhall, on a hillside with a view of the river and the endless field. A strip of forest around the property protects the garden from both wind and prying eyes. The queen is especially proud of the variety of flowers, fruit trees and vegetables growing here. With all its picturesque, they create the atmosphere of an old garden near a small country house. The hostess often and long admires the garden. She strolls along the gravel paths, discussing the choice of colors and the location of the flower beds with her main gardener, James Carr. For the past eighteen years, he has been taking care of the queen's garden. It was not easy, because the owner of the garden is a real expert in her work. The queen herself goes out into the garden with gloves and shears in her hands to prune the rose bushes. Long before his beloved grandson, Charles became a fighter for the purity of the products used in England, the queen had the reputation of being an ardent opponent of chemical fertilizers. Her roses receive only some organic fertilizer and manure from the surrounding royal farms. In the garden, cabbage is planted in orderly rows, carrots, onions, beets, potatoes, and cauliflower grow — all you need to provide fresh vegetables to the castle’s kitchen. There are even herbs for seasoning - tarragon, mint ... But the garden would not be a garden without lawns between flower beds. The favorite place of the queen in Burkhall is, without a doubt, a garden with alpine slides, which is more than forty years old. Previously, the mistress loved to weed out weeds in it and plant instead plants found in the vicinity. Against the background of white walls, a rose is blooming of the closest variety to the heart of the queen - New Dawn, which she keeps cuttings for later planting in pots. Roses Coronation, Honeymoon, Chinatown - evidence of the bright life of the Queen Mother. Each variety has its own special smell, reminiscent of a shining persona about the past. For decades, the garden accumulated and carefully preserved the aromas of different colors, and with them the memories of its owner.Windswept To the north of Burkhall is Mey Castle, which has nothing to do with the memories of the queen or the history of the royal family. May is the only residence owned by Elizabeth alone. A year after the death of King George VI, his widow did not know how to fill her empty life. And once, during a picnic with friends, the queen ended up at Barrojeel Castle, built in the 16th century. The house with the outlines of the fortress was abandoned by the owner, Captain Imbert-Terry. The Queen fell in love at first sight with this house blown by all the winds, which was about to be demolished. With extraordinary zeal, she began to restore the building, interior design and landscaping. The walls were painted in pastel colors, the canapés are upholstered in colorful chintz, and the furniture was restored. Sandy Webster, who has served in the castle for twenty years, has been able, like no other, to fight the incessant wind that can sweep everything in its path. Regular trees planted in a row, is not enough. Therefore, the garden on the west side of the castle is surrounded by a wall of pink granite. There you feel like in an apartment: partitions divide the garden into “rooms” with flowers, fruits and vegetables. And, of course, everywhere you can find the queen's favorite flower - a rose. Next to brand-new varieties, such as Glenfiddich, the colors of Scotch whiskey, old varieties grow, for example Assemblage des Beautes or Old Velvet Rose. About her beloved and most picky rose Albertina, the mistress says: "Ah, my dear old Albertina is ready to endure everything!" It’s not so easy to make Her Majesty happy. She needs a gardener who could grow beautiful plants, despite the scorching sun, strong wind, naughty climate and the earth, half consisting of sand. The gardens of the Queen in a strange way reflect the character of their owner. Maybe in the horticulture queen mother realizes her cherished desire (familiar to almost every person) to rule over nature, or at least over her own destiny. But who can blame her for it? - The same age as the century, it embodies the story itself.