London Camellias

In the small and lovely compact garden at the back of the Putney home of our friends Richard and Anne Baillie, grows a Camellia bush with the most vivid fuschia-red flowers that I have ever seen. I don’t know much about Camellias, but was so drawn to their color and symmetry and to the glossy leaves of the plant. It was a real delight, when one morning we headed to Chiswick House and Gardens in west London and discovered that there was a restored conservatory there with a spectacular display of all kinds of Camellias including rare species! The gardens at Chiswick are “the birthplace of the English Landscape Movement and have inspired many other gardens including New York’s Central Park.”
Built in 1729 by the third Earl of Burlington, Chiswick House Villa it is said is one of the “gems of European 18th century architecture.” Lord Burlington was a real patron of the arts, and is referred to sometimes as the Architect Earl. At the tender age of ten, he inherited extensive estates in Yorkshire and Ireland. He would later travel to Europe, where he developed his tastes in architecture. His professional skill as an architect was extraordinary. I enjoyed the smaller scale of the rooms at Chiswick – they seemed much more welcoming. Some were very lavishly decorated.
Although this was a short visit, we were also able to squeeze in a visit to the National Gallery and Trafalgar Square in central London to meet with my sister and her husband. Happy Birthday FB!