NEW CHARM OF SANDRINGHAM

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1928, Page 1

NEW CHARM OF SANDRINGHAM

THE KING’S KEEN INTEREST. (By P. AY. D. Izzard in “Daily Mail.”) SANRRINGHAAI (Norfolk) June 5 The gardens of the royal demesne of Sandringham again are lieing visited freely by the public on the two days of the week- AYcdnosday and Thursday—on which for five' hours they are thrown open in the name of sick and nursing charities. The past two years have seen various changes in the royal gardens which, though quite simple, have given much aesthetic gain. But in its way no innovation is so striking as the erection of a Turnstile just within the little gate in tlie wall by which the public has access to tlie actual grounds of Sandringham House. ' The sixpences, which last year between A lay and September totalled nearly £l,lOO, are registered within full view’ of the windows. 'That is some indication of the freedom which is allowed visitors. To one who has known the royal gardens for a very long period there are in almost every part of them certain obvious differences of recent making, and all for the good. Of these tlie King lias been tlie inspiration. His Afajesty lias a'sure eye for landscape effects, a love of fullgrown trees, and airy vistas’. He has studied the views from every vantage, including the windows of his OWn room, as any sincere garden owner would do, for the eyes rest longest on those scenes. And so it has come about that under the supervision of Air Thomas Cook, the head gardener, whose own ideas of garden beauty are in perfect line with those of bis royal master, a judicious removal of trees liere and there has opened out some charming prospects. I do not think tlie woodland setting of Sandringham has ever looked more attractive than in the June freshness of to-dav. THE QUEEN’S NEST. Front some of the walls of the house the crude ivies have been removed and young flowering climbers, like the blue, cennothus veitchiamis. planted. AT the end of the terrace is the rock garden, formed of the brownish Snettisham stone, ‘ and at present' ashine with Alpine flowers. • Perched above it is “The Queen’s Nest,” the quaint little ” tea-house which the late Sir Digh'top Probyn so

in sc r ibed when lie gave it to Queen Alexandra. To the terraces, the rock garden and even this little “nest” the public has free access. The*'delightful wnjics by the water and' round ‘’the wilder part.V of the gardens are as free as tlie ten aces and formally planted spaces, and I am told that tlie behaviour of the public lias been admirable. No vestige' of I liter” has been'left behind.' But it is. unfortunately, still a matter of annoyance that the rhododendrons which fringe the open woodlands beside tlie public roads on the royal estate are despoiled in the flowering season. : THE HERBAOEOUB BORDERS. Through the gates of the kitchen garden visitors pass into the massiie pergola through which Queen Alexandra in her later years used to be driven every Sunday. Beyond it lie on each side the herbaceous borders, in two sections making a total length of nearly a quarter of a mile, and about 14ft in breadth. The first section was replanted two seasons ago to give a gradation of colours along its length, starting with groups of the light and delicate pinks and mauves, and running on through the re'ds,' crimsons, and purples to the various shades of blue. This section is now beginning to glow with its midsummer beauty. The farther section is composed of mixed flowering plants, and in the height ol the season is gorgeously full of colour, while running across the end Is a broad border of Michaelmas daisies which is the delight of their Alajesties during their autumn visit to Sandringham. Elsewhere in the kitchen garden flowers are mingled discreetly with vegetables, si> : that' colour always is present. Dahlias and teetrobts,* cjirysnntheimnnus anti carrots are two of these coriibiiiations.

Espalier apples form the background of the herbaceous borders, with, above the espaliers, high metal arc-lies over which are trained varieties of apples which have bright-coloured fruits. KING’S FAVOURITE FLOATER.

The public is not allowed in the conservatories, but there is one house where the butterfly flower (scliizanthus). clarkia elegans, herbaceous calceolaria. and other plants now are in glorious display, near the door of which beautiful things are massed for visitors to see.

Carnations are favourites with the King anci Queen, and two more ranges of glass have been given to these flowers. Here are blooms of AA'hite Pearl, which so often adorns his Majesty’s buttonhole, (and the pink varieties whic-li are tlie Queen’s delight. jri its season heliotrope (c-lierry pie) is displayed extensively. This is perhaps the King's favourite flower. He loves its delicious perfume, and in the summer it is planted beneath bis windows,