1 Herrings Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

1 Herrings Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

1 Herrings Cottage was the smallest garden on our tour, a triangular shaped garden in partial shade.

When we were early for the tour and decided to walk around the village Mr. A.B invited us into his garden, in a row of attached cottages, for an early look see. What a delight this gentleman was, showing what can be done with initiative and pluck on a budget, and in a small space. Working alone, he gives tender loving care to the plants and shrubs, but he also includes artwork to highlight his garden. I loved it. Now let’s take a walk in 1 Herrings Cottage! There is a reason Warninglid has won Best-Kept Village Competition three times!

Mr A.B in His Garden, 1 Herrings Cottage, Warninglid

There was a bit of whimsy, with treasured finds, to draw your eye to areas of the garden. Here a tree is a piece of art! Do you have a small garden?  Go UP!

1 Herrings Cottage, Warninglid

Every garden deserves a quiet space, a spot to enjoy the garden and sip a bit of tea.

A Place to Sit and Enjoy the Garden, 1 Herrings Cottage, Warninglid

1 Herrings Cottage, Warninglid

Lots of Plants Tucked Into a Tiny Space! 1 Herrings Cottage, Warninglid

1 Herrings Cottage, Warninglid

Do not waste a wall space, any wall space!

Art in the Garden at 1 Herrings Cottage, Warninglid

Get attention on the ground too!

Art in the Garden at 1 Herrings Cottage, arninglid

As the garden severely narrows at the back, completing the triangular space, every inch of the garden was made special!

Walking to The Vegetable Patch and Garden Shed, 1 Herrings Cottage, Warninglid

A small glassed in porch, at the back of the cottage, was the perfect place to show more artwork.

The Artist and Her Work, 1 Herrings Cottage, Warninglid

A Look Over the Fence, 1 Herrings Cottage, Warninglid

A tangle of flowers in the garden with one of my favorites, the Jerusalem Sage! Enjoy the garden!

Jerusalem Sage with Poppies, 1 Herrings Cottage, Warninglid

Old Post, Warninglid, Sussex

This is the front entry to Old Post Cottage. There is a chimney pot nestled in the fray!

Old Post, Warninglid, Sussex

The jumbled, carefree, masses of blooms are my favorite!

Old Post Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

Old Post, Warninglid, Sussex

One of my favorite cottage gardens in Warninglid was the second garden we toured, Old Post.  The garden of the oldest house (circa 1430) in The Street,  creates a dramatic first impression of color, shape, and texture with a select choice of blooms and creative landscaping.  There were so many small vignettes of activity and bursts of color to enjoy! Let’s look closely at Old Post!

Old Post Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

The display of white flowers and soft variations of shades of green foliage beckons us to the entry of the garden. The long narrow garden plot is so inviting and every bit of space is used to its advantage! Look at the trough planter on the old sewing machine stand creating height and interest! Notice how white, white these plants are? Two paths to follow, which one should we take first?

Old Post Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

Old Post Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

Every cottage garden could use a box hedge, a stone wall and a touch of white! Or maybe a soft robins egg blue-green dividing wall!

Old Post Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

The clematis trellis creates an entrance into another garden room.

Old Post Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

Don’t forget the walls of your garden. Give us a reason to look up!  Lovely!

Old Post Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

Every spot in the garden was used! Another variety of chimney pot tucked in here and there! I should do a post on pots! I love them! Are there chimney pot collectors? Most of these pots seem to be made of clay. Here we see a black trellis to show off the plants! A touch of black is a must!

Old Post Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

Old Post Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

Old Post Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

Old Post Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

One can never have enough of a variety of containers! Love the look it creates! How about the distinction in the brick path using old and new! The brick edging continued throughout the garden creating sweeping curves.

Old Post Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

A chimney pot to hold a pot!

Old Post Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

This color combination of spikes and planter was stunning!

Old Post Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

Old Post Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

Pots with lots of COLOR! Another focal point in the garden! It certainly catches your eye!

Old Post Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

Old Post Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

What a great combination of plants and color here! So full and lush!

Old Post Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

Old Post Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

Old Post Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

Old Post Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

The wispy, silver green stems of the yarrow adds height and contrast, bringing out the white of the flower pots.

Old Post Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

The Artistic Owner of Old Post Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

My Favorite Tree, The Black Elder at Old Post Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

I Love, Love, Love the contrast of the lime and black in the garden!

My Favorite Tree, The Black Elder at Old Post Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

One last bit of color in a very tall pot! This creative gardener used every inch of her garden to design a beautiful oasis!!! Old Post Garden is a must see! It was clearly one of my favorites!  See you tomorrow in the garden! Enjoy!

Old Post Cottage, Warninglid, Sussex

It takes a giant ladder to reach this woodland abode! Enjoy the garden!

The Woodland Garden at Wealden House, Warninglid, UK

Warninglid Sign, Warninglid, Haywards Heath, Sussex

Warninglid Village bisects at two roads, Cuckfield Lane and The Street.  I loved that! Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to say you live on The Street?  At this special intersection is the Half Moon Pub. Warninglid is our next stop on the National Garden Scheme and it was a bonanza! Eight gardens on two streets! We couldn’t wait to get there and set off early.

Reaching Warninglid, I missed the turn, into the designated car park for the garden tour, and turned into the Half Moon Pub instead.

Half Moon Pub, Warninglid, Sussex

When my car was immediately surrounded by cars I knew something was up. Deciding on a drink at the pub to build up our stamina, (ha) we discovered that reservations for eating here today were non existent. Just get in line! In addition to the gardens on display the pub was hosting a “FETE!” Music, BBQ, kids running everywhere, bunting, all of it, just like we see in the Midsummer Mysteries and on Doc Martin! I was so excited, “my first fete!” And to top it off the pub was hosting a cheesecake competition!  We’ve struck gold! The residents of the village view the Half Moon Pub, as a gathering place and mainstay of village life. 

Getting Ready for the Fete at the Half Moon Pub, Warninglid, Sussex

The Fete at the Half Moon Pub, Warninglid, Sussex

The Fete at the Half Moon Pub, Warninglid, Sussex

The Fete at the Half Moon Pub, Warninglid, Sussex

The BBQ Line at the Half Moon Pub, Warninglid, Sussex

Promising to return to the Pub when things were all set up, we moved on down The Street to get pictures of the homes that were showing gardens that day and get pictures before the flocks showed up to see them. I am so glad we did. Bus loads of gardeners were dropped off at the car park. This was the place to be today!

The Street, the focus of the conservation area, reveals a number of buildings dating back to the 16th century, some of which are listed as being of special architectural and historic interest due the the variety of building’s ages and natural building materials of brick, sandstone, and the timber and clay roof tiles. A sense of enclosure is created by the homes, the bank of hedges and trees, and the village pond with the arching sandstone bridge leading to the drive of the Lyndhurst estate, creating a focal point within The Street. Now lets walk along The Street!

The Lydhurst Estate, Warninglid, Sussex

The Village Pond, Warninglid, Sussex

The Bridge leading to Lyndhurst Estate, Warninglid, Sussex

The Bridge Leading to Lyndhurst Estate, Warninglid, Sussex

Turning into an inviting lane let’s see where this path takes us!

On the Path to the Vegetable Garden, Warninglid, Sussex

The village vegetable garden, dogwalk and footpath!

The Village Vegetable Garden, Warninglid, Sussex

The Village Vegetable Garden, Warninglid, Sussex

After our vegetable diversion, it’s back to The Street! So many cottages to see on The Street alone!

A Cottage in Warninglid, Sussex

A Cottage in Warninglid, Sussex

A Cottage in Warninglid, Sussex

A Cottage in Warninglid, Sussex

A Cottage in Warninglid, Sussex

A Row of Attached Cottages in Warninglid, Sussex

A Cottage in Warninglid, Sussex

A Cottage in Warninglid, Sussex

A Cottage in Warninglid, Sussex

A Cottage in Warninglid, Sussex

A Cottage in Warninglid, Sussex

A Cottage in Warninglid, Sussex

Next we’ll see the gardens behind these charming, rustic cottages! See you there!

A Cottage in Warninglid, Sussex

PS We went back to the Half Moon Pub and had a great picnic meal! The choices of salads offered with the burgers or hotdogs were fantastic.  It was standing room only! The guests were on blankets or chairs they had brought from home, spread put everywhere! Every indoor and outdoor table was taken. The food was great; the music was great, but I never did find out who won the cheesecake competition!

We are entering the finest gardens in Warninglid, open during the National Garden Scheme! Won’t you join me in the garden? More to come!

The Garden at Old Post, Warninglid, Haywards Heath, West Sussex