Set within the Isle of Purbeck, Holme was originally a fruit and dairy farm: now 15-acres are laid out to formal and informal landscaped gardens of great variety and complete with surprise and charm, as well as birdsong, a haven for relaxation.
Having written about the gardens in April 2025 I was surprised at how delightful this return visit was to be: Simon Goldsack’s gardening passion, as is his eye for detail and an intuitive sense of design, is apparent everywhere.
There is a romance to the garden: beginning with a snooty dragon and winged beasty; clashes between acid Signet Marigolds and hot pink Asters, kept apart by Blue Oat Grass. A pelican ignores the Red Robin and an owl lands near to a Mexican ‘sun flowering’.
The changing of seasons found a sheep field transformed to a dreamlike vista of Cosmos, Cornflowers, Love in the Mist, Baby’s Breath (seems appropriate) Painted Sage and Scabious.
Borders contained hot Dalias, Canna Lillies and Zinnias with a backdrop of structural trees and shrubs. Humour and fantasy were found throughout the garden and enhanced by Wild Edge Sculptures.
Please forgive if there is misinformation about the planting, not being a plants-woman I was relying on Google!
Text & Photos by Sarah Herring