Our final garden in the Cotswolds is Mottisfont Abbey, recognized as the world's greatest collection of historic shrub roses. Graham Stewart Thomas established the garden in the walled kitchen garden at Mottisfont after the National Trust became aware of the urgent need to conserve what still remained of the Old French roses of the 18th Century. Surrounding the nearly
300 species of roses, are broad herbaceous borders. The roses form a group of plants with a range of coloring, style and fragrance that has rarely been surpassed.
Most of the roses at Mottisfont Abbey are old roses and one-time
bloomers so the gardners have introduced these beautiful perennial borders to
extend the color season.
The lovely David Austin Rose 'Graham Thomas' named after the
rosarian who began Mottisfont.
A lovely bench at Mottisfont for a quiet moment to enjoy the beauty.
The Abbey at Mottisfont as seen from across the lawn. We'll have lunch in one of the Abbey's beautifully decorated period rooms. After lunch, we're off to London for an afternoon of exploration, capped off by dinner in one of the city's best restaurants.
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