Barnsley House The Gardens of Rosemary Verey
Rosemary Verey, famous English gardener, is mentioned several times in my novel. I wanted to pay tribute to her lasting influence as a garden designer and plants-woman. In 2000, on a garden trip, I visited Barnsley where this splendid woman graciously led us through her famous garden.To this day I return to that memory and stroll once again this well loved place. In addition there are my own photographs and I have many of her books. She was highly regarded for her garden writing.
I recommend Rosemary Verey’s Making a Garden,The Art of Planting and Rosemary Verey’s Good Planting Plans for Inspiration. While you make your way through the pages, imagine yourself sitting at her feet as a student. Due to Rosemary’s influence, I have created an English garden myself, and it brings me great joy.
A potage plays apart in Greening of a Heart. At Barnsley House, which Rosemary designed, she turned a vegetable patch into one of the most famous, endlessly photographed, mix of ornamental and utilitarian plants that breaths you in, and when exhaled, you are changed into a garden pilgrim. I hope you find a way to visit this beautiful garden. In the meantime, enjoy the references in the novel and think of it as armchair traveling.