The White Garden

Early view of White Garden, 1964

Early photograph showing separate white and coloured borders

With coloured and white herbaceous borders, and sundial, 1972

With 2 white and silver borders, 1973

The White Garden today is an extremely popular part of York Gate and the range of white and silver plants is extensive.  In her tape recording (YGA00968) Sybil says "We began by having a traditional herbaceous border at the left hand side of my vista from the kitchen window. And then I read about a white garden at Kiftsgate in Gloucestershire and I was fascinated. So I said "Let's make a white border". So we dug up all the things that weren't white in the herbaceous border and planted it with grey foliage, silver and white. But this was such a success, that, I think it was Robin's idea, that we made the other side to match. So that completed the White Garden. Then Robin slowly collected enough grindstones to sink in the gravel and make my lovely grindstone path up to the sundial, a beautiful feature."

Watering can,1978

Sybil in the garden in 1980

However, Robin’s opinion of it, was at first rather scathing.

“The White and Silver Garden has not been as successful as the rest of the garden, to my mind.  Originally, there was a conventional herbaceous border down one side and a white and silver one on the other.  This proved a bad mistake – I am sure that one-colour gardens should not have to compete with multi-coloured ones …….I suppose the fashion for white and silver gardens had something to do with its demise, but in any case they are probably more interesting for people to see, even if their appearance only rarely lives up to one’s imagination and expectation.  I feel that, here, we are a long way from achieving that filmy greyness highlighted by masses of white flowers which the phrase “white and silver garden” conjures up in my mind…….

For grey foliage, Eucalyptus gunnii, Hebe pinguifolia Pagei, hostas, Salix lanata and Senecio “Sunshine” are the background for display.  For white or cream coloured foliage, Scropularia auriculate “Variegata”, Astrantia Major “Sunningdale Variegated”, Brunnera macryphylla “Variegata”, Symphytum x uplandicum “Variegatum” and Phlox Paniculata “Norah Leigh” are invaluable……

Many white flowers seem comparatively fleeting, but the Floribunda rose “Iceberg” is useful, as are Campanula latifolia “Alba” and various delphiniums.  An edging of white crocus on either side of the path gives interest early in the year; these are followed by white daffodils, and the season proper is heralded by tulips.  Lilium Regale does not seem to enjoy this particular situation, but we continue to try it.”