Paving stones

I was walking down Ham Gate Avenue mostly to check on progress on Sudbrook Cottages when I spotted this delightful pile of paving stones. They were gone the next day so I was even gladder to have caught them.

Ormeley Elephants

The latest addition to the delightful and interesting gardens at Ormeley Lodge is this pair of bamboo elephants which I was able to enjoy at Ham Open Gardens. Ormeley Lodge is open again on Sunday 3 July and is highly recommended.

The most famous local elephants can be seen any time from the top of a 65 bus and other elephants at Montrose House can be seen at Petersham Open Gardens.

Wildflower Garden at Ormeley Lodge

It was only by luck that I learned that the gardens at Ormeley Lodge would be open again this year and once aware I booked an advance ticket online. I was there when they opened at 3pm to see it when they were least busy.

There were a few subtle changes from previous years, such as the slight movement of a bench, but otherwise the gardens were their familiar delightful selves. And, in my opinion, the Wildflower Garden was the best as I think this display of flowers shows.

Classical pots

The frontage of Ormeley Lodge, which always looked good, now looks a little bit better thanks to the addition of two classical pots either side of one of the gates.

New wall at Ormeley Lodge

The best thing about the new wall at Ormeley Lodge is that it looks very much like the old one. It is only by looking at old photographs, such as this one from 2014, that you can be certain that anything has changed.

Replacement windows

That is Ormeley Lodge on the left but I do not think that the windows are for the main house as it is, rightly, heavily listed and the new windows do not look anything like Georgian. There are several other buildings in the grounds that they could be destined for and I will be looking to see where they went when the gardens are next open to the public (June 2020!).

Ormeley Lodge with scoffolding

Any excuse to take a picture of Ormeley Lodge is a good excuse and this excuse was the presence of a scaffolding tower that tempted me to zoom in on the beautiful bricks and the detail along the roofline.

Christmas dogs at Ormeley Lodge

I have never noticed the Christmas decorations at Ormeley Lodge before but I presume that was more for my lack of looking than anything else. When I walked along Ham Gate Avenue today it was the large Christmas Wreath that I noticed first and it was only as I approached the front gate that I noticed the dogs.

Two sides of Ormeley Lodge

Ormeley Lodge always rewards a walk along Ham Gate Avenue and is often my reason for going that way rather than through the woods. The view from this side shows clearly how the original houses has been extended over the years.

 The view from the other side changed recently when two large trees fell victim to the Winter winds and wets. The wounds they left can be seen in the grass.

Ormeley Lodge at night

This will probably be my last night-time photo for a while as the clocks have changed and we have passed the Spring Solstice so it is now still light when I go out for a walk.

I like the way that Ormeley Lodge is lit as this highlights the original part of the house and hides the less attractive later additions.

Garden at Ormeley Lodge

The Wilderness is my favourite part of the garden but the rest of it is pretty good too. I love the mixed planting in the thick borders around the main lawn that produces a wonderful confusion of shapes and colours.

Zooming out a little shows some more of the flowers and reveals the depth of the borders and the obsessively neatly trimmed hedge behind. Also in view is one of the two lions that guard the path to The Wilderness.

Zooming even further out shows the border in the context of the large lawn that it surrounds. This is exactly what a lawn and border should look like.

The final picture (for the moment) comes from a different part of the garden. This celebration of Box is at the side of the house, which is bit of a shame as something as magnificent as this deserves to be in a more prominent position.

Wilderness at Ormeley Lodge

 

The Wilderness is my name (copied from Ham House) for the section of the garden at Ormeley Lodge where wild grasses and flowers grown tall among some fruit trees. It is also my favourite part of the garden that has several sections with different characters and moods.

The Wilderness sits beyond the main lawn and formal borders that sit next to the house and are separated from it by a tall hedge. Within the Wilderness lower hedges give shape to the garden and curved paths provide routes through it that bring the grasses and flowers up close.

Ormeley Lodge

Ormeley Lodge is one of the most significant buildings in Ham and walk past it regularly to catch it in its different moods and to see if any changes have been made, such as timing the front hedge.

More often than not I pass without taking a photograph but occasional something about it makes me pause to take another one. This time I was attracted by the clear autumnal light and the luscious greenery around the downstairs windows.

Wisteria at Ormeley Lodge

Ormeley Lodge keeps a safe distance from the other local lodges, many of which are packed uncomfortably around Ham Common. Its relative isolation and woodland setting help Ormeley Lodge to stand proud and aloof in its commanding position on Ham Gate Avenue.

Now that the scruffy hedge either side of the front gate has been tamed a little the house is more exposed and can be appreciated more.

Neat hedge

I first complained about the messy hedge at Ormeley Lodge back in June 2008 and then again in April 2009 so I am delighted to see that it has now been trimmed neatly back to be the same height as the formal hedge inside the railings.

The Lodge is no longer embarrassed by the way that it is presented and looks noticeably prouder, grander and happier.

A closer look at Ormeley Lodge

In some ways Ormeley Lodge is no more grand or impressive than many of the other lodges in the area but what edges it towards the top of the league, if not to the top spot, is the contrasting red brick that warms the front of the house.

Plaque at Ormeley Lodge

This small metal plaque sits discreetly on the front wall of Ormeley Lodge. I have no idea what it means but the only information that it contains is "Westminster" and "1717", both of which are now some distance away.

Rhino at Ormeley Lodge

No visit to the garden at Ormeley Lodge is complete with hunting for the rhino hiding in the long grass and wild flowers of the orchard.

Rear garden at Ormeley Lodge

Immediately to the rear of Ormeley Lodge is a formal lawn with border and if you brave the lion guarding the path through the hedge you can escape to the wonderful orchard where wild flowers cavort in delight at their freedom.

Path at Ormeley Lodge

The beauty of the garden at Ormeley Lodge is that it is various very different sections and to move between them you travel along enchanting paths like this one.