The Gardens at Mount Ephraim

Planting & Design |
History

The Gardens

The gardens were laid out in the early 1900s, but after wartime neglect were substantially restored by Mary and Bill Dawes from the early 1950s. Mary Dawes is still very much involved in the day-to-day running of the gardens and although it's never been a 'professionally' maintained garden, she has always lovingly tended it. Although comparatively small, Mount Ephraim has a personal charm so often lost in larger gardens.

The Mizmaze
Planted in 2004 on the slopes of a former vineyard, the idea bore fruit after initial research into different types of mazes revealed an ancient labyrinth called a Mizmaze - a touching coincidence given that Mary Dawes, who has lived at Mount Ephraim since 1950, has always been known to family and friends as 'Miz'.

Medieval Mizmazes were nine circuit labyrinths of raised turf paths and thought to have been used by monks for exercise and meditation. The interpretation at Mount Ephraim has been to flank the turf paths not with bare earth but with ornamental grasses and herbaceous perennials, which creates a delightful meadow effect blending into the pastoral landscape beyond.

The Mount Ephraim Mizmaze was created by local garden designer Sarah Morgan, and unlike a traditional labyrinth which leads the visitor to the centre without deviation, it incorporates a few false paths to extend the enjoyment of the walk. Eight different plant associations have been used to create a 'Catherine Wheel' of contrasting colours. Dancing grasses and dramatic swirls of flowers are alive with pollinating insects and wildlife. Sarah says: "The dramatic scale of the maze makes it, as far as we know, the largest Mizmaze in existence."

The Rock Garden
Japanese rock gardens were a fashionable feature at the turn of the century. The rock garden at Mount Ephraim followed this trend with its stone lanterns and bridge, but no attempt has ever been made to plant in an oriental style. There is a series of pools with a miniature cascade. Spring bulbs are followed by flowering cherries, dwarf rhododendrons and azaleas. Shrubs are widely used, with foliage effects produced by berberis, cotinus, maples and variegated hollies.

The rocks came from a quarry near Maidstone and were transported by means of a trailer drawn by a steam engine. The driver of this lived in the Keeper's Cottage in Blean woods and the noise of his engine travelled so far that a child was sent out to listen for it, so that his wife could time the cooking of the dinner to coincide with his arrival home.

The special charm of the rock garden is the meandering path that gives access to all parts, enabling the visitor to view many of the diminutive plants at close quarters.

The Water Garden
It has now been several years since Sandys and Lesley asked their friends Rick and Aida Sturdy to design a water garden. The Sturdys are highly qualified landscape gardeners and under their direction the piped water from the lake overflow was released to form a meandering stream, with one large pool and a small cascade.

The stream is now bordered by moisture-loving plants. At this time the Little Wood was extended with a planting of mixed shrubs and trees. Wild flowers were sown in a small area of the paddock, which is sheltered by alder windbreaks. Specimen trees lead the eye towards the orchards and to the view of the parish church of Hernhill.

The Little Wood
The Little Wood rises steeply on the further side of the lake. The soil is sandy and very dry, so although the rhododendrons appreciate its acidity they struggle with the shortage of water. Several of the wonderful old oaks were blown over by the 1987 hurricane, but the remainder provide the site for a rookery and form a canopy for bluebells, Solomon's seal and hundreds of daffodils.

The Arboretum & Viewpoint
The arboretum was planted to commemorate Mary's 80th birthday and also 300 years of the family's ownership of Mount Ephraim. Designed by the Sturdys, it has an artificially raised mound which gives an excellent view of Blean woods and Hernhill church. We call it an arboretum rather grandly, but it is actually a small area of tree planting featuring acers, sorbus, gums, birches and other favourites which have been planted with a view to the future. The windbreak uses only species to be found in the surrounding woodland.

The Lake
The lake is an area of peace and beauty in any season. It is fed by springs and by a stream from the Blean hills and carries a variety of coarse fish. It was dug by hand in 1912 by unemployed Welsh miners.

The Millennium Rose Garden
Situated at the outer end of the topiary the rose garden has been recently completed with the addition of some fine wrought iron arches and an arbour. The roses chosen represent the many different types grown during the last century, and include damask, alba, and bourbon. The Millennium Rose Garden with scent and colour to savour, should be at its best in June and July but the elegant design is enchanting at any time.

Big Beds
On the terrace above the tennis court are four large beds planted to a design by Mary Readman. Shrubs and roses provide brilliant contrasts in colour and foliage. Two groups of variegated poplars are particularly eye-catching in early summer.

The Rose Gardens & Front Lawns
The top terrace contains two rose gardens with beds again designed by Mary Readman to include the long established variegated weeping hollies. In one garden, species and shrub roses predominate, in the other are hybrid teas. Even the names are evocative; Gypsy Boy, Pearl Drift, Nevada, Ballerina and so on. Steps lead up to the front lawn with its false acacia, its ornamental fountain, its frontal view of the house and its magnificent views of the Thames Estuary.

Sparrows Hill & Viewpoint
Sparrows Hill is the cricket ground for Boughton Cricket Club. It is situated just beyond the ha-ha with exceptional views and a truly unusual outfield which slopes away steeply on two sides.

The Topiary Garden & Herbaceous Border
Walk back past the fountain to the front lawn, passing to the left of the house. This leads to the tea room, herbaceous border and topiary garden, with its miscellany of birds, animals and First World War memorabilia in clipped yew. The long herbaceous border, with its sheltering brick wall, provides colour from mid June onwards.

Snowdrop Bank
Snowdrop Bank, reached through a doorway in the wall by the herbaceous border, is worth a short diversion. Planted by Belgian refugees, housed opposite Mount Ephraim during the First World War as guests of Willie Dawes, it gives a marvellous view of the entire garden.

The Hernhill Craft Centre
Return to the topiary garden and continue to the stable block, where the Hernhill Craft centre is housed. It was set up in 1977 as a permanent jubilee project. Members give periodical demonstrations and produce a variety of handmade items which are offered for sale on Sunday afternoons. The adjacent fountain has been restored with the aid of a grant from the Kent Gardens Trust.

The Mizmaze

The Japanese Bridge

The Lake

The Millennium Rose Garden

The Rose Terrace in the Autumn

Topiary

Topiary

Herbaceous Border

Magnolias in Bloom