A riot of tulips at Standen House

Main entrance Standen House in SussexI went yesterday in the late morning to Standen House when the sun was shining fiercely and the gardens were ablaze with tulips.  8,000 tulips adorned the terraces and paths around this Arts and Crafts family home in the West Sussex countryside. The riot of tulips had been planted to mark the centenary of the death of Standen’s architect Philip Webb.

My first glimpse of tulips was in the kitchen garden as I approached the house after parking my car. There was also a sign just outside the kitchen garden showing the names of all the tulips on display.tanden and kitchen garden

 

Selection of tulips at Standen HouseAnd here’s a short background on Standen… The house set in the hillside overlooking the countryside is renowned for its Arts and Crafts designs and interiors by Morris & Co.. William Morris, Edward Burne-Jones, Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Philip Webb (the architect of this house) were partners in the decorative arts and interior design business Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co., which later became Morris & Co.. Standen House was built in the late 19th century for the Beale family and is now part of the National Trust.

A house should be clothed by its garden‘ William Morris

I actually love taking photos of flowers in the bright sunlight rather than just in a softer morning light. The flowers just seem…well, happy. Tulip in sunlightMargarita red tulipsPink and purple tulips at standenPurple tulips against skyIt was rather amazing some of the shapes of the petals at the tulip festival. I think this one below might be the Maytime tulip.

Maytime tulipFlower beds around the house were lined with different selections and colours. The bed below includes Raspberry Ripple and Queen of the Night tulips.

Raspberry Ripple and Queen of the Night tulips StandenTulip festival at StandenRows welcomed visitors in the courtyard by the main entrance.

Tulips in Standen front courtyard

And there were some quiet shaded spots to admire tulips mixed with other plants.

Tree blossoms and tulips at Standen

Oh and the different shades of orange and red! Nothing bashful about these flowers.Orange and red tulipsorange and red petalsMargarita tulip

I also went inside the house – but will save most of that visit for another post. I did, though, put together this collage showing the William Morris fabric on a sofa in the morning room with tulips and bluebells I saw in Standen garden yesterday.William Morris sifa and bluebells and tulips at Standen

The tulip festival continues until mid-May 2015. As part of this spring celebration there will a garden tour and photography workshops (which take place early in the morning!) as well as lectures and exhibitions on the architect Philip Webb. For more visitor information you can find it here on the National Trust website.

Tulip-bed-at-Standen-HouseThere was a smile on my face after I left. The tulips, gardens and the interior of Standen House had made me feel rather inspired. Hmm, I think I need to head on over more often. After all, I only live about 10 minutes away.

Mammasaurus How Does Your Garden Grow

19 thoughts on “A riot of tulips at Standen House”

  1. Those flowers definitely look happy – and so am I now having seen the colours against that gorgeous blue sky. Thanks for the info too, we’re down in East Grinstead next monday and I’m looking for somewhere to go with the in-laws, this one’s now on my list along with Wakehurst Place and Borde Hill. So much choice! Love that shot into the sun. #hdygg

  2. Wow colour BOOM!

    I love it, I love it all. Great when gardens add plants guides to varieties like that isn’t it? I’ve been known to rummage in plants and trees before looking for name tags.

    Those fancy tulips look almost like peonies – just stunning! I feel warmer for looking at these, and now I want to get out into the sunshine myself. Just beautiful photos Kriss.

    Thanks for joining in again and I’ll see you Saturday ! x

  3. I love swathes of planting, whatever the flower, and this looks beautiful. I have a few tulips in pots this year but they only seemed to last a few days before dying.

  4. Wonderful wonderful blooms Kriss, especially love the tulips with the bright blue sky behind them. What a treat and only 10 mins away – I’d definitely be back. I do hope you were lying down to take some of these 🙂

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