January perhaps isn't the best time of year to view gardens but I was lucky enough to visit Stowe gardens this month. It was a bit wet and grey but i could still appreciate the structure of the garden and the numerous monuments.
The National Trust have spent almost 30 years reinstating the gardens and they continue to improve the gardens for visitors, it's well worth a visit and always a delight to see some of Capability Brown's work.
This new statue, below, had recently been installed amid new woodland planting.
The herbaceous borders, below, were looking quiet but will no doubt look fantastic in the summer!
I found this curved monument below most interesting. It is the Temple of British Worthies and was designed by Willian Kent in 1734. It contains niches for 16 busts, eight either side of a central oval niche for the head of Mercury. On the left are figures of contemplation: poets, philosophers and scientists; on the right are figures of action: monarchs, statesmen and warriors.
I always try and include features and focal points in my design schemes. They aren't to the scale of those at Stowe but they hold the same intention, to guide the eye and draw one around the garden space.