Bloomsbury Odyssey .. Charleston Farmhouse Garden, Sussex, England

Charleston House Pool  © Alice Joyce

Charleston House Gardens – Undeniably I’m  a devotee of all-things Bloomsbury; an admirer of Virginia Woolf’s writing, and an aficionado of the overall aesthetic of Vanessa Bell, Virginia’s sister – a painter known for decorating most every aspect of Charleston, the home she shared with artist Duncan Grant (among other inhabitants, at various times during the early 20th century). Having toured myriad English gardens over the years, a distinct focus emerged on my recent itinerary: To visit Charleston, Vanessa’s countryside retreat in Sussex, and gain entree to Monk’s House, the home Virginia shared with her husband Leonard Woolf. At Monk’s House I encountered gardens as lovely as those at Charleston: But more on Virginia’s garden in another feature.

Charleston House Levitating Damsel  © Alice Joyce

Whimsy & An Unusual Approach to Romance at Charleston Farmhouse

The eccentricities of the literary and artistic figures of the Bloomsbury set are documented widely in biographies, scholarly works, and fictional renderings. To a degree, the unconventional lifestyles of Virginia and Vanessa, Clive Bell and Duncan Grant, Lytton Strachey and Roger Fry – a few well-known members of the group, are reflected to this day in the character of Charleston’s gardens, and certainly in the house’s richly decorated interiors, which I could not photograph.

Charleston Gardens – Early Spring © Alice Joyce

Located in England’s South Downs, Charleston satisfied every expectation. I encountered a heady mix of blooms during my early spring sojourn; a bounty of vividly colorful flowers in small spaces, where focal points were sited for maximum emphasis. Roses clambered up the house’s facade, and familiar old-fashioned perennials and self-sown annuals overflowed along the pathways.

The walled garden continues to work its magic on visitors: An exuberant informality displayed in plantings that combine enchantingly with hardscape elements like gravel paths, mosaic paving and abundant sculptural works. One can easily imagine the sounds of  Vanessa’s children frolicking in the pond or running amidst the flower beds, while the adults enjoyed the pleasures of the garden; the ravishing fragrance of Choisya and roses accompanying the lively conversation.

Charleston Mosaic Piazza Patio © Alice Joyce

I’ll attempt to quote a Charleston docent, quoting Dorothy Parker: “Bloomsbury paints in circles, lives in squares, and loves in triangles.”

Charleston House Garden Gate © Alice Joyce

While the bohemian antics associated with Charleston’s residents may have raised eyebrows, they achieved a verdant landscape, finely tuned to the artistic vision of its creators, yet one that flows smoothly through time, merging in its own way with a 21st century mindset.

Charleston House Sculpture © Alice Joyce

Lush displays of spring bulbs cavorted with bleeding hearts, forget-me-nots, and fluffy double-yellow Kerria blossoms.

Charleston Garden Small Pond  © Alice Joyce

Charleston House © Alice Joyce