The garden he was viewing may well have been a formal 16th century 'parterre and knot' garden with intricate plantings bordered by minature box hedges and punctuated by quincunces of clipped yew. But as soon as Brown got to work, the plants were torn up, and the ground levelled and rolled to merge with the surounding fields. The wide vista would be decorated by a lake and elegantly placed clumps of trees - transported there by Brown's specially designed horse drawn tree trolley. The 18th century landscapers Brown and Kent were so successful that very few Tudor or 'Dutch' gardens escaped them, but one that did is Levens Hall in Cumbria, one of England's North-west counties. The yew topiary is 300 years old and the trees, clipped in every imaginable shape, look every day of it.
Rhododendrons thrive on the rocky outcrops and in the shade of ancient trees.
Clematis montana and wisteria festoon the stone cottages. Windermere is stunning. Equally appealing are the South West counties of Devon and Cornwall where Spring arrives early in this mildest part of England. In April the bulbs and alpines will be ablaze, the fruit blossom out and some magnolias and early rhododendrons. There are spectacular large gardens to visit like Hestercombe and the Royal Horticultural Society's garden at Rosemoor , as well as charming smaller gardens like The Garden House.