Walking through the impressive gateway we are welcomed by a mass of richly purple hellebores (Helleborus orientalis). These Lenten roses are habitually austere, their assenting crinolines bowing to us as we pass.
Although many of us had already seen the ‘new’ entrance with its majestic gates and feature planting, it is still a subject of discussion more than 11 years after its completion. Local landscape architects Environmental Associates contributed to the design which complements the façade of the original school buildings perfectly.
Violas, like black-naped orioles (Oriolus chinesis), peep enthusiastically over the edge of their pensile nest, suspended by concatenated chains from the wall of the school. Surprise and delight emanates from their tiny faces as a noble vermilion bird alights on their basket.
Daffodils (Narcissus ‘Ice
Follies’) sway a blast of late winter boreal air adjacent to the ribbon-striped
lower lawn. These capricious creatures
turn from us on their rigid stems, aloof, before twisting to face us winking in
their frivolous frippery.
Pretty delft-blue Dutch bonnets of hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis) sit with their backs against the walls of the top lawn.
Brought by the hurricane, and demolishing the garden wall, this dragon powerfully dominates the vista. Attracted by the school’s recognised status ‘Advanced Confucius Classroom’ by Hanban for excellence in teaching Mandarin Chinese, this auspicious beast grazes, replete, after its meal.
Sprinkled with gold dust, good fortune and joy radiates from this
gorgeous crimson flowering quince (Chaenomeles x superba).
After a delicious afternoon tea the alumnae depart; spirits of
former pupils peer at them through the leaded windows as they leave, and shadows shift as their girlish
chatter can be heard as they run laughing across
the lawns.
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