Late summer gardens in Essex: 7 you should visit this month

After the highs of midsummer, this time of the year is one of the best to see borders still boasting strong colours in the warm rays of September. Philippa Pearson picks out some top Essex gardens at which to enjoy the last throws of summer

A late summer border at Feeringbury Manor (Image: Archant)

I love late summer in the garden. While midsummer sees borders billowing with blousy roses and tall foxgloves, these give way to hot colours in September’s sumptuous borders.

The late summer sun makes the vibrant colours of dahlias, crocosmias and asters bask in the warm days at this time of the year and many flowers will continue to bloom until the first frosts. With a backdrop of foliage from shrubs and trees changing into early autumnal hues, the garden needn’t be past its best as the days get shorter.

There are many gorgeous Essex gardens to visit this month, all brimming with inspiration and ideas for your own horticultural patch, so why not take time to get out for some late summer garden visiting? Many gardens open for the National Garden Scheme. Details can be found in the famous NGS yellow book or at www.ngs.org.uk

Gardens with Views

Woodhatch Farm, Tawney Common, Theydon Mount, Epping, CM16 7PU

The charming garden at Snares Hill Cottage, Stebbing (Image: Archant)

Open Saturday, September 16, from noon to 5pm

Enjoy landscaped ponds and a lake stocked with fish, plus ducks and Moorhens in abundance. There’s also an orchard, a recently developed five-acre wild flower meadow, a vegetable garden and a greenhouse, all next to the family farm and with incredible views of the Essex countryside. Cream teas are served in the Essex Barn.

Admission is £5, children free

Colourful Planting and Garden Art, Feeringbury Manor, Coggleshall Road, Feering, CO5 9RB

The natural swimming pond at Snares Hill Cottage, Stebbing (Image: Archant)

Open every Thursday and Friday until October 6, 9am to 4pm

Masses of Michaelmas daises with cosmos, dahlias and Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ and many unusual plants make this garden enchanting in September. There are also wonderful sculptures by Ben Coode-Adams.

Admission is £5, children free

Ulting Wick, Crouchmans Farm Road, Maldon, CM9 6QX

Open Sunday, September 10 and Friday 15, from 2pm to 5pm

The garden at Dragons, Boyton Cross (Image: Archant)

Dramatic late summer beds with zingy, tender, exotic plant combinations and plenty of stunning dahlias, are all set against a backdrop of listed black barns. Elsewhere in this eight acre garden enjoy herbaceous borders, a pond, kitchen garden and wild flower meadows, plus woodland and lots of unusual plants for sale, and homemade teas.

Admission is £5, children free

Snares Hill Cottage, Duck End, Stebbing, CM6 3RY

Open Sunday, September 10 from 10.30am to 4pm

Lovley planting at Dragons, Boyton Cross (Image: Archant)

A fascinating one and a half acre garden with surprises around every corner. A natural swimming pool is bordered by romantic flower beds, a herb garden and Victorian folly. A bog garden borders woods and leads to a silver birch copse, a beach garden and a ‘Roman’ temple. Woodpeckers and lots of interesting sculptures also feature in the garden. Homemade teas are available.

Admission is £4, children free

Furzelea, Bicknacre Road, Danbury, CM3 4JR

Open Wednesday, September 13, 2pm to 6pm, and Sunday, September 17, 11am to 5pm

Enjoy a Victorian country house surrounded by a garden designed, created and maintained by the owners to provide maximum, all year round interest. The colour coordinated borders and beds are enhanced with topiary, grasses, climbers and many unusual plants, with vibrant showy dahlias and many other exotics in full bloom during September. Homemade teas are available.

Country borders at Parsonage House, Helions Bumpstead (Image: Archant)

Admission is £4, children free

Dragons, Boyton Cross, Chelmsford, CM1 4LS

Open Wednesday, September 20, from 2pm to 5pm

Discover sumptuous colour-themed borders with striking plant combinations in this three quarters of an acre garden, planted to encourage wildlife. It features specimen plants, fernery, grasses, meandering paths leading to ponds, a patio, scree garden and small vegetable garden. There are also two summerhouses, one overlooking a stream and farmland. Homemade teas are available.

Admission £4, children free

With a Touch of History

Parsonage House, Wiggins Green, Helions Bumpstead, Haverhill, CB9 7AD

Open Sunday, September 10, from 2pm to 5pm

Discover formal gardens with mixed borders full of late summer colour plus a wild flower meadow and orchard with old East Anglian apple varieties. Homemade teas are available, plus apple juice from the orchard.

Admission is £4, children free