"Amazement at George Harrison's Actions: Departure from The Beatles, Shift to Gardening, and Creation of a Remarkable Garden Masterpiece"
Friar Park, a house on a hill above Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire, has a rich horticultural history that spans over a century. The rock garden, a key feature of the estate, has evolved through the years, reflecting the interests and passions of its various owners.
The rock garden, intact since the 1890s, is a testament to the craftsmanship of its original builders. Sir Frank Crisp, a lawyer and botanist, created this four-acre Alpine Garden around 1896, complete with an imposing replica of the Matterhorn, known as the Henley Matterhorn. Crisp's garden was constantly extended and improved, housing over 4,000 varieties of plants.
Fast forward to 1970, when George Harrison, the legendary musician, bought Friar Park. Harrison, a keen gardener with a particular interest in trees and shrubs, found an estate of 30 acres, close to the town, but completely protected from it. He visited the Hillier Arboretum in Hampshire and the gardens of Cornwall, gathering inspiration for his own garden.
Upon purchasing Friar Park, Harrison's first act was to build a recording studio. However, his passion for gardening soon took over, and he bought one plant of every one of a local nurseryman's trees and shrubs. Harrison, along with his wife Olivia, established a valley of tree ferns, a sweep of 'Spotty Dotty' podophyllum, and expansive beds for blue meconopsis betonicifolia and cardiocrinum giganteum in the rock garden. Olivia Harrison has made exceptional plantings in the rock garden, including large groups of orchids, primulas, and various species from different regions.
Interestingly, the years of neglect brought two benefits to the rock garden. Some tree seedlings grew in cracks, creating stunted pine trees similar to those in the Alps. The shelter trees, growing to great heights, created sheltered, shady, humus-rich areas for new plantings. Many of the plantings in the rock garden have been set exactly where they were more than a century ago.
Despite not restoring the rock garden to its former design and plantings, the Harrisons did manage to preserve its original structure and many of its plantings. Some articles published in the early 20th century have archive photographs confirming many of the plantings in the rock garden.
The rock garden's most impressive feature today is its luxuriant plantings, surrounded by huge boulders. The lofty Henley Matterhorn, faithfully repainted twice a year, stands tall amidst these vibrant gardens.
In a remarkable turn of events, Olivia Harrison has been successful in recovering many of the garden gnomes and animal ceramics that had been sold off by the poverty-stricken nuns who owned Friar Park before Harrison. The lofty Henley Matterhorn, adorned with these garden gnomes, adds a whimsical touch to the grandeur of the rock garden.
Forty years later, all those purchases made by George Harrison make a major contribution to the gorgeous landscapes at Friar Park today. Mrs Harrison's collection of old black-and-white pictures, while not providing enough detail to identify the plants with certainty, offers a fascinating glimpse into the garden's past. The rock garden at Friar Park continues to be a testament to the passion for gardening that has been a constant feature of this historic estate.
