King George IV‘s former Brighton palace defies description, although Taj Mahal West seems pretty apt. 😉 Completed in 1823, this blend of minarets and onion domes is an arresting sight against the bright blue sky.
The Pavilion and Gardens were designed by architect John Nash and William Townsend Aiton, founder of the Royal Horticultural Society. Both viewed buildings and landscapes as part of a picturesque whole, combining trees, shrubs and plants along carriageways leading to the Palace.
Their goal was to create the accidental effects of the “countryside” in a series of changing patterns as people approached the building.
In the early 2000s, the gardens were revamped to exacting standard and historic accuracy. Everything growing today is typical of the Regency Period. Strolling the grounds is like stepping back in time!
This next image is one of my favorites from our entire trip. 🙂 What a beautiful Buddleia!
Unexpected textures and shapes were everywhere. Look at these Hydrangeas!
My knowledge of Mediterranean zone plants is fairly lacking! Might this be Killarney Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo?) The leaves don’t look quite right, but what a pretty shrub!
I’ve Googled (hard!) and also asked a few gardening friends about this next “unknown.” No luck! Any ideas?
Who am I?
I do however know Fuchsia! I grew quite a few in Massachusetts and was thrilled to see this vibrant specimen!
The Asters were everywhere, but I liked these best:
As we were leaving, I noticed something else I couldn’t quite identify. Eupatorium? Some kind of Verbena? Oy..I have a lot to learn! 🙂 (Nice iron scrolled fencing, though!)
For further info and scheduled events, check out the Royal Pavilion official site.
Until next time!
🙂 🙂 🙂
Related articles
- Brighton and Hove, Part 1 (smallhousebiggarden.wordpress.com)
20 thoughts on “Royal Pavilion Gardens: Brighton and Hove (Part 2)”
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small house/BIG GARDEN 
Excellent pics 🙂
Thanks! They were taken on an iphone!
Looks the perfect place to visit … love the photos
It was such a glorious day for a stroll, too!
I was only in that area once years ago and didn’t realise they had such lovely gardens. Something to think about if I’m ever all the way over there again!
I actually liked the Pavilion Gardens more than Kew! It was more of a meandering layout, and jam packed with so many different day-to-day plants…kind of like a larger version of the best backyard garden you’ve ever seen!
What a great compliment to the Brighton Pavillion!
Wonderful pics and all from iphone…amazing.:)
I was pretty surprised by the results too!
Sorry no, not a strawberry tree, they are rose hips, I’m fairly sure its a prickly wild rose which also fits with the orange seeds. I think they are a form of wild iris!
Oh thank you for this info! I was stumped!!
Not as stumped as I’d be with your flora! 🙂
The unknown flower is so unique and amazing. I’ve never seen anything like that ! 😮
I enjoyed every single photo. They are so colorful and bright.
What an interesting palace – looks very un-English. Love the garden. Don’t think that’s a Eupatorium, but have no idea what it is.
Thank you for taking us back in time. The palace…just beautiful and the garden, full of exciting, exotic, radiant blooms. It’s a wonderland of plants and flowers. For a moment, I felt like a royalty.Have a great weekend. Best of blessings to you and your family.
What a wonderful opportunity to see this beautiful garden. And, I love the green fence. 🙂
I liked this garden better than Kew which was more display oriented. This was more designed for strolling and contemplation…truly an experience!
We really enjoyed the floral show all over England in September. Around here, flowers are usually looking more than a little tired by then. But those milder summers must be heaven for so many plants. 🙂