It seems that everyone is talking about mindfulness and wellbeing these days. Not surprising after 10 years of austerity. Perhaps it is a good sign that people want to put it all behind them and be more positive. One definition given for wellbeing is “the experience of health, happiness, and prosperity. It includes having good...
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Cascades Gardens, Derbyshire – a haven of peace
I bought the Cascades house and the surrounding land in 1996. The idea for the garden began that summer when I visited Eheiji a Zen Buddhist monastery (Temple of Eternal Peace) in the western Alps of Japan. I was only allowed to stay there by agreeing to follow the practices...
Cascades Gardens inspired by Japanese Meditation Gardens
Japanese Gardens for Meditation In the Summer of 1996 in the same year that I bought The Cascades, I visited Kyoto, Japan. I wanted to re-visit one of the most famous and inspiring gardens The Daisen In, at Daitoku-ji Monastery. I arranged to sit with the Abbot at 8.30am to...
Cascades Gardens. A celebration of nature- beautiful and soothing
When I get a Trip Advisor review of the garden that claims that my garden is average and that I have weeds in the garden, I realise how much we all have a different view of gardening.I have long since vowed that I would never have a lawn that showed...
Conifer collection at Cascades Gardens
Cascades Gardens has seen a lot of changes over last autumn and winter.Inspired by Adrian Blooms book “Gardening with Conifers” and the birth of my daughter Sophia in November 2015, I have created two conifer beds on the side of the rocks in the first part of the garden.I have...
Snow In January 2015
January has been unusually cold and snowy this January. Thank goodness The Cascades guest rooms are warm and comfortable. We have had a few inches of snow in the court yard and garden most of the month and the boy’s snowman has only just disappeared in the first week of...
Great Progress In 2014
Cascades Gardens may date back to 1750 but the 4 acre garden as it now stands started it’s creation in 1996. It has gone through many phases of clearing, landscaping and planting since then and a huge number of trees, shrubs and perennial flowers have been collected and planted. Opening...