College Record 2019

MEMORIES OF WOLFSON
The Glory of
the Garden
by W. M. (Peggy) Morgan
(MCR, Lecturer in the Faculty of
Theology and Religion)
Kipling’s appreciative phrase, if not all the
sentiments in his poem, including his assumption
that the gardeners are all men and boys, is not
inappropriate to Wolfson’s own collection of
gardens. I am a near neighbour with a tiny garden
of my own, so one of the many privileges of
my College membership is being able to walk
round all parts of Wolfson Gardens regularly. I
find the team of gardeners working hard in the
different areas all display Wolfson’s characteristic
friendliness in responding to my questions, and
they do wonderful work to keep such large and
varied areas looking so attractive. The gardens are
one of Wolfson’s many works of art.
As I started to think about writing this it was mid-
April. The pear blossom was out in the Bishop’s
Garden, the apple blossom was emerging and
the rhubarb sprouting. There is still a strong sense
of the original use of the garden strips which
provided produce for the adjoining house and
were presumably gardened by a team of Victorian
gardeners. The last of the scattering of primroses
were still about, whilst blue and white anemones
graced the wild garden and much else was
emerging. Wild garlic later gave its own distinctive
aroma as I walked, and bluebells filled the space
at the base of the much-anticipated wisteria
which was out in April 2015 when this garden
was opened to members of Wolfson, an event
photographed and recorded in the 2015 Record.
The wisteria is singularly magnificent in its stature
and perfume. It has been pruned this year, so it
was late flowering, but its companion is heading
over the pergola and nearby conifer in profusion.
Careful pruning of shrubs at the end of the front
lawn has opened up what Kipling would call a
Photo: John Cairns
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COLLEGE RECORD 2019