I was blown away by the gorgeousness of the English countryside and how it is reflected in their gardens.

Out of the city, it’s breathtakingly beautiful!

The Cotswolds.

Could it be anymore perfect?

How about some walls made from stones found in the fields? The top row is tipped up to keep your animals in and any others out.

Beautiful, gorgeous, dazzling, splendid, sublime, I need all those words to describe what I saw.

Throw in some little villages so quaint and perfect that it makes your teeth hurt.

Everywhere you look, it’s so …

beautiful, gorgeous, dazzling, splendid, sublime.

Even a ruin. This medieval church, destroyed during the Reformation in the 16th century. No concrete anywhere, instead it’s a lush and mowed lawn and carefully clipped topiary.

Topiary, it’s all over. It is so cool! I am fascinated by it.

It’s a living sculpture. No slacking allowed, it must be constantly tended to, clipped and maintained.

Geometric shapes are common, like this one in the garden at Hever Castle.

Sometimes they’re a little off, tilted or lopsided. Mother Nature doesn’t always want to be controlled.

These trees at Hampton Court, trimmed into conical-like forms.

Also, topiary is just plain weird,

but in a good way.

These rounded cylinder shapes at Hidcote Garden in the Cotswolds. Standing in a row at attention and adding a soft edge to the space.

Sometimes they’re cut into a recognizable shape.

Like these birds at Hidcote, behind them a perfectly clipped house shaped gate.

Or this one, at Hever Castle, cut into a sort of a Tweety Bird shape.

Is it still topiary when it’s been pruned into a wall shape? Or does it become a hedge?

One of the garden rooms at Hidcote.

Long rows of hedges that form huge rooms. Places to get lost.

On one side, perfectly controlled,

On the other side, more wild.

And beyond that, the natural countryside. Just as beautiful.

More beautiful?