Description of the Gardens

Description of the Gardens

The Priona Gardens have been evoking since their conception in 1978 by Henk Gerritsen and the late Anton Schlepers at the latter's parental home at Schuinesloot.

THE NAME PRIONA

The families in the village of Schuinesloot all had nicknames. Because they were hardly flattery, Anton's father invented his own, namely Priona.

GUIDED TOUR OF THE GARDENS

On entering the garden, you are immediately at its heart. An open space in front of the house (A) with three huge oak trees in it. The largest one is probably over 200 years old, and has served as a model for the logo of the Priona Gardens.

The space of the lawn, which is covered in spring by a sea of snowdrops, daisies and cuckoo-flowers, is interrupted by a group of topiared box (E). Unmistakably a group of chickens with eggs, strolling away from the neighbouring chicken run(D). Or is it? A closer examination shows headless chickens and disproportionally sized eggs.
In front of the barn (C) you may be lucky enough to discover the flowering stems of the ivy broomrape (Orobanche hederae) in summer.

The chicken topiary on the lawn

Right in front of the house is a small border with shade-loving plants, among them a collection of hellebores.

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