the english garden 201106

ARDENTHE ENGLISHGARDENGARDENTHE ENGLISHG

JUNE 2011 £3.99 A$9.50 FOR EVERYONE WHO LOVES BEAUTIFUL GARDENSJUNE 2011 £3.99 A$9.50

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MOWERS, PONDS & MORE...● Claire Austin’s inspirational IRIS NURSERY● An unsung GERTRUDE JEKYLL water garden ● Open gardens weekend in THE COTSWOLDS● Sensational ROSES at bountiful Borde Hill

FOR EVERYONE WHO LOVES BEAUTIFUL GARDENS

www.theenglishgarden.co.uk

WIN GARDEN MUSEUM MEMBERSHIP, WORTH £500!

Tom Stuart-SmithON CONCEPTUAL DESIGN

VISITING TIMEFEATURING 7 STUNNING

GARDENS FOR DAYS OUT

Full of seasonal f lowers

6 FREE*

PENSTEMONSWORTH

£14.97FOR EVERY

READER

◆ PENSTEMONS & LAVENDER

◆ GROWING FLOWERS FOR CUTTING

◆ A PETAL-CONFETTI NURSERY

◆ SUMMER CONTAINER ADVICE

FROM THE NATIONAL TRUST

◆ TOP BEE-FRIENDLY PLANTS

TEGUK 165 Cover final:UK 03/05/2011 15:13

It’s a great thing todedicate your wholeworking life to agarden, especiallyif it is not yours

As gardening styles change and plants goin and out of vogue, there was amoment when I thought the classicROSE GARDEN was falling out offavour. Thankfully, the gardens in this

issue demonstrate why this could never happen. Therose garden at Borde Hill in Sussex (pg 27), planted withmainly David Austin roses, is such an incredible sightat this time of year - I challenge anyone to find anothergenus that offers such a show.

Someone that would be happy to set two plants againsteach other is Claire Austin, David’s daughter. Thehundreds of different varieties of BEARDED IRIS thatcan been seen in flower at her nursery (pg 110) are trulyout of this world. They may not flower for long, but ifyou have the space, they offer a jaw-dropping display.And in this issue there’s also LAVENDER (pg 84) - whyon earth did I start this mad idea of squabbling overwhich genus is better than the other?

Here at The English Garden we’re out and about visitinggardens - some are new to us and others we have seenin the past. Last summer, I revisited TYLNEY HALL (pg34) in Hampshire after 12 years. Seeing a garden forthe first time in over a decade allows you to appreciatenew features and the maturity of what was new planting

back then. Older planting has been cleared to allowmore light into areas, and I can see how the years ofgraft have improved the garden. The head gardener hasbeen in place for 25 years - this is not unusual, as it’shard to leave a place you have given so much to. It’s agreat thing to dedicate your whole working life to agarden, especially if it’s not yours. For those who do,the rewards are rich; in particular this month, whenthey get to see people delighting in their hard work.

Have a glorious month, and if you’re opening yourgarden in June, you can now put the details on ourwebsite for free - go to www.theenglishgarden.co.uk

On the cover:Bachefield garden (pg 48)

Photograph: Marianne Majerus

Tamsin Westhorpe, Editor

EDITOR’S LETTER

JASO

NINGRAM

THE ENGLISHGARDEN AWARDS

2011The Nichee

Magazine AwardsBest Niche LifestyleConsumer Magazine

2010Garden Media GuildGardening Column

OfTheYearMark Diacono

2009Garden Media GuildGardening Column

OfTheYearJackie Bennett

Garden Media GuildNew Garden MediaTalent OfTheYearStephanie Mahon

2008Garden Media GuildNewWriter AwardJoe Reardon-Smith

Follow @TEGmagazine onTwitter and check out

The English Garden magazine page on Facebook

to see what we get up to this month�

TEGUK 165 Ed Letter final 03/05/2011 12:32

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EDITORIALEditor Tamsin Westhorpe

Deputy Editor Cinead McTernanArt Editor Frances Wallace

Production Editor/Writer Stephanie MahonEditorial Assistant Victoria Kingsbury

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UK SUBSCRIPTIONSTo subscribe, tel: +44 (0)1858 438840

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Subscription Offices: UK: The English Garden, CDS Global, Sovereign Park, MarketHarborough, Leicestershire LE16 9EF, England. Tel: +44 (0)1858 438840. Fax: +44 (0)1858434958. USA: The English Garden, PO Box 433068, Palm Coast, FL 32143-3068.Canada: The English Garden, 1415 Janette Avenue, Windsor, ON N8X 1Z1. Tel: 1-800-998-0807 (toll free). Europe and Rest of World: +44 (0)1858 438840. Online:www.theenglishgarden.co.uk

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ContentsJUNE10 The Rake James Alexander-Sinclair picks the best of what’s on

12 Shopping… For the water lover Floating candles and

lake-side ornaments, bridges and ponds; it’s all aqua this month

14 NationalTrust Head Gardener Damian Mitchell at Lytes Cary

21 Talking techniques Toby Buckland’s top tips on cutting flowers

24 Editor’s choice: Petrol mowers Tamsin eyes up rotary

petrol mowers to see which of these top models will cut it

55 Focus on Herefordshire The county’s best spots to enjoy

81 Eco-watch Anne Gatti discovers the ins and outs of garden ponds

116 Library leavesThis month’s new gardening books reviewed

130 Guest speakerTom Stuart-Smith on concept in garden design

Glorious gardens27 WEST SUSSEX Sunlight & roses Visit one of England’s

most enchanting rose gardens with one of our greatest rosarians

34 HAMPSHIRE Renewed vigour An historic water garden

designed by Gertrude Jekyll is enjoying a new lease of life

41 BERKSHIRE Quiet corners Who wouldn’t be charmed by

this scented, richly textured garden of secret nooks and crannies?

48 HEREFORDSHIRE Hilltop haven A windswept plot is

a small price to pay for sensational views of the countryside

57 LEICESTERSHIRE A real classic There’s nothing bijou

about this grand garden of sweeping lawns and wide borders

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TEGUK 165 Contents final 04/05/2011 14:29

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Design65 DESIGN GUIDEMix and match Helen Dillon takes us on a

tour of her ravishing town garden, featuring its iconic canal

73 HISTORIC FEATURES Try the knot Knot gardens aren’t just

a thing of the past, as modern reinventions show

75 A GARDEN REBORN Some like it hot The summer’s come

early for Suzie and David as they hoe, clean and enjoy the flowers

The edible garden83 Mark Diacono All the latest veg- and fruit-related events and tips

84 Cook your own Lavender looks good and tastes great - enjoy

our essential guide to growing and cooking it

88 Eats &Treats Ashton Open Gardens is the perfect family day out:

a village opening of more than 20 gardens with fun for all ages

Plants9 Plant swatchThree bee-beloved cottage garden plants

97 Plant focus Penstemons add that special something to

a border for a dash of old-fashioned glamour

105 Something blue Delphinium petals make great wedding

confetti according to the Real Flower Petal Confetti Company

110 Like father, like daughter David Austin’s daughter has

carved her own horticultural niche with her iris nursery, where she

looks after thousands of these flamboyant flowers

Offers, competitions & events23 Subscriptions Subscribe today and get six issues half price!

33 CompetitionWIN! One of four prize memberships toThe

Garden Museum in London, worth £500 each!

103 Plant offers 6 FREE* Penstemons for every reader - just

pay £4.50 postage - and plenty of other great deals too

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TEGUK 165 Contents final 04/05/2011 14:31

HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW

Exclusive Preview Eveningin aid of the RHS and St John Ambulance

Monday 4 July 2011 5.30pm–10.30pmRHS Members: £50pp* Public: £55pp

Picnic andRestaurantbookingsavailable

* RHS members can purchase up to four tickets at the members rate. Please note under 18's are not admitted to the Preview.

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0845 3700 128 rhs.org.uk/hamptoncourtpreviewSummer’s glorious garden party

Summer’s best kept secret

PLANT SWATCHPLANTS FOR BEES


Perovskia‘Blue Spire’A shrubby plant that is similar in appearance

to lavender, but flowers later, towards the end

of summer and into autumn. ‘Blue Spire’ is a

particularly good cultivar with upright, downy

white stems that carry masses of violet-blue

flowers (above) - the colours that bees pick up

most easily. The small, aromatic, silvery leaves

help the plant to conserve water, so it is a good

choice for dry borders or gravel gardens.

Height 1m; spread 90cm.

CULTIVATIONPlant in well-drained soil in full sun. Perovskia

is drought tolerant and can cope with coastal

locations and shallow, chalky soils. Cut back

the old flower stems in early spring, leaving

a low, woody framework.

Achillea millefolium‘Lilac Beauty’Feathery foliage and abundant summer flowers

make this achillea an essential component of any

perennial border. The lilac colour is in the right

spectrum to attract bees, and the open, flat

corymbs invite butterflies and hoverflies as well.

‘Lilac Beauty’ (above right) is particularly free

flowering, and the heads fade attractively as

they age. Like all achilleas it can spread to form

substantial mats, making it invaluable to fill space

in larger borders. Height: 80cm; spread: 60cm.

CULTIVATIONCopes with most conditions but a well-drained

soil that doesn’t dry out completely is ideal. Likes

an open, sunny position, but adaptable to shade.

Easy to propagate by lifting and splitting the

clumps into smaller pieces in autumn or spring.

Echinacea purpurea

The purple coneflower (top right) came originally

from North America, but has taken British

gardens by storm.This big, tough perennial is

hard to miss with its central, golden brown cone

and reflexed petals that sweep down, making

the cone seem more prominent, and a perfect

landing pad for bees and butterflies. It’s late

flowering and a great plant to extend a border

into autumn. Height: to 1.5m; spread; 45cm.

CULTIVATIONGrow in any fertile soil in a sunny position.The

plants benefit from a mulch of organic compost

in spring. Stems can be cut down to the ground

after flowering in autumn, or left and cut down

in February. Clumps don’t like much disturbance,

so only divide when well established.

Get the buzzInclude some bee-friendly plants in your garden and helpto ensure the future of our most precious pollinators

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TEGUK 165 Plant swatch final:UK 28/04/2011 13:10

10 The English Garden

news � updates � events � trends � gossip � news � updates � events

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BAG SOME LAVENDERThere is something pleasantly overpowering about encountering

a lot of lavender in one place (above). The head seems to swim

slightly and the senses tingle. Not surprising, really, when you see

what affect it has on bees. Dr Simon Charlesworth runs Downderry

Nurseries in Kent, where he not only grows a lot of plants, but also

turns them into all sorts of interesting oils and unguents. The nursery

is open all year, but if you cannot get there, then he is hosting a

weekend at The Garden Museum in London (see pg 33) on 11 and

12 June, when there will be talks and plants for sale.

www.downderry-nursery.co.uk

ACROSSTHE BORDEROkay, I know that this is The English Garden, but I am making the bold

assumption that it is also read North of the Border. Or at least read

by people who occasionally venture past Gretna Green. If you are in

Scotland for the weekend of 3-5 June, then a visit to Gardening Scotland

(above) would be a fine use of your time. There will be plants, show

gardens, food and advice - and not just any old advice. The team from

The Beechgrove Garden (BBC Scotland’s long-running answer to

Gardeners’ World) will be there, and more than 400 exhibitors will be

taking part. A point to note is that Scottish-born plants are usually tough

and hardy, able to shrug off the worst of our soft southern winters, so

go with empty shopping bags and full wallets. The show is at the Royal

Highland Centre, Ingliston, Near Edinburgh. For more information, visit

www.gardeningscotland.com

A DAYTO SHOW OFFThe joint is jumping with flower shows at the moment, both

national and local. Just for a change, why not give theWest

Woodhay House Garden Show a shufti? It is all in aid of charity

and has grown from 2,000 visitors to a whopping 8,000. There

will be 80 stalls, the R.E.M.E. band, lots of good food and a sort

of Antiques Roadshow, and the house gardens will be open for

visitors. There is a gala evening on Friday 3 June and public

days on the 4 and 5 June. Tickets £7, and children go free.

Tel: +44 (0)1206 251790. www.westwoodhaygardenshow.co.uk

PPooeettss oovveerr tthhee yyeeaarrss hhaavvee

eennjjooyyeedd JJuunnee.. PPooeettrryy iiss

ssoommeetthhiinngg tthhaatt hhaass lloonngg

ggoonnee hhaanndd iinn hhaanndd wwiitthh ggaarrddeennss,,

fflloowweerrss,, bbaallmmyy ddaayyss aanndd lloonngg

eevveenniinnggss.. NNoott jjuusstt bbeeccaauussee ooff

tthhee ggeenneerraall aaiirr ooff lliigghhtt--hheeaarrtteedd

ffeeccuunnddiittyy,, bbuutt aallssoo ffoorr mmoorree

rruuddiimmeennttaarryy rreeaassoonnss.. HHaavvee yyoouu

eevveerr ttrriieedd tthhiinnkkiinngg ooff aa wwoorrdd tthhaatt hhaappppiillyy rrhhyymmeess wwiitthh

AAuugguusstt?? OOrr OOccttoobbeerr ?? IItt rreeqquuiirreess aa cceerrttaaiinn mmaanniippuullaattiioonn

ooff tthhee ssyyllllaabblleess.. BBuutt JJuunnee:: wweellll,, tthheerree aarree mmaannyy mmoorree

ppoossssiibbiilliittiieess.. MMoooonn,, ffoorr eexxaammppllee,, aanndd ssppoooonn,, ttuunnee,, rruunnee,,

ggoooonn aanndd bboooonn.. JJuusstt ffoorr aa ssttaarrtt.. SSoo wwhhyy nnoott lleett tthhee mmuussee

ttaakkee yyoouu tthhiiss mmoonntthh?? IItt cceerrttaaiinnllyy bbeeaattss wweeeeddiinngg..

JJaammeess AAlleexxaannddeerr--SSiinnccllaaiirr

TEGUK 165 Rake final 03/05/2011 15:45

JUNE� Friday 3 - Sunday 5, Cumbria

The Holker Garden Festival at Holker

Hall and Gardens is celebrating gardens,

countryside, food and crafts. 10am-

5.30pm.Tickets cost £14.50.

Tel: +44 (0)1539 558838.

www.holkerfestival.co.uk

� Sunday 5,West Sussex Explore

private gardens in the village of

Bosham, near Chichester. 11am-5pm.

Tickets £5 per adult, available from

participating gardens on the day.

For more information, visit

www.bosham.org.uk

� Sunday 5, Shropshire Plant

Hunters Fair at the new venue of

Hodnet Hall. 10am-4pm. Entry £2.50.

Tel: +44 (0)1630 685786 or visit

www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk

� Wednesday 15 - Sunday 19,

Birmingham BBC Gardeners’ World

Live at the NEC area.To book tickets,

see www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com

� Friday 17 - Saturday 18, Devon

SeeToby Buckland open the very

first Arts & Crafts Garden Festival at

CoombeTrenchard Estate.Toby will

be giving a special talk on ‘Planning

and Planting for Continuous Colour’.

For more information, visit

www.coombetrenchard.co.uk

� Sunday 19, Gloucestershire

Enjoy the opening of Misarden Gardens

in aid of the Cobalt appeal (UK imaging

service). From 2-4.30pm. Entrance

is £4. www.misardenpark.co.uk

� Friday 24 - Sun 26, East Sussex

Visit Pashley Manor Garden for the

Kitchen GardenWeekend. There will

be practical advice from experts and

a focus on local food as well as produce

from the garden. Admission £8.50.

Tel: +44 (0)1580 200888.

www.pashleymanorgardens.com

� Saturday 25, Leicestershire

Attend a garden photography day

at Barnsdale Gardens with Hemant

Jariwala. Tickets cost £67 including

a buffet lunch.To book tickets,

tel: +44 (0)1572 813200.

� Saturday 25 - Sunday 26,

Worcestershire Fifteen private

gardens are opening in aid of local

charities in the village ofWichenford.

Serving coffee, lunches and teas.

For more details visit the website:

www.wichenfordopengardens.com

� trends � gossip � news � updates � events � trends � gossip � news

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONEThe clematis (right). Difficult to fit into a poem,

but still one of our very best-loved garden

plants. I would put a lavish wager (of 54p) on

the odds that about 80% of gardens have at

least one variety of clematis. Cheerful climbers

that range in size from scrambly herbaceous

varieties (perfect for covering up the slightly

scraggy remains of Oriental poppies), to huge

tangled climbers that clothe trees and smother

walls with flowers.There really are clematis for

every taste: some people like varieties with

enormous flowers, while others prefer smaller

flowers (like the late-flowering viticellas). If

you are keen to learn more, why not join

the British Clematis Society? Single annual

membership costs £20. It offers workshops,

meetings, newsletters and exhibitions. Most

importantly, it conducts trials of all new varieties.

For more information about the society, visit

www.britishclematis.org.uk

SCULPTURE AND PLANTSI’ve always liked the idea of a town called

Gainsborough. Or any town whose name is

more famous for something else. I mention

Gainsborough because it’s near a nursery called

Hall Farm, which from 11-19 June hosts SAP11:

Sculpture and Plants 2011. The former will be laid

out among the lawns and borders, and include

works both figurative (above) and abstract. Here

you will have the chance to see the works of

30 artists at once - surely this is the place to

find something to fill that empty corner?

Tel: +44 (0)1427 668412. www.hall-farm.co.uk

FIELD OF DREAMSOne of the plants you can pretty much rely on

looking ‘fab-ul-ous’ this month is the good old

bearded iris (below). If you want to be knocked

sideways by these plants then you should make

your way toWoottens ofWenhaston.The iris field

is open from 24 May until 10 June, consisting of

two acres of headily scented, gorgeously coloured

flowers. You will see more than 450 varieties,

such as the soft peachy flowers of Iris ‘Orange

Harvest’, the colour of Olivia Newton-John. Before

travelling, it is worth checking on the website below

as weather may extend or reduce the opening days.

There is also a display garden open fromTuesday

toThursday if you require your irises a bit more

diluted. Michael Loftus is a passionate plantsman

whose obsessions are not just limited to irises -

they also cover a fine range of clivias, pelargoniums,

hemerocallis, auriculas and many more. Even if you

can’t get there, his catalogue is well worth a fiver.

www.woottensplants.co.uk

TEGUK 165 Rake final 03/05/2011 15:46

SHOPPINGFOR THE WATER LOVER

The lifeaquaticMake a splish and a splash in yourgarden this summer with the latestwater and pond products

TEGUK 165 Shopping final:UK 03/05/2011 13:57

OPPOSITE PAGE Natural swimming pond. Price on enquiry.Tel: +44 (0)1379 688000. www.theswimmingpondcompany.co.uk 2 ‘Bridge M’, a simple arched bridge

with side trim rails.Available in any length up to 190cm and any width to suit. Price on enquiry.Tel: +44 (0)1772 623822. www.ruslynwood.co.uk 3 Ornamental

ducks. Mother duck, £29.99; Baby duck, £16.99.Tel: +44 (0)1539 488100. www.lakeland.co.uk 4 Kingfisher on a stake. Handmade from twisted metal strips. £34.95.

Tel: 0844 5738644. www.worm.co.uk 5 Floating candles, £4.25 for 12.Tel: 0844 5572233. www.crocus.co.uk 6 Heyland Dovetail Boat. Prices start from £599.

Tel: +44 (0)1628 528830. www.smallboatsheyland.com 7 Oase Profi Pond Net, £28.99.Tel: +44 (0)1904 698800. www.bradshawsdirect.co.uk 8 ‘Monet’ Bridge,

12ft.Available galvanised or powder coated. £1,034. Delivery and installation charges are separate.Tel: +44 (0)1758 713634. www.montgardenbridges.co.uk

9 Bespoke galvanised steel pond cover for child safety. Price on enquiry.Tel: +44 (0)1299 877008. www.creativepondcovers.co.uk


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TEGUK 165 Shopping final:UK 03/05/2011 13:59

JUNENATIONAL TRUST


In the next of our exclusive series on National Trust gardens, we visit Head GardenerDamian Mitchell at Lytes Cary Manor in Somerset to get top tips for midsummerPHOTOGRAPHS JASON INGRAM

A DREAM IN GREEN

Understated but not underwhelming is

perhaps the best way to sum up the

gardens at Lytes Cary Manor, home

to the Lyte family for more than 400 years.

When SirWalter Jenner acquired the house in

1907, however, there were no gardens to speak

of, so he set about creating a series of ‘rooms’

in the Arts and Crafts style. Garden historian

Christopher Hussey poetically described Lytes

Cary as ‘a necklace of garden rooms strung on

green corridors’. The most famous element is

undoubtedly the Apostle Garden, an avenue

of 12 topiary yews (right) that echo the shape

of - and also frame - a dovecote in the distance.

The 35m-long border designed by Graham

StuartThomas starts with cool blues and

yellows, and warms up to creams, apricots,

purples and deep crimsons.The ornamental

orchard is a sight to behold in spring, the grass

ablaze with cowslips, camassias, narcissus and

snake’s-head fritillaries, while blossom bursts

from medlars, quinces and crab apples. And

you’ll find even more things to delight the eye

here, such as the tranquil pool garden,

hornbeam tunnel and raised walk.

WHAT’S IN SEASONIn flower this month is the lovely

Scabiosa atropurpurea ‘Beaujolais

Bonnets’ (far left), which is particularly

attractive to bees and butterflies.With its

delicate pale blue flowers, Clematis ‘Perle

d’Azur’ (centre) is easily recognisable. It

takes a couple of years to establish, but

once it has, it flowers abundantly. Everyone

loves Cerinthe major ‘Purpurascens’. This

attractive annual (left) will self-seed

profusely and is ideal for light soils.

FACT FILEPLACE Lytes Cary Manor, nine miles

south of Glastonbury in Somerset

SIZE About five acres

SOIL Very heavy clay, slightly alkaline

ASPECT The garden covers all directions,

but the main borders face south

SPECIALISM The topiary, lawns

and borders are the real focus. It takes

Damian six months (May to October),

working three days a week, to cut the

hedges and topiary by hand.

COMPILEDBY/CLA

IREMASSET

�

TEGUK 165 Lytes Cary National Trust final:UK 03/05/2011 11:46

I love the satisfaction of gettingthe shapes spot on. It’s hard work,but it is definitely worth it’‘


JUNENATIONAL TRUST


SUMMER CONTAINERSPlanting a display of annuals and tender

plants in a pot is an easy, relatively cheap

way of creating an eye-catching display.

TraditionaltechniquesMany gardeners favour watering

plants in the early morning.This

guarantees that they don’t get

scorched and have adequate

moisture during the day.

In a wheelbarrow, mix one-part loam

to one-part peat-free compost, adding

a balanced, slow-release feed.

Place terracotta crocks at the bottom

of your container, then shovel in the

mixture, making sure you gently and

regularly firm in the soil.

Position the plants on the soil before

planting them. Plant the central plant

(here, Canna indica) before the others.

Add the recommended amount of

organic liquid seaweed extract to

a full watering can to make the ideal

feed for your container plants.

Water the leaves and roots generously,

making sure the plants are properly

soaked through.

Clean any scattered soil off the rim and

around the sides of the pot. Arrange

the leaves and stems as you see fit.

Turn over for gardener’s diary

12

34

5

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6

SSTTEEPP BBYY SSTTEEPP

We also supply cut flowers for the main house and the holiday cottage’‘

�

2 3

4 56


The Stoneworks, West Horrington Wells, Somerset ba5 3eh England

01749 677777Opening hours: Weekdays 9.00am – 5.00pm, Saturday 9.00am – 1.00pm

The Ruin

For more information about our Gothic Folly standard or bespoke designs, as well as our wide selection of ornaments to decorate your Folly & Garden, please visit…

FOLLY & GARDEN See us at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show – Stand PW44

www.redwoodstone.com

The Potting Shed

The Old Manor House Garden, Capel Manor


JuneGGAARRDDEENNEERR’’SS

DDIIAARRYY IN THE GARDEN THIS MONTHDamian spends June looking after

these essential garden jobs.

� Water plants thoroughly - this

can keep them going for a week.

� Hoe weeds regularly before they

get too big and eventually set seed.

� Keep tying in climbers and

rambling roses, before they get away!

� When deadheading roses, go as

far as the first or second leaf; don’t

just cut the faded buds off.

� Some perennials will need

additional staking this month. Damian

uses hazel, birch and beech brush

from the Lytes Cary estate.

� Don’t always mow in the same

direction. By mowing vertically,

horizontally and diagonally you’ll

achieve a better quality lawn.

� Give box hedges and topiary the

first of two yearly trims. The next one

needs to be done in August.

� Weeds in paths can be eradicated

by using a weed burner every week.

� Use environmentally friendly

pest controls, such as Nemaslug,

and garlic and seaweed sprays.

Lytes Cary Manor, Near Charlton Mackrell,

Somerton, Somerset TA11 7HU.Tel: +44 (0)1458

224471. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

The house, garden and shop are open 12 March

to 30 October; every day except Thursdays; 11am

to 5pm (or dusk if earlier). Open bank holiday

Mondays. Last admission 30 minutes before

closing. See website for details.

We have a rolling weekly

programme of rose spraying.

We use a garlic mix one week,

and then a seaweed mix the

following week, and finally ‘SB

Plant Invigorator’ in week three.

This helps keep mildew, rust,

black spot and aphids at bay.

SENSATIONAL SWEET PEASJust a few simple steps will make a big difference to your sweet pea displays. As they

grow, tie them in regularly using a figure-of-eight knot (above left). While you are deadheading,

remove any tendrils (above centre) that are not needed: this helps the plant look tidier and makes

sure that all of its energy is focused on creating beautiful blooms (above right).

LOOKING AFTER LAWNSWith more than 50,000 visitors a year, the

lawns at Lytes Cary get well worn and need

constant attention. Looking after the lawn here

is not just an autumn job. Our year-round

programme of lawn care involves spiking,

scarifying and feeding. You should wait until

the ground is moist to scarify, as this makes

the job much easier. Spike the soil vertically

and lever it back slightly. Then add a sprinkling

of 50/50 sand and top soil mix. In the growing

season, mow your lawn once a week. Every

two weeks isn’t enough. This keeps weeds

down and the lawn in good shape.

with Damian Mitchell

Garden informationSPRAYING ROSES


Call 0870 777 7184f o r y o u r f r e e b r o c h u r eOr visit www.ehbp.com

CERTIFICATE NUMBER BSYS-006

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When I was a teenager working on apinks’ nursery, part of my job wasto harvest the clove-scented blooms

that grew above the silvery tufts of leaves. Aswe sold only rooted cuttings, the flowers wentbegging, so every day during the summer I’dbowl home on my bike with a bunch as big asa cathedral bell under my arm. Even outside inthe fresh air of the country lanes, the intensityof their spicy fragrance was unforgettable. IfI get a waft of the scent now, it gives mea feeling of freedom and utter abundance.At the time ‘Doris’, with its shell pink petals,

dark centres and pure sugary scent, was themost desired by my aunties, with whom I sharedmy bounty. But I preferred the fragrant ‘MissSinkins’, with her tousled white flowers, despitethe fact her wiry stems made gathering flowersand taking quill-like cuttings almost painful.I also rated ‘Laced Monarch’, a double

raspberry-ripple colour combination with darkcentres and pale pink edges. In a garden, thecolours of ‘Laced Monarch’ are, to my eye,unnatural and hard to use - but cut for a vase,they are positively celebratory. That’s one of thethings I love about growing cut flowers: itenables me to grow plants from parts of thenursery catalogues I’d normally avoid with abarge pole. One such bloom is a cactus dahlia

called ‘Rothesay Reveller’. First I tried it in aborder, but the massive blackcurrant andnougat-white blooms made it stand out likeFrankenstein’s monster at a beauty pageant.Grown for cutting, this unashamedly gaudy andvigorous plant is perfect, with long vase-readystems that carry a succession of blooms fromsummer until the frosts.Some gardeners blend their cut flowers into

existing borders, but if space allows, a dedicatedpatch in sun, at least 3ft by 6ft with the flowersgrown in neat rows, is far more productive.Space annuals like cornflowers and marigolds

Talking techniquesToby Buckland offers tips ongrowing blooms for the vase

45cm apart, and double that for perennials anddahlias. The plants grow together, but thisproximity is good as it encourages them to growtall on easy-to-gather stems; and rows allow easyaccess to weed, water and harvest.My personal cut-flower favourites are annuals

such as cosmos and ‘Blackball’ cornflowers, andboth can still be sown until the middle of thismonth, despite what it says on the seed packet.Scrape out a drill, water it well and scatter theseeds in three fingers apart before raking backthe soil. The key to success when it comes toJune sowings is to keep the ground moist, and

if you do that you’ll have flowers for cutting bythe end of August. To get a succession of flowers,either stagger your sowings every fortnight fromspring until midsummer; or choose varieties ofthe same species with different heights, as theshorter varieties are always first to bloom.Other must-haves are bulbous plants - not

just the daffodils and tulips of spring, but alsolate-season summer bulbs such as nerines. Theyseem too precious to pick from a border, but ifthey are lined out in rows in free-draining soil,you can get over the guilt - and in a vase thebright pink trumpets last for weeks.

Flowers for cutting

EXPERT ADVICE

Growing cut flowers enables me to grow plants from parts ofthe nursery catalogues I’d normally avoid with a barge pole’


IMA

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TEGUK 165 Toby Buckland final:UK 28/04/2011 15:47

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Octagonal Table & Slatted Chairs

Made of bamboo woven into an open dome and available in 5 sizes plus a

tunnel cloche. These attractive cloches protect plants & seeding from damage

by animals, footballs, light frost andwind-chill. Fleece & newspaper can be

used to cover the plants inside the cloches during periods of heavy frost. The micro climate inside the cloches

promotes growth and allows rain through to the plants. Prices start from £4

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TEGUK 165 subs final 27/04/2011 16:36

My back lawn has looked like a mower

showroom for the past couple of

weekends. Pushed to one side is my

father’s old petrol mower (which, by the way, must

be 25 years old) to make way for the fleet of shiny

new models. All have a rotary action, four wheels,

and a petrol engine, and some offer the option to

mulch or recycle the clippings and place them

back on the lawn. Once these clippings have

decomposed, they add nutrients back into the soil.

All the mowers would be suitable for a garden

with about as much lawn as a tennis court or more.

None are designed to create a bowling green

but they’ll tackle rough, long grass and be a great

all-round mower for most gardens - in short,

Tamsin eyes up rotary petrol mowers - but which one will cut it?

PE

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they are workhorses that will last for decades.

I’m not going to lie to you and say that sampling

all their assets has been a dream. Anything with

an engine requires some understanding, and you

can’t just flick a switch and go; and engine

manuals don’t make for exciting reading. I wish

each came with a simple ‘User’s Guide’ DVD - the

problem is that one manual is often provided

for about four similar models, which is a little

tricky. Investing in a petrol mower is a big deal,

and the last thing you want to do is damage it

by using incorrectly, so getting to know your

new mower can’t be rushed.

Two of the models came with an electric start

option, which requires the mower to be charged

for at least 10 hours, and they all needed oil and

fuel. This may all seem very obvious, I know, but

with so many different oils on the market, it did

cause me a few headaches.

The most notable difference to my father’s old

mower was weight. None of these are light, but

they are much more manageable than the models

of the past. The self-propelled action made them

all far easier to use, and raising and lowering the

height of cut did not require a hammer and pair

of leather gloves! In short, things have moved on.

Before buying, ensure you have a safe place for

storage, and be prepared to get them serviced.

With thanks to Stockton Bury Gardens, Hereford.

1

TEGUK 165 Editors Choice final:UK 03/05/2011 15:21

comes with a polymer deck, which means it won’t

rust. It has two blades, which result in smaller

clippings that are ideal for mulching.The Roto-stop

on the handle bar allows you to empty the 69-litre

grass bag while the engine is running, but the

blades are disengaged. Raising the height of cut

was really easy, and it’s simple to switch the mower

to mulching mode. Offers a cutting width of 47cm,

and has a 160cc, 4-stroke engine.The handle folds

for easy storage and it comes with a seven-year

domestic-use guarantee. Price: £995.

3The Hayter R53S Recycling Mower VS ES isthe best looking of the bunch. It offers rear

grass collection in a 54.5-litre bag (a little small in a

very large garden), side discharge and recycling.

The mower automatically adapts to the speed you

walk, and if you prefer, there is an electric start

option. It’s one of the lightest of the selection at


1TheToro 20950 48cm AD Steel Deck RecyclerMower offers an automatic drive system that

matches the pace of the gardener - this was very

effective. The engine is 159cc. I found this a

straightforward mower to use. If you like added

extras it may seem a little basic, but I’m a fan of

simple kit. The handles move in and out a little as

you work; I assume this is to stop jarring.They are

almost identical to those on the Hayter model.They

are fully adjustable and have a comfy covering.The

mower can be set to mulch or collect the grass in

the 60-litre bag. Raising the deck involves two levers

(I’d prefer one). Comes with a two-year warranty

and is reasonably priced at £449.

2The new Honda HRX 476 VY was the easiestof the lot to get going. I am familiar with the

rabbit-and-hare starter, and was pleased to see

something recognisable. Unlike all the others, it

38kg and comes with a Briggs and Stratton 190cc

engine.The blade looks almost identical to theToro,

and I found it the easiest to push from shed to lawn

when the engine was not on. I have picked this as

my EDITOR’S CHOICE as it seems a good all-

rounder at a sensible price - however, my husband

favoured the redWolf Garten. Price: £567.26

4TheWolf Garten Blue Power 48AHWES comeswith a Briggs and Stratton 800 series Eco Plus

engine (this offers a 38% reduction in exhaust gas)

and the option to use the electric start.The cutting

width is 48cm and the grass bag is 75 litre. It also

comes with a BluePower monitor, which alerts you

to maintenance issues such as an oil change being

required, and records the hours worked. Being self

propelled, it’s easy to use, and like many of the

others, this makes lighter work of a sloping garden.

The central red control on the handlebar allows you

to control the mower’s speed. It comes with a

sturdy steel deck, and a side shoot. It was

nicknamed the Ferrari in my house, thanks to its

dashing red colour. Price: £659.

STOCKISTS� TheToro 20950 48cmAD Steel

Deck Recycler mower

From www.toro.com

� The Honda HRX 476

From www.honda.co.uk

� The Hayter R53S Recycling

MowerVS ES www.hayter.co.uk

� TheWolf Garten 48AHWES

Available from www.wolf-garten.co.uk

ALLPRICESCORRECTATTIMEOFGOINGTOPRINT

2The self-propelled action made them all far easier to use, and

raising and lowering the height of cut did not require a hammer!

4

3

TEGUK 165 Editors Choice final:UK 03/05/2011 15:21


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If that great British classic, the rose, is your passion, you will discover an enticingarray of them thriving in Borde Hill Garden’s clay soil in West Sussex

PHOTOGRAPHS DEREK ST ROMAINE WORDS CHARLES QUEST-RITSON

Sunlight & roses

The English Garden 27The English Garden 27

Borde Hill’s rose garden is amodel of its kind. You willseldom encounter anything sobeautiful and satisfying as itscolours and scents in June and

July. The rose bushes are bursting with goodgrowth - healthy, lush and profuse. The design,the setting, the backdrop of ancient walls andhedges - all is as close to perfection as possible.Summer in England at its best.So it comes as a surprise to discover that

Borde Hill, near Haywards Heath in Sussex, hasprincipally been known for more than 100 years

interest beyond the rhododendrons. It is justone of a series of inventive schemes that havebrought new investment, new life and newenjoyment to this remarkable garden, includinga prize-winning restaurant. Eleni commissionedRobin Williams to design the rose garden, andhe turned an odd-shaped piece of the old roseand herbaceous garden into a strong, compellingstructure that shows off the roses brilliantly. TheStephenson Clarkes named this masterpiece ‘JayRobin’s Rose Garden’ for their daughter.The first view of the rose garden is

unforgettable. Turn the corner and there it

for its collection of rhododendrons and Asiatictrees. Botanists rate Borde Hill as unsurpassedamong privately owned gardens in England forthe diversity of its rare trees.But the trouble with many gardens that rely

overmuch on rhododendrons is that there is notmuch left to see when visitors peak in summer.This explains the major change of gear at BordeHill in the 1990s, when Andrewjohn and EleniStephenson Clarke inherited the estate, andstarted to transform the Sussex-style woodland.Eleni had the brilliant idea of planting a rose

garden that would extend the horticultural

WEST SUSSEX

GLORIOUS GARDENS�

TEGUK 165 BORDE HILL final:UK 28/04/2011 16:19

28 The English Garden28 The English Garden28 The English Garden

WEST SUSSEX

GLORIOUS GARDENS

PREVIOUS PAGEThe mansion’s bristling chimneys are a dramatic backdrop to the rose garden. BELOW Nepeta faassenii and Rosa Cottage Rose

create a cloud of pastel beauty. OPPOSITE Pink Rosa Pretty Jessica the foreground and R. Mary Rose behind shimmer in the soft evening light.

stands, opening out immediately, with themansion’s many brick chimneys as a bristlingbackdrop. At the centre is a small fountain in alow pool, made from the same bricks as thecentral path, but all encircled by box edging, tosoften its outline. This in turn is surrounded byhandsome catmint Nepeta x faassenii. Withinthe rose garden itself, grass paths radiate outfrom the middle. Lavandula angustifolia ‘LoddonBlue’ lines the long, main, diagonal axis of thegarden. Chosen because it iscompact and low-growing, itis in scale with the otherplantings here.The rose beds are edged

with low box hedges, with larger bobbles ofbox at the corners. Small ornamental treesgive height at the centre of each bed: Prunusserrula, Malus sargentii and Amelanchier lamarckii.In the background are ancient yews cut intocastellations, and established trees such asKoelreuteria paniculata and Maackia amurensis.Along one side are climbing roses trained alongrope swags; in one corner lies a sundial,

surrounded by a great pink curving swathe ofthe polyantha rose ‘The Fairy’.The rich clay soil is perfect for rose-growing.

Beds are irrigated and raised up above the levelof the paths by an annual dressing of mushroomcompost. The head gardener Andy Stevens camefrom Leonardslee, perhaps the greatest ofSussex’s rhododendron gardens (now - alas - nolonger open the public). Andy is a firm believerin good cultivation. ‘We’re often asked why our

roses look so healthy,’ he says, ‘but we spraythem as little as possible. We concentrate insteadon feeding them properly, watering from theestate water supply in dry periods and dead-heading to obtain well-balanced growth. Happyplants are more resistant to pests and diseases.’Once you get down to looking at the

individual roses, you’ll find a splendid mix ofvarieties, old and new; though the once-

flowerers are gradually being replaced byrepeaters. David Austin’s ‘English’ roses arethe dominant theme - there are more than 100varieties - and, unlike the old-fashioned rosesthat they resemble so closely, they flower againand again, often putting on their bestperformance in early autumn. David Austinbred them to combine the beauty, shape andscent of old roses with the floriferousness andrepeat-flowering habit of floribunda roses.

Eleni was one of the first todiscern their merit as themainstay of a dedicatedgarden of roses. Many of thecultivars she planted here

in the 1990s are still the best.There are no herbaceous underplantings

within the rose garden itself, though the lushplantings of the adjacent herbaceous bordersprovide interest in all seasons. It is clearthat thickly planted roses make their owngroundcover, and that dense planting alsointensifies their colours. Most of the roses,ancient and modern, run from palest pink to

‘We are asked why our roses look so healthy... weconcentrate on feeding, watering and deadheading’

�


WEST SUSSEX

GLORIOUS GARDENS



WEST SUSSEX

GLORIOUS GARDENS


ABOVE LEFTThe archway to the Mediterranean garden is hung with rambling roses. ABOVE

RIGHT Irises and sculpture show there’s more than roses on offer here. BELOWA romantic view.

crimson and are colour-graded within the bedsfor maximum effect. The darker sections haveDavid Austin’s cherry-red Noble Antony anddarkest crimson Tradescant. Among the rose-coloured varieties are deep pink Cottage Rose;Evelyn (with a hint of apricot and mother-of-pearl in its colouring); the pale pink MaryRose; and cabbage-shaped Heritage. The yellowsector is dominated by Jayne Austin, GrahamThomas (named for the guru of old roses) andCrocus Rose, a very bushy shrub that is oneof Austin’s best. But there are real old-fashionedroses among them too, including pink‘Marchesa Boccella’ and crimson ‘De Resht’,with modern shrubs such as Pearl Drift and‘Sally Holmes’ in the white segments.Here, Italian cypresses peep over the wall.

Pass under the trellised bower, painted paleblue - a colour echoed by the elegant woodenpyramids in the herbaceous borders - and intothe adjoining Mediterranean garden. Inbehind is a collection of brand new ‘goldstandard roses’ that have recently won awardsfrom the British Association of Rose Breeders.Eleni would like to show off their merits inmixed borders, as good design and colour-grouping are the making of any garden - andBorde Hill’s rose garden has both of thesein super abundance.

Borde Hill, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH161XP. Open from 21 March to 11 September daily,and October mid-term; 10am - 6pm, with the lastadmission at 5pm. There is a rose masterclass withMichael Marriot from David Austin on 8 June.Tel: +44 (0)1444 450326. www.bordehill.co.uk



The notebookBorde Hill Garden is known for its collection of rhododendrons and trees, and its rose garden, whichis sheltered and faces south. The soil is clay, perfect for growing roses

WEST SUSSEX

GLORIOUS GARDENS

OTHER ROSE GARDENSTO VISIT NEARBY� Nymans, Handcross, Haywards Heath,

West Sussex RH17 6EB. Tel: +44 (0)1444

405250. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

� Pashley Manor Gardens,Ticehurst, East

Sussex TN5 7HE. Tel: +44 (0)1580 200888.

www.pashleymanorgardens.com

RECOMMENDED ROSE NURSERIES� Country Garden Roses, Hadnall,

Shropshire SY4 3DH. Tel: +44 (0)1939

210380. www.countrygardenroses.co.uk

� David Austin Roses, Bowling Green

Lane, Albrighton, Wolverhampton,

ShropshireWV7 3HB. Tel: +44 (0)1902

376300. www.davidaustinroses.com

� Peter Beales Roses, London Road,

Attleborough, Norfolk NR17 1AY. Tel: +44

(0)1953 454707. www.classicroses.co.uk

CONTACTS

� Feed roses regularly, but don’t overdo it.

Giving a small amount of feed regularly is

better than overdoing it every now and then.

� If your soil is very sandy or free draining,

give your roses a good soak two or three

times a week when it’s hot. Mulching with

well-rotted organic matter is also beneficial.

� Invest in the best-quality pruning

equipment (secateurs, loppers and pruning

saw), and always clean your tools after you

have used them to avoid spreading disease.

� Make sure you have a good pair of

gardening gloves, strong enough to protect

you from rose thorns.

ANDY STEVENS’ ROSETIPS

STRONG SUPPORTSRambling and climbing roses need sturdy

supporting structures (below). When you tie

them in, make sure you don’t do so too tightly

to avoid causing damage to the stems. Check

ties every few months and loosen if necessary.

DAINTY SCULPTUREThe various sculptures placed

throughout the garden (above) add

a touch of femininity and create

focal points in an already very

graceful and well-structured plot.

PERFECT PARTNERThe late Graham Stuart

Thomas, revered garden

designer and rose expert,

advocated the use of

catmint - here Nepeta x

faassenii (left) - as a partner

for old-fashioned roses.

Its lavender-blue flowers

look particularly gorgeous

accompanied by roses,

particularly white and

pink varieties.

SPIKY BRIGHTThe burgundy-red stems of Rosa sericea

subsp. omeiensis f. pteracantha stand

out against the lush green foliage,

adding a striking and sculptural

element to the border (right).



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Name (Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss)

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Q.Which British film director created a gardenin Dungeness in Kent?

A.

Return form to: The English Garden Garden Museum Competition, Archant House, Oriel Road, Cheltenham, Glos GL50 1BB

WIN!Enter now for your chance to win a lifetime membership to The Garden Museum,which offers FREE access to exhibitions, the extensive collections, the behind-the-scenes library and exclusive events

Archant Ltd, publisher of The English Garden, would like to keep you up to date with any special offers or new products/services which might be of interest. Please tick if you DO wish for Archant Ltdto contact you in this way by �� email �� SMS. Please tick if you would prefer NOT to receive information by �� post �� phone. We occasionally pass your details onto carefully selected companies whowish to contact you with information about their products/services - please tick if you DO wish to be contacted in this way by �� email �� SMS. Please tick if you would prefer NOT to receive suchinformation by �� post �� phone. Please tick if you would prefer NOT to receive information from The Garden Museum ��

THE ENGLISH GARDEN GARDEN MUSEUM COMPETITION - JUNE, ISSUE 165

One of four fantastic lifetimememberships to The GardenMuseum in London

Since reopening with a new RIBA-nominated interior

and new focus in 2008, The Garden Museum has

become the leading national centre for exhibitions,

debate and events on gardens and garden design. Recently,

shows have focused on the work of great gardeners, such

as Beth Chatto and Christopher Lloyd, and this year is

no exception, with a major exhibition on award-winning

designer Tom Stuart-Smith open until August.

Situated on the South Bank of the River Thames next to

Lambeth Palace, The Garden Museum is the world’s first ever

museum dedicated to gardening and garden history. It is

the burial site of the influential 17th-century gardening and

planthunting father and son, John Tradescant the elder and the

younger. The discovery of their tomb in 1976 by John and

Rosemary Nicolson is what prompted the couple to create a

museum, exploring the history of gardening. The museum’s

collection now includes 10,000 garden-related objects,

from antique gardening tools and ephemera to old prints,

photographs and paintings - all of which reveal much about

the social history of gardening. Under the helm of its new

director, Christopher Woodward, the museum has become a

leading venue for garden events and lectures. Guest speakers

have included Beth Chatto, Piet Oudolf, Noël Kingsbury, Dan

Pearson and Arne Maynard. Specialist plant fairs are held

throughout the year. There is a charming café serving delicious

seasonal vegetarian food, cooked on site by chef Sorrel

Ferguson, and a small enclosed garden, whose 17th-century-

style knot garden was designed by The Dowager Marchioness

of Salisbury of Hatfield House in the early 1980s. To find out

more about the museum, go to www.gardenmuseum.org.uk

COMPETITION TERMS & CONDITIONS

The prize is non-transferable and there are no cash

alternatives or refunds. Entrants must be 18 or over.

Not open to employees of Archant or The Garden

Museum and their families. Full competition terms

and conditions are on www.theenglishgarden.co.uk

The prizeFour entrants will win a lifetime’s membership to The Garden Museum, giving them

free entry to the museum, two journals per year and invitations to exclusive events.

HOW TO ENTER: Complete the form, including the correct answer, and send it to the address below. The winner will be picked at random after the closing date

of 30 June 2011.

£500EACH!

WORTH

PERMANENT COLLECTION/GARDEN M

USEUM GARDEN AT

NIGHT/GARDEN M

USEUM KNOT DETAIL/GAVIN KINGCOMBE

TEGUK 165 Competition Museum final:UK 27/04/2011 16:52

Renewed vigourPHOTOGRAPHS & WORDS NICOLA STOCKEN TOMKINS

A new chapter is underway in the story of Tylney Hall, a grand historic Hampshirehouse where Gertrude Jekyll once created a wild and wonderful water garden

TEGUK 165 Tylney Hall final:UK 27/04/2011 16:38

GLORIOUS GARDENSHAMPSHIRE


Ancient gardens often have a strong sense of place, alingering spirit of the passing generations that have notonly lived and loved there, but also tended the land. It isan elusive quality that is at its most potent in Tylney Hall’swater gardens and woodland. ‘Trees are my great love, and

when you feel their presence towering above you, or see them reflectedin the water as they have been for decades, they create a strong link withthe past,’ says Paul Tattersdill, the head gardener.It is 25 years since Paul first set foot in this historic Hampshire garden,

fresh from his job interview. ‘I was dressed in a suit, and I wandered downto see the water gardens, but the top pool was totally overgrown andchoked with willow and Norfolk reed - it was dry and completelyimpenetrable.’ There was no hint of any illustrious connection withGertrude Jekyll, and it was only once restoration work started that herplans for the 15-acre wild water gardens were uncovered. ‘We removedtrailer-load after trailer-load of rotted material from the pools, as well ascutting out many sycamores and willows from the rock garden,’ he recalls.A rocky stream and waterfalls connect the upper and lower pools, the

original watercourse that Jekyll designed. It was lined in concrete, andthe top pool was lined in clay; but 80 years later, it no longer held water.‘We brought clay from the bottom pool to repuddle the top one,

LEFT Edged in flag iris, the top lake has been extensively restored and

planted with water lilies. ABOVEThe gazebo in the Italian garden frames

a view of the north wing of the hall, behind which stand great redwoods.

�


36 The English Garden36 The English Garden

compacting the clay to make it watertight,’ Paul explains. ‘One ofthe most rewarding sights was when we refilled the pool, and thereflections and life returned once again.’

Today, the pool’s surface reflects rhododendrons, flag irises, shimmeringtrees and scudding clouds, broken only by ducks or carp as they weavebetween the water lilies. The rocky stream - edged in candelabra primulas,gunnera, darmera, astilbe, fern and angelica - tumbles down to the lowerpool and its sheltering magnolias, maples, willows, alders, dawnredwoods, oaks and a beautiful pendant lime. ‘I planted it 20 years agoas a tiny sapling, and now it’s nearly as tall as the oak,’ says Paul.

The oak in question is a magnificent, hundred-year-old specimen;unusually, it is multi-stemmed. ‘It would have originally been threesaplings bound together, a technique that results in a number of dominantbranches.’ It is one of many interesting trees throughout the estate, suchas the fine fern-leaved beech in the azalea garden; a swamp cypressbehind the boathouse lake; silver, field and Norway maples; Douglasfirs; liquidambars; and ash, birch and oak. ‘The Victorians really lookedinto the plant catalogues of the day, and chose well,’ Paul says.

Today’s imposing Victorian building is in fact the second Tylney Hall -the first was built in 1700, but it wasn’t until the 18th century that aformal landscape was laid out. ‘The largest lakes date back to then, andsome of the original oaks still survive,’ says Paul. The Victorian Tylney

ABOVEA brick arch clad in elderly Wisteria sinensis leads to a path edged

with bearded iris and pleached limes. ABOVE RIGHTThe Italian garden

features castellated yews and stone garden buildings. BELOW CENTREA

wooden pergola with roses ‘Albertine’, ‘Cécile Brünner’ and ‘New Dawn’.



Hall was built in the 1890s as a private home, amid 66 acres that weregradually laid out to lakes, woodland and gardens, including the Italianterrace, Dutch garden and walled kitchen garden. An avenue was plantedwith magnificent redwoods that still frame a long and lovely, uninterruptedview of the Hampshire countryside. ‘You look southwest for about 12miles towards Dummer, over fields and patches of woodland,’ Paul says.

It was 1906 when Gertrude Jekyll designed the water and rock garden,but her plans were barely implemented before the First World Warloomed. Tylney Hall became a hospital for the duration, and betweenthe wars it was shipping company Clan Line’s headquarters, before beingsold and converted into a school in 1946. Finally, in 1984, it was boughtby the present owner and transformed into a country house hotel.

By this time, the gardens were in a sorry state. The Italian gardenand pool were buried beneath tennis courts, and could have been lostforever had it not been for Gilly Drummond OBE, the then chairmanof the Hampshire Gardens Trust, who alerted the new owner to TylneyHall’s unusual historic garden.

As a result, Dominic Cole was called in from Land Use Consultants, acompany specialising in restoring historic landscapes. ‘The woodland wasvirtually impassable,’ he says, ‘as none of the paths were visible; the yewtopiary and hedging that had survived was in urgent need of restoration;and the lake system was completely solid.’ Dominic drew up a restoration

ABOVE LEFTThis delightful rounded summerhouse overlooks the

top lake. ABOVE Gertrude Jekyll designedTylney Hall’s wild water

gardens, which have been extensively restored and are edged in

mature trees, as well as flag iris and valerian.

�



ABOVE Spring brings masses of colour and flower toTylney Hall, including many varieties of rhododendron and azalea, as well as a wilder feel from tall

airy cow parsley.All of this floriferous drama is set against the backdrop of theArts and Crafts-inspired garden buildings and the water tower.

plan and planting schemes. ‘The challenge lay in identifying what partsof the original plans had survived and which structures it was practicalto restore,’ he explains. Jekyll’s correspondence and plans were studied,but it quickly became clear that the site had changed greatly in theintervening years. ‘Originally, it was open and sunny, but with the growthof the surrounding woodland, it became shadier and damper, so differentplants were needed to suit the conditions and scale.’

It was at this point that Paul was appointed and, aided by his team ofsix gardeners, began to patiently mastermind the garden’s restoration.‘We’ve stuck pretty faithfully to the original planting scheme, with a littleself indulgence when itcomes to introducing newcolours as the establishedplanting matures,’ he says.Initially, the restoration ofthe pools was all-absorbing, but just as there was time to draw breath,the great storms of 1987 and 1989 devastated the estate, tearing downsome 350 trees. Surprisingly, the long-term effects were not as disastrousas it first appeared. ‘It helped, because the enforced storm clearance meantwe could bring in heavy machinery to clear some areas that had becomechoked with self-seeded trees,’ says Paul. While weak and ailing treeswere removed, many healthy ones remained.

Younger tree specimens include the charming avenue of pollarded limesunderplanted with old bearded irises, which leads through a wisteria-clad arch and down one side of the walled kitchen garden - near to theoriginal greenhouses, which are invaluable for growing the scores ofbedding plants for the hotel’s summer gardens. The kitchen garden is a

work in progress, with a new herb bed, and a crab apple walk plantedwith red-, gold- and purple-berried varieties such as ‘Red Sentinel’, ‘GoldenHornet’ and ‘Profusion’. There is also a long pergola that, by June, issmothered in roses ‘Cécile Brünner’, ‘Albertine’ and ‘New Dawn’, withblue delphiniums at their feet. ‘The idea came from an old photographof this area that showed blue delphiniums and pink roses,’ says Paul.Being south facing, this central area of the garden tends to get very dryand is proving tricky, but fan-trained apples and cordon pears are thrivingon the old brick walls. ‘I’m trying to recapture the feel of the originalVictorian garden, without making it too time-consuming,’ he adds.

Paul has discoveredthat restoring an historicgarden can be a constantbalancing act betweenyour time and resources,

and your dreams and practicalities, and Dominic Cole is full of praise.‘They’ve achieved a massive amount,’ he says. But for Paul, so close forso long, completion seems a distant goal. ‘I’m forever trying to completethe restoration plan, but there’s always something more to be done,’ heexclaims. In the meantime, he gains much satisfaction from the pathwaysaround the lower pool, where, in the dappled light of the trees, there isgreat tranquillity and beauty. ‘A lot of the restoration work is completedhere, and at last I really can see what a long way we’ve come.’

Tylney Hall, Rotherwick, Hook, Hampshire RG27 9AZ. Gardens open for theNGS on Sunday 12 June and 9 October; 9am-5pm. Tylney Hall is a countryhouse hotel and spa. Tel: +44 (0)1256 764881 www.tylneyhall.co.uk

‘I’m forever trying to complete the restoration plan,but there’s always something more to be done’


GLORIOUS GARDENSHAMPSHIRE


The notebookTylney Hall gardens cover a massive 66 acres featuring extensive woodland, water gardens, a rock garden,kitchen garden, rose garden, Italian garden and superb vistas. The soil is sandy in areas and clay in others

GARDENSTO VISIT IN THE AREA� Houghton Lodge, Stockbridge,

Hampshire SO20 6LQ. Tel: +44 (0)1264

810502. www.houghtonlodge.co.uk

�West Green House and Gardens,

near HartleyWintney, Hook, Hampshire

RG27 8JB. Tel: +44 (0)1252 844611.

www.westgreenhouse.co.uk

NURSERIES NEARBY� Southview Nurseries, Eversley Cross,

Hook, Hampshire RG27 0NT.Tel: +44 (0)1189

732206. www.southviewnurseries.co.uk

� Vicarage Hill Nursery, Hartley

Wintney, Hook, Hampshire RG27 8EH.

Tel: +44 (0)1252 842523.

CONTACTSPAULTATTERSDILL’STOPTIPS� Prune wisteria every summer,

approximately eight weeks after flowering.

Cut back lateral growth up to six buds. In

winter, you should cut back the lateral

branches again to three buds to provide

next year’s flowers. At this stage, remove

any dead or overcrowded wood.

� If you have dense plantings of trees, make

sure you monitor them constantly, as such

proximity can cause fungal disease to spread

quickly. This may lead to loss of trees, which

would change the structural design of a garden.

� When restoring an old garden, you

have to be willing to be flexible and have

a lot of patience - but it pays off in the end!

GORGEOUS GLIMPSESArches and gates frame views towards the house

and garden, adding new vistas and an extra layer

of elegance and sophistication. This pair are in the

Arts and Crafts style, made of wrought iron and

inset into a yew arch (left). Plants are also used at

Tylney to add sculptural elements in the garden.

Mound-forming Acer palmatum var. dissectum

Dissectum Atropurpureum Group creates a

sculptural focal point in the water gardens,

creating a pleasing purple break from the

lush greens of giant-leaved Gunnera manicata,

ferns, Solomon’s seal and flag irises.

WISTERIA EVERYWHEREThere are some magnificent wisterias atTylney Hall, one

draped over a wall in the Dutch garden, another gracing the

steps that descend from the terrace to the Italian garden

(above), and still more on pergolas and arches. Only one

dates back to Gertrude Jekyll’s time, which adorns the arch

in the middle of the lime avenue.

TOPTECH FORTREESAcoustic tomography is used at Tylney Hall to detect decay

or internal structural defects in the trunks of old trees (left).

The tomograph, a sonic device, recognises changes of

density within the trunk, thereby pinpointing any rot and

helping Paul figure out which trees need surgery. It works

by measuring the speed of sound through the trunk - sound

travelling through decaying wood travels slower than that

passing through healthy wood.



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Quiet cornersPHOTOGRAPHS DEREK ST ROMAINE WORDS NAOMI SLADE

A couple of former film and television prop makers have used their skills and creativity to turna tiny, hard-landscaped space into a romantic, secluded haven full of colour and scent �

GLORIOUS GARDENSBERKSHIRE

TEGUK 165 Whitehouse Farm final:UK 03/05/2011 12:11


BERKSHIRE

GLORIOUS GARDENS

roses ‘Paul’s Himalayan Musk’ and ‘Veilchenblau’, it provides deep shadenext to the sun-drenched terrace. The trees are severely pollarded eachspring to keep their dimensions small, while encouraging huge, almosttropical leaves. A curved border separates the gazebo from the farmbuilding, and a second timber and metal colonnade mirrors the curve ofthe border. Underplanted with ferns and spring bulbs, it is laden withscented roses ‘Seagull’ and R. filipes ‘Kiftsgate’.‘When I made the garden, I didn’t want it to be obvious what it was

all about,’ says Louise, explaining the curves, hidden areas and changesin mood. ‘Dror, my Israeligardener, helps me maintain it.He says that I am teaching himabout English gardening!’Back towards the house, the

courtyard area between the three buildings is decorated with a roundedpebble and glass mosaic. This, along with the raised ponds, was Louiseand Keir’s solution to the impenetrable concrete slab they had inherited.To say that they are ‘a bit arty’ would be a mammoth understatement.When she was 17, Louise was the youngest student at the Central Schoolof Art and Design, or Central St Martin’s as it is now known. Shesubsequently worked as a designer at the BBC, and for 40 years they ranKeir Lusby Props, based at Shepperton Film Studios. Their ability todesign and build things at will has had an enormous impact on the garden.The spare, elegant colonnade and gazebo were rustled up by the studio

PREVIOUS PAGE A bounty of roses in a romantic alcove atWhitehouse Farm Cottage. ABOVEThe greenhouse is in the pond garden, attached to the

back of one of the converted farm buildings. OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROMTOP LEFTThe raised pond and mosaic patio by the back door; the

front garden is a scented extravaganza of roses and lilies; the greenhouse is packed with colourful tender pelargoniums, not vegetables.

When Louise and Keir Lusby first saw their garden,it was a far cry from the detailed, complex andcreative confection that it is today. With just a fewclimbing roses in a sea of concrete and mown grass,the boundaries were unclear, and the garden

appeared much bigger than its bare quarter acre. But, as it happened,it didn’t make any difference.‘I fell in love with the house and the garden,’ says Louise. ‘But it was

dreadful - the house looked like people had been dossing in it, and thegarden was a completely blankcanvas. But I could see past allof that. I liked the atmosphereand I wanted it.’ The farmhousehad been rescued from utterdereliction in the 1970s, and while a brick in the chimney is dated 1687,parts of the house could actually be even older. An old forge and anotherbuilding are what remains of the farm complex. Refurbished as two tinybut perfect B&Bs, their ancient brickwork sets the tone of the garden.In front of the house, the garden is small but scented. Brick paths are

bordered by frothy plantings of alchemilla, lavender and balls of box,while honeysuckle, Wisteria floribunda ‘Yae-Kokurya’ and Clematis ‘BlekitnyAniol’ climb metal obelisks and jostle over the porch. To the rear, a brickterrace leads on through an arch in a rose- and clematis-smotheredcolonnade to a steel gazebo. Surrounded by catalpa trees and scrambling

Their ability to design and build things at willhas had an enormous impact on the garden

�




with walls and planting. With its distinct areas and framed views, potsof flowers, shrubs and bedding, this garden presents itself in a series oftableaux or interlinked film sets, minus the actors. ‘Set decoration is themost important thing in a film,’ says Louise. ‘Once the set has been built,the set decorator dresses the interior, puts in the furniture, the ornamentsand drapes. The garden is an extension of that for me.’In Louise’s garden, the buildings and structures provide the bones of

the set, draped with wisteria and roses. There are period pots, wateringcans and buckets; a French day-bed with plants growing through it; some

old sinks; and ceramic bottles.It is a complex, detailed space

with little sprinkles of beauty anddesign in scarlet-edged leaves,plum and cerise pelargoniums

and leitmotiv scallop shells. There is topiary left over from a foray to theRHS Chelsea Flower Show, scent from dozens of roses and lilies, andgently dripping water from the mossy pot-fountain - coming together asa richly textured garden and the ultimate reflection of a life lived in art.

Whitehouse Farm Cottage, Murrell Hill Lane, Binfield, Berkshire RG42 4BY.Tel: +44 (0)1344 423688. Open for the NGS on Sat 11 (8-10.30pm) andSun 12 June (2-6pm). www.ngs.org.uk

metalworkers; and the two raised ponds (there are four ponds in thegarden altogether) were created by wrapping fibreglass around apolystyrene former and then cladding it with aged brick. Keir himselfbuilt the cupola on top of the shed, and Louise commissioned artist ChrisPhilipson to make a weathervane in the shape of a pig.The pebbled mosaic is another case in point. ‘We made a pattern from

vacuum-formed plastic in the workshop for the curved bits, and thenKeir did the paviours,’ explains Louise. ‘We were given a blue glass bottleof South African wine and it was perfect for the design, so Keir had todrink a lot of it! The smallerroundels are made from the topsof the bottles, with the top of aginger jar in the centre.’Pretty annuals spill from a

variety of pots and the planting is soft and spreading. There are no hardedges and moss and self-seeders like Alchemilla mollis are encouraged, asare white wild strawberries. A wall separates the enclosed courtyard nearthe house from the wild garden beyond and Louise’s prized greenhouse,which is filled with tender pelargoniums and other delights. This areahas a completely different feel, and a rather sybaritic summerhouse looksout over an informal pond and wildflower meadow, frothy with ox-eyedaisies and marjoram in summer.Over the past 25 years, Louise and Keir have created a garden full of

secret corners, quiet places and surprises; enclosing open boundaries

ABOVE When Louise and Keir arrived 25 years ago, there was nothing in the front garden but a few shrubs. They planted Rosa ‘Wedding Day’,

which flowers in time for Keir’s birthday in June, and Louise’s favourite rose, called ‘Alchymist’. OPPOSITE PAGE Wisteria and Rosa ‘Veilchenblau’

cascade from the stainless steel gazebo to shade yet another secret seating area, a great place to relax while surrounded by gorgeous blooms.

The garden presents itself in a series of tableauxor interlinked film sets, minus the actors

�Turn over for garden notebook



The notebookWhitehouse Farm Cottage garden has heavy clay soil, and wraps in a C-shape around the house, with thefront garden facing east and the back facing west. The plot covers a quarter of an acre

GARDENSTOVISIT INTHE AREA� Waltham Place, Church Hill,WhiteWaltham,

Berkshire SL6 3JH.Tel: +44 (0)1628 825517.

www.walthamplace.com

NURSERIES NEARBY� Edulis Nursery, 1 Flowers Piece, Ashampstead,

Reading, Berkshire RG8 8SG.Tel: +44 (0)1635

578113. www.edulis.co.uk

� Foxgrove Plants For snowdrops and hellebores.

Foxgrove, Enborne, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 6RE.

Tel: +44 (0)1635 40554. www.foxgroveplants.co.uk

� Laleham Nurseries For annual bedding,

pelargoniums and fuchsias. Laleham Road,

SheppertonTW17 0JW.Tel: +44 (0)1932 563322.

� The Herb Farm, Peppard Road, Sonning

Common, Reading RG4 9NJ. Tel: +44 (0)1189

724220. www.herbfarm.co.uk

CONTACTSLOUISE & KEIR’S GARDENTIPS

� We like lots of penstemons for late colour. Our

favourites include. P. ‘Sour Grapes’, P. ‘Pensham Plum

Jerkum’ and P. heterophyllus ‘Catherine de la Mare’.

� Always have lots of annuals in pots, such as viola,

scaevola, petunia and nemesia. I love scented violas so

seek out varieties such as ‘Etain’ and ‘Magnifico’.

� We take cuttings to increase stock and overwinter

tender things like sage, pelargonium and penstemons -

I’ll have a go at anything!

� Because we run a B&B, the garden needs to look good

all year round. The arches, obelisks and the timber and metal arched colonnade all

add structure in the winter months, and there are lots of details beyond the plants.

� If you clad them in a nice brick, raised ponds are great, as you don’t

have to dig down. You are a bit restricted as to what you can grow, but lilies

and rushes both seem to do well.

� Ensure good drainage at the bottom of pots. Put in plenty of gravel so

the plants don’t sit in water.

PATCHWORK PALSInspired by the textiles and

needlepoint of colleague and

friend Kaffe Fassett, Louise

repaired brickwork on the

terrace with a patch-work of

blue ceramic (right). ‘I filled

the hole with cement and

pushed the ceramic into it,

but I would use a mould now.’

POTS OF COLOURLouise has an eclectic selection of

period containers (above), full of

agapanthus, euphorbia and cerinthe.

‘I love my stoneware pots; they are

terribly hardy and will stand up to

anything really,’ she says.

FINDERS,KEEPERSObjets trouvés can

be found throughout

the garden, used to

add detail or create

tableaux.When Louise

and Keir started work

on the garden, it took

them two weeks to

empty the old forge

of rubbish, but they

found a bonanza of old

tools. Fixed to the side

of the shed (left) they

add a sense of place

and interest.

FAMILY MEMORIALThe ornate cross (above) was made by family

friend, Alastair Lockhart. Originally designed as

the gravestone of Keir’s Celtic mother, they

decided to place it as a memorial rather than

leave it unvisited in Manchester.



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Hilltop havenPHOTOGRAPHS MARIANNE MAJERUS WORDS TAMSIN WESTHORPE

The owners of this high up, sloping country garden have tobattle the wind, but enjoy the rewards of spectacular views �

TEGUK 165 Bachefield House final:UK 28/04/2011 11:46


Rowena has a vast stock of plants ready to takethe place of any that fail. ‘I can’t resist pottingup seedlings or dividing things,’ she says. ‘Theresulting plants are sold at our NGS open daysor used to fill gaps.’ As county organiser, she isalways planning for the next open day or event.Her kitchen displays all the evidence of a busyvolunteer, with NGS posters and leaflets on the

table, and windowsillspacked with seedlingsto sell. Together with56 other open gardensin Herefordshire, she

helped to raise an amazing £41,000 last yearfor worthy charities.Asked if they enjoy opening their garden

to the public, Jim is pragmatic. ‘It gives yousomething to work to and makes you completejobs to a deadline.’ On open days, visitors enterthe property up a drive lined with silver birchtrees, with two small paddocks either side - insummer these are home to Texel rams. This tree-lined drive is about the only formal feature here,as beds and borders have constantly evolved

can hear the laughter of children playingat the local school.With this view, however, comes gardening

challenges. Their one-in-five slope has beenterraced, but mowing is still a fair task, andthey are open to the elements. ‘When wearrived, there was a thick conifer hedge to theright of the property that kept the garden

protected from the wind,’ explains Jim. ‘Weweren’t going to sacrifice this amazing view fora bit of wind protection, so we took the hedgeout.’ Their boundary is now a mixed nativehedge, which is cut about three times a year.The cattle that lean over the top have becomepart of the view, and their dewy, inquisitivenoses are most welcome.Without the windbreak, Jim and Rowena do

lose plants, and last winter was particularly cruelto their ceanothus, cistus and halimiocistus. But

�

The dream was to find a propertywith no neighbours in the WelshMarches and create a garden. Jimand Rowena Gale have donejust that, and after seven years

of gardening the sloping plot, they have createda garden flocked to by National GardensScheme visitors. The country lanes that leadup to the property arefamiliar to me, asBachefield is in myvillage. It was on thelocal grapevine thatI heard about the garden, as you can’t see itscharms when you pass by on the road.From the top of the garden, the view

perfectly captures the appeal of the area. Overthe top of the billowing borders and beautifulcottage, you’ll see as far as Bircher Commonand Croft Ambrey. The highest point in thegarden is where Jim can be found relaxing inhis summerhouse in the evenings. From hereyou’ll just see the tops of the oast houses ofmy family farm, and on a windy day you

‘We weren’t going to sacrifice this amazing view fora bit of wind protection, so we took the hedge out’

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFTThe house is clothed with euonymus and roses, which make an ideal living trellis for clematis; an urn provides a focal point in

the planting; walk through the archway and you’ll reach the kitchen garden, which is offered protection by a brick wall; runner beans, peas and cabbages

are joined by Rowena’s collection of hemerocallis. FAR RIGHT Nepeta ‘Six Hills Giant’, cosmos and achillea offer a colourful scene from the garden room.

HEREFORDSHIRE

GLORIOUS GARDENS



over the years to make room for Rowena’shealthy collection of plants.The back of the 19th-century cottage is

home to a garden room, and from here youcan see the bottom terraces, which featurespecies tulips and alpines. Although this siteis far from sheltered, I am surprised to discoverthat auriculas thrive in these beds.The borders offer

mixed colours fromdahlias, penstemons,roses and alliums,and every gap is filledwith annuals such as zinnias, cosmos andsalpiglossis. This is not a garden where you’llfind drifts of carefully placed matching flowercolours - this is a typical picture-postcardcottage garden, and not a highly designed plot.The relaxed nature of the planting allows thegarden to fit its surroundings and melt in tothe lush green fields either side.Having previously gardened on a chalk soil

in Wiltshire, the Gales enjoy the fertile soil here,which provides them with bountiful cropsfrom their kitchen garden. This area is offered

protection by a brick wall built by the previousowner. Rowena is the veg gardener of the two,but Jim is the one who relies on a good harvest.‘I love blackcurrant jam, and we need 50lbs ayear to make enough home-made jam for meto have every day,’ he says with a smile.His own passion for roses is evident as you

walk up to the top garden. This is the newest

area, and the rose collection includes hisfavourite ‘Alchymist’, along with soft pink TheGenerous Gardener and the bolder pink Spiritof Freedom. Rowena favours irises and treepeonies, which she’s been delighted to discoverare pretty hardy. ‘We were lucky to inherit somegreat shrubs from the previous owner, who wasalso a keen gardener,’ explains Jim.Before retiring, Rowena’s work entailed

identifying wood. She studied the anatomicalstructure of pieces found at archaeologicaldigs, and her career led her to work at the

Laboratory at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.Understanding the biology of plants is whereher love of them started, and what was once ascience is now a hobby that has enabled her tocreate a wonderful garden.When asked what they feel the garden lacks,

Jim is quick to reply. ‘I wish that someone hadplanted a copper beach just behind my

summerhouse about150 years ago.’ If that’sthe only thing they’dchange, then I suggestthey stay well and

truly rooted here. Because the truth is that evenwithout beautifully planted borders and theircollection of 130 different roses, this spoton high would be idyllic - but they havesympathetically added to that natural beauty.For me, it’s been like taking a ride in a hot air

balloon over the land that I hold dear. I’m gladthe Gales are the keepers of such a special place.

Bachefield House, Kimbolton, Hereford HR6 0EP.Open for the NGS on 5 June and 14 August, or byappt. Tel +44 (0)1568 615855. www.ngs.org.uk

‘We were lucky to inherit some great shrubs from theprevious owner, who was also a keen gardener’

TOP LEFTTall Allium sphaerocephalon join a purple carpet of Sedum telephium ‘Purple Emperor’, Geranium ‘Ann Folkard’ and Zinnia elegans ‘Purple Prince’.

TOP RIGHTThe wind can be wild at the top of the garden, where the grass path is lined with roses. Jim spends his evenings in the summerhouse, which

is the highest point of the property.The steps are home to potted agapanthus and scented-leaf geraniums, which are all overwintered under glass.

HEREFORDSHIRE

GLORIOUS GARDENS


GLORIOUS GARDENSHEREFORDSHIRE


The notebookBachefield House garden covers just under one acre and is surrounded by fields on both sides. It is northwest facingand has a heavy but fertile clay soil. It’s a windy spot, with only a few sheltered places to grow less hardy plants

GARDENSTO VISIT IN THE AREA� Ivy Croft, Ivington Green, Leominster

HR6 0NJ. Tel: +44 (0)1568 720344.

www.ivycroftgarden.co.uk

� Stone House Cottage, Nr Kidderminster,

Worcs DY10 4BG. Tel: +44 (0)1562 69902.

www.shcn.co.uk

NURSERIES NEARBY� Whimble Garden & Nursery, Kinnerton,

Presteigne LD8 2PD. Tel: +44 (0)1547

560413. www.whimblegardens.co.uk

CONTACTS

TIPS FROMTHE GALES� When starting a new garden from

scratch, don’t be tempted to plant quick-

spreading ground cover. Plants such as

Campanula glomerata or plants that seed

into other plants (Meconopsis cambrica;

theWelsh poppy) are potential thugs.

� To avoid a sea of white plant labels use

black plastic labels with a silver marker pen.

� Put seeds in the fridge for a few days

before sowing, as this hastens germination.

� Feed yellowing plants with Epsom

salts; plants need plenty of magnesium

to photosynthesise.

� Spray new cuttings with a weak

solution of fungicide and foliar feed.

� The most useful tools are: a three-

pronged hand cultivator - excellent for raking

moss and removing border debris; a narrow

copper trowel (bulb planter) - this is very

sharp and excellent for extracting weeds

with tap roots; and, lastly, an L-shaped patio

weeder is handy.

TAKE A BREAKThere is a seat every 20 or 30ft in the garden (above). The Gales garden for up to five hours a

day, and often take a break and look out over the view. On average, 100 people visit on sunny

June or August NGS open days, so these resting places are well used and appreciated.

GOING GREENThe green man that sits at the bottom of the

terracing (above) was bought at an antique

market in Salisbury. It used to be part of a

Victorian church in Exeter that was bombed

during the SecondWorldWar.The green man

also features on the battens that sit under

the roof line of the house - these were hand

carved, and depict trees and animals.

LOOSE SHEEPThe wire sheep look very much at home

on this Herefordshire hill (below), as real

Texel sheep graze on either side of the

garden.They were bought in Dorset 20

years ago as an impulse buy, and still

look as good as new. Jim explains that

every few years he sprays them with a

silver car spray to keep them looking

fresh.They cause great amusement to

people visiting the garden on open days.



The Savill Garden, Windsor Great Park

Tel 01784 435544 [email protected]

www.theroyallandscape.co.uk

The Savill Garden

Simply Stunning


Focus on... HerefordshireHead to this historic county for garden festivals, castles, specialist nurseries and local county pubs and restaurants

SPOTLIGHT

ACRES OF ACTIVITYYou’ll need to put on your hiking boots or wellies to fully explore Croft Castle and

Gardens, thanks to the acres of land on offer. There’s so much to see including the

restored walled gardens (above) with endless amounts of flowers, shrubs, apple trees

and vines providing plenty of colours and textures throughout the year. There’s also

a parish church, woodland, extensive parkland with a magnificent avenue of ancient

Spanish chestnuts, and panoramic views of the county.You’re sure to spend hours

here.The castle, a place of power, politics and pleasure, has been home to the Croft

family for nearly 1,000 years. Inside, you can learn all about the family and their

importance by visiting each room with its Georgian interiors, furniture and family

portraits dating back to the Norman Conquest. The castle, garden, tea room, shop

and play area are open 5 March-6 Nov, Monday-Sunday, 10am-5.30pm; 12 Nov-18 Dec,

Saturday-Sunday, 10am-4pm; 19 Dec-23 Dec, Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm.Yarpole,

near Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 9PW.Tel: +44 (0)1568 780246.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk

BRILLIANT BASKETSLyonshall Nurseries is a busy family run business

specialising in primroses, cyclamens, geraniums

(left), wild bird care and a great variety of shrubs,

climbers and roses.The nursery supplies a range

of colourful hanging baskets and also replants your

tired ones all year round. If there’s something in

particular you’re looking for or even need design

ideas for your garden, the staff will be happy to

help. Open Monday-Saturday, 9am-5pm; and

Sunday 10am-4.30pm. Kington, Herefordshire

HR5 3LN.Tel: +44 (0)1544 340214.

www.lyonshallnurseries.co.uk

A JOBWELL DONERoss and PhilippaWilliams have been running their

award-winning country pub and restaurant,The

Wellington, since 2002.They moved their young family

from London with no business experience and decided

to take on the task of cooking and preparing all the

dishes (above). Ross inherited a chef who stayed for

two years, then hired another for five months until he

felt confident to take over. Since then, the restaurant

has gone from strength to strength, with daily changes

to the menu, using only the finest quality produce from

local suppliers. In summer, enjoy warm days in the

garden or conservatory.Wellington, Hereford HR4 8AT.

Tel: +44 (0)1432 830367. www.wellingtonpub.co.uk

CROFTCASTLE/©NTPL-ROBER

TMORRIS

COMPILEDBY/VICTO

RIA

KINGSB

URY

‘The seats of ancient Marcher familiessuch as Monnington Court, Holme Lacy

House, Hellens and Wilton Castle providea cornucopia of Hereford gardens.’

Rowena Gale, NGS county organiser

LOCAL FESTIVALThe Garden Festival on

11 and 12 June, held at

Hellen’s Manor (right) in

Much Marcle, has become

a popular event for garden

and nature lovers in the

area. This year the theme will be the kitchen garden;

not just on growing food for the kitchen but also taking

the kitchen out to the garden. There will be cookery

demonstrations, guest speakers including TV’s Brigit

Strawbridge and local author Rachel Corby, as well

as 60 exhibitors. 10am-4pm. Tickets cost £6. For

more information, tel: +44 (0)1981 540221 or visit

the website: www.thegardenfestival.co.uk

TEGUK 165 Focus on Hereford final:UK 03/05/2011 14:18


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Sweeping lawns, wide borders, neat parterres and other formal featuresmake the grand garden at Stoke Albany House a model of its kind

PHOTOGRAPHS NICOLA STOCKEN TOMKINS WORDS ANNE LOCKYER

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The English Garden 57The English Garden 57

LEICESTERSHIRE

GLORIOUS GARDENS�

The rose parterre sits in

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Stoke Albany House, and

looks out onto fields.

TEGUK 165 STOKE ALBANY final:UK 03/05/2011 09:03


In an era when space is at a premium, itis wonderfully refreshing to visit thegarden at Stoke Albany House and finda traditional landscape with room tobreathe. ‘The very first time I stood in

the sitting room and looked out of the windowover a big expanse of lawn, I felt a great senseof peace,’ recalls Anna Vinton. ‘I have alwaysliked wide open spaces, and knew thiswas somewhere I could live very happily.’ Shefelt instinctively drawn to this fine Englishcountry garden with its framework ofwalls, borders, walksand trees. Despiteneeding renovation,it had retained itsessence. ‘I was underno illusions,’ she adds. ‘I recognised the plot forwhat it is - a flat site with a big lawn and walledgarden - but I also knew there were limitationsto the changes that could be made.’It is now 32 years since Stoke Albany House

was acquired by Anna and her husband Fred.Built in 1836, the Georgian mansion is set amideight acres. ‘It’s an ancient site, once part ofRockingham Forest, where the Plantagenet kingsused to hunt.’ The Vintons inherited the oldgardener, Freddie Frohawk, who wasted no timemaking them aware of their responsibilities in


LEICESTERSHIRE

GLORIOUS GARDENS

half the walled garden with his true love:vegetables. ‘I had to lure him back into thecultivation of flowers so that we could startreinstating the main border,’ says Anna. Theeast-facing main border had long stretched alongthe outside of the walled garden, within sightof the house, but by the time the Vintonsarrived, it was totally over-run with ground elder.‘I expected we’d sort it out within months - Ijust didn’t understand gardening at all. Now Ihave got used to waiting. Borders evolve overyears. I’ve photographed ours regularly, and

it’s very helpful. Itis different everyyear and can neverbe perfect, but whilethere will always be

something that disappoints, there’s also alwayssomething that surprises.’The border evolved from a blank canvas, the

result of a year under black plastic to kill offany weeds. Once uncovered, it was plantedwith shrubs - berberis, dogwood, ceanothus,euonymus and hazel - to add height andcontinuous form throughout the year. Colourschemes came next, and Anna decided to groupall the hot reds, oranges and golds at the topend, with the cooler shades of blue, purple andpink at the other. ‘We’ve had to design this

the garden. ‘The first thing he said to me wasthat he hoped I liked gardening - I knewabsolutely nothing about it, but I quicklybecame very interested, possibly too interestedfor Freddie,’ says Anna.Initially, she ignored conventional wisdom

about growing plants that suit the soil type.‘When you look through the plant cataloguesand don’t know what you’re doing, everythingis so tempting. But after a lot of mistakes, Irealised that soil is absolutely key to success.’Anna’s bookshelves soon started filling up with

gardening books, but the first and mostinfluential was The Englishwoman’s Garden byRosemary Verey. ‘I visited many of the gardensfeatured in her book - it really conveyed peoples’love of their gardens.’ Her first visit was toBarnsley House - ‘We met Rosemary Verey andI felt so in awe of her’ - followed by Hidcote. ‘Itjust took my breath away,’ recalls Anna. ‘I’m avery visual person, and so many of my ideashave come from visiting other people’s gardens.’While Anna was reading, visiting gardens and

trying out different plants, Freddie was filling

‘We met Rosemary Verey and I felt so in awe of her... andwhen I visited Hidcote it just took my breath away’



LEICESTERSHIRE

GLORIOUS GARDENS

OPPOSITE, BELOW Poppies, geraniums, galega, delphinium, persicaria, tradescantia and echinops in the border, and Rosa ‘Wedding Day’ on the wall.

ABOVE LEFTThe Felbrigg-inspired formal pond with fountain. ABOVE RIGHTThe border is full of lupins, foxgloves and delphiniums. BELOWThe parterre

contains catmint and rosesTrevor Griffiths,Winchester Cathedral, ‘De Resht’, ‘The Fairy’ and ‘White Pet’. Beyond is the lawn with the oldAtlas cedar.

border to look good from a distance, ensuringthere are large plants that you can recognisefrom the house, but as you draw nearer,finer details are revealed.’Among Anna’s favourite plants here are

oriental poppies, especially those in unusualshades such as ‘Patty’s Plum’ or ‘Cedric Morris’.Alliums are planted in swathes to trickle throughthe main border, with hardy geraniums at theirfeet providing the ‘glue that holds everythingtogether’. Then there are roses - old-fashioned,English and rambling. ‘They do incrediblywell here,’ she admits.Change came about gradually in the walled

garden, with the kitchen garden transformedinto a delightful potager of box-edged bedsfilled with topiary, flowers, fruit and vegetables.Running from one side to the other, threeseparate pergolas now form one long tunnel

�


LEICESTERSHIRE

GLORIOUS GARDENS


swathed in Rosa ‘Madame Alfred Carrière’, witharomatic blue catmint at its feet. A formal greygarden is planted with white roses, aquilegia,lychnis and lavender blended with silveryfoliage, and a Memorial Garden commemoratesAnna’s mother-in-law and parents, who all diedduring 2002. ‘I wanted something that wassimple and peaceful with the sound of water,but wouldn’t create lots of work,’ recalls Anna.The original idea came from a visit to FelbriggHall that Anna had made with her mothershortly before herdeath. ‘We’d admiredthis circular raisedpool in the middle ofthe garden, and itseemed right to do something similar,incorporating a fountain that my mother hadgiven me.’ The layout - essentially a circle withina square - was designed by Laura Morland fora tranquil corner of the walled garden that hadbeen the children’s play area. ‘It’s a lovely grassyspace, especially now we let the grass growlonger, cutting paths through. It’s very green andrestful, a great foil to all the colour around.’

Behind the nearby iris walk runs a row of oldespaliered apples, which are reaching the end

BELOW In the protected walled garden, you will find a potager comprising box-edged beds filled with flowers, topiary and vegetables. Here Anna

and her gardeners grow peas, strawberries, lettuce, box, hardy geraniums, crambe, roses, foxgloves, grasses and much, much more.

of their lives. ‘Every year we remove one treeand replace it - that way, we’ll never be facedwith the shock of taking them all out at once.’

This has been carefully carried out by AlistairPeake, the head gardener for 17 years, who hasmasterminded many of the changes. One of hisfavourites is the rose parterre, which wasinspired by an English Heritage tour of gardensin the Scottish Borders. He adapted a design hesaw at Mellerstain to fit the area between thefaçade of the Georgian house and the ha-ha,

using box hedges and pink, white and red rosessuch as Trevor Griffiths, Winchester Cathedral,‘De Resht’, ‘The Fairy’ and ‘White Pet’ as well asNepeta ‘Six Hills Giant’.

With the roses flowering at different times,extending the season, the catmint remains aconstant. ‘It’s such a useful edging plant, and isbrilliant for attracting bees,’ says Anna. In themain border, it flowers in time to partner thefirst alliums. ‘I love allium time, when there’sthe early promise of everything to come in June:

I can’t bear to go away then.’ If her absence isunavoidable, then on her return she is no soonerout of the car, than she goes directly into thegarden. ‘It never ceases to amaze me how it canchange so quickly at that time of year,’ she says.

In hot summers, however, the ground bakeshard and cracks. ‘It’s basically clay, so it’s noteasy, and we’re forever working on it.’ Lookingat the luxuriant beds full of foliage and flower,it is hard to believe this plot causes any trouble.The garden’s many visitors are certainly

very appreciative - aspatron for MarieCurie, Leicestershire,Anna often opens inaid of charity. This

adds to her enjoyment of the garden and thefeeling of well-being. ‘After all these years,I very much feel it’s my garden,’ she says.‘I especially love to walk around at dusk insummer - the main border looks incredible inthe light. It’s just enchanting at that time.’

Stoke Albany House, Desborough Rd, Stoke Albany,Leics LE16 8PT. Open every Wed in June (2-4.30pm), and in aid of Marie Curie on Sun 26 June(2-5.30pm) with teas. Tel: +44 (0)1858 535227.

‘I love allium time, when there’s the early promise of everythingto come in June: I can’t bear to go away then’



The notebookStoke Albany House grounds cover eight acres, of which about four comprise the gardens, on a fairly flat site.There is a walled garden, lawns and park, and woodland with centuries’ old trees such as a superb Atlas cedar

TIPS FROM STOKE ALBANY� When staking plants, use longer canes than

you think is necessary. Once the plant has reached

its full height, snip off any excess at the top.

� Make room for less established plants by

removing the lower leaves from surrounding shrubs.

Ensure they are firmly staked and cannot flop over

and crush smaller plants.

� Study borders from a distance during the season

to identify weaker areas with less vibrancy, and bolster

with filler annuals that give a splash of colour.

� Sow flowering annuals in trays and pots and use

these to fill gaps in the borders. It’s also a quick and

inexpensive way to experiment with new colours.

� Don’t deadhead lupins and delphiniums to the

ground - instead, as they fade, prune to the side-

shoots, and they will flower again later.

LEICESTERSHIRE

GLORIOUS GARDENS

IRRESISTIBLE IRISESThe irises (above) were planted in

raised beds to keep the soil well

drained. When planting, place in broad,

shallow holes with roots spread out

sideways and the upper surface of the

rhizomes level with the soil. Apply a

general fertiliser in spring and divide

after flowering every three years.

A CUT ABOVEThe peony cutting border (above) is filled with

lovely old varieties. Peonies are best picked

early in the morning. Plunging the stems

in boiling water for 30 seconds helps the

flowers last longer. If picking to dry, select

blooms that are not fully open, and hang

them upside down in a warm environment.

After a couple of weeks, they shrink into

a tight head, but holding the head over a

steaming kettle causes them to open again.

EYE-POPPING POPPIESOriental poppies (left) feature throughout

the sunny borders, where they thrive in well-

drained soil enriched with plenty of compost.

To encourage flowering, feed poppies in early

spring with fertiliser, and again after flowering

when they can be cut back. Since oriental

poppies die down early in the season, they’re

best teamed with late summer perennials,

such as Japanese anemones or asters.

GRAVEL GUYSThe south-facing beds in front of the house

(below) become very hot and dry in summer,

ideal for drought-tolerant plants such as thyme,

cistus, rosemary, lavender, sea holly, sedum,

hebe, Euonymus fortunei and Asphodeline

liburnica. Self-seeders including Stipa tenuissima

and Sisyrinchium striatum pop up each year.

GARDENSTO VISIT� Coton Manor, Coton, Northamptonshire

NN6 8RQ. Tel: +44 (0)1604 740219.

www.cotonmanor.co.uk

� Cottesbrooke Hall, Cottesbrooke,

Northamptonshire NN6 8PF.

Tel: +44 (0)1604 505808.

www.cottesbrookehall.co.uk

� Kelmarsh Hall Open 24 April-29 Sept;

Tues,Wed,Thurs and Sun plus bank holiday

Mon. Kelmarsh, Northampton NN6 9LY.Tel:

+44 (0)1604 686543. www.kelmarsh.com

� Rockingham Castle Gardens,

Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16

8TH. Tel: +44 (0)1536 770240.

www.rockinghamcastle.com

CONTACTS



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© Clive Nichols

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TEGUK 165 Design Guide final 03/05/2011 10:42



My husband Val and Iarrived in Dublin about 40years ago. We knew thatthe 1830s town house wasfor us when we looked

through its windows, with the afternoon sunstreaming in over the grass and old appletrees. You’ll be expecting the usual story ofvaliant battles with bindweed and nettle(nearly forgot the brambles) but in fact thegarden at Sandford Road was already verypleasant - and even faced south west. Therewas, however, a rather unfortunate rockeryin the middle of the lawn, in the style referredto by Reginald Farrer, the great writer onalpine plants, as the ‘Currant Bun’.

The garden is just under an acre, with lightlimey soil that’s easy to work. Problems areextensive, though, and include honey fungus(found in many old Dublin gardens, due topeople leaving roots behind when taking outold fruit trees), larvae of the vine weevil and,worse still, the larvae of the swift moth.

I would like to say that I sat downstraightaway and drew up meticulous gardenplans, but I couldn’t wait to get stuck in, andbegan by sending the rockery off in a seriesof skips. I’d love to admit that I had anepiphany in the middle of the night andconceived the idea of my series of arches, but IL

LU

ST

RA

TIO

N/NEIL

GOWER

in fact I began with just two arches. It tookme about eight years to join them up.Around 1976 we took away some of thelawn, to make wide borders on either side.I first thought of replacing the lawn with acanal about 25 years ago, but didn’t dare dothis until the new millennium, after aninspiring visit to the Generalife gardens atthe Alhambra in Spain.

One lovely feature of our house - which yousee in many late Georgian town houses - is thatthe main room is on the first floor, so we’relooking down on the garden as if on a stage,which is how I always think of the gardenanyway. I’m just the person who positions theactors, which in my case are the plants.

I believe there are many different ways toenjoy a garden: one is to consider where youare looking at it from; the other is from thetotally different angle of actually walkingthrough the garden. For me, the third mostessential element is colour.

For years I was labouring to make the twoborders either side of the canal: one borderof blue flowers opposite the other of red. Isuddenly realised that not only did it looklike an over-painted picture, but also I wasbored with it, so now I’m mixing up allthe colours, with plenty of dazzling orangesand luminous yellows.

Garden profileOWNERS Helen and Val Dillon

DESIGNER Helen Dillon

PLACE The Dillon Garden, 45 Sandford

Road, Ranelagh, Dublin 6, Republic of

Ireland. www.dillongarden.com

SIZE Just under one acre

STYLE A plantsman’s garden with

strong design elements, arranged

in a series of rooms.

OPEN April to September - see the

website for specific opening times.

N


�

Powerful plantingI try to separate plants into those which will take competition, such as prairie plants, and

those which need space all round them and hate being squashed, such as dianthus.

SMALL AND EXQUISITE In the Sundial

Garden, a raised bed with a gravel mulch is

home to small and dainty plants that need

plenty of light, such as border carnations,

Celmisia verbascifolia, hardy orchids and

choice alpine varieties (above).

TRUE BLUE The former blue border (right)

was home to campanulas and monkshood, a

striking Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus

‘Cosmopolitan’ offset by waterlily dahlias, and

alstroemerias in pots and in the ground.

‘I’d like to say that I sat down straightaway and drew upmeticulous garden plans, but I couldn’t wait to get stuck in’

BRIGHT JEWELS The red border (above)

dazzles with the light magenta and pale

pink Irish native purple loosestrife (Lythrum

salicaria), the dainty pin-cushioned flowers of

Knautia macedonica, crimson alstroemerias

and pink fluffy queen of the prairies,

Filipendula rubra ‘Venusta’.

TOWERING BEAUTIES A symphony of

blues and purples is created by blending

deep violet Aconitum carmichaelii ‘Barker’s

Variety’, Agapanthus praecox and the late-

flowering dark purple Clematis x durandii,

a very good sprawling clematis, which is

long lived and doesn’t appear to get

clematis wilt (right).

EFFERVESCENT BORDER Candyfloss

pink Filipendula rubra ‘Venusta’ is used

as a repetition plant running through the

border, while shocking pink phlox, deep

magenta and free-flowering Geranium

psilostemon and orange alstroemeria

liven up the arrangement with their

bright sparks of colour (above).



The New Zealand grass

Chionochloa conspicua

is an excellent plant and

better value than Stipa

gigantea, in that the

flower heads last right

through winter until

the following March.

I use galvanised

containers, preferring

their silvery colour to

terracotta as a match

with the Irish limestone.

They are planted with

Canna ‘Panache’ and

Verbena bonariensis.

These steps are made

from solid Kilkenny

limestone. The surface

has been ‘hammered’ to

make it less slippery.The

shrub directly behind the

sphinx is an indigofera.

Cutting a dignified

profile, this Coade stone

sphinx and its twin

(opposite) accentuate

the symmetry of the

design while framing

the steps to the canal.




This bottom pool

contains two potted

Typha angustifolia, the

lesser bulrush. Out of

the picture, below the

bulrushes, are plantings

of Dianella tasmanica

orTasmanian flax-lily.

Crataegus laciniata

is a small and pretty

hawthorn with leaves

more silver than green,

which has decorative

large tomato-red fruits

in autumn.

We put these cones

within squares of box

because we thought

the sphinxes would

like to be reminded

of the pyramids.

There are six rectangular

raised vegetable beds

in this area which are

hidden from the house by

leafy herbaceous plants.

The pale mauve flowers

are Campanula lactiflora.


�




Helen Dillon is an

author, broadcaster

and garden design

consultant. She has

lectured many times in

the US, New Zealand,

Germany, France and

Australia, and she has

travelled extensively in

order to study plants.

In 1999, Helen was

awarded the Gold Veitch Memorial

Medal of the Royal Horticultural

Society in the UK; and in 2003, the

George Robert White Medal of Honor

of the Massachusetts Horticultural

Society. In 2004, she was made a

Distinguished Counsellor to the Board

of the NewYork Botanical Garden.

DESIGNER PROFILE

Water featuresAlthough they can be tricky to design and make, water features are

endlessly fascinating and rewarding, and they can offer an extra

dimension to any garden.

CALMING CANALWater circulates from a pump in the bottom pool

back up to the top (above). The main pool is roughly 18cm deep; it

was lined with butyl, which was then plastered with cement.We

spent ages making sure the water was gently trickling, rather than

falling down with an annoying crash. I love watching the endlessly

changing cloudscape reflected in the water.

REFLECTED GLORY Late Georgian Dublin houses often have the main

sitting room on the first floor, which means we look down on the garden

as if it were a stage. People often ask why there are no water lilies or fish;

the whole point is to have a plain and soothing sheet of water, in contrast

to the remainder of the garden, where there’s so much happening. This

allows the plants to offer sharp contrast to the pool (above).

LOVELY RIPPLES Originally

this circular pool (left), built

in early 1970s, was 1m

deep. After we visited

Morocco and the Alhambra

in Granada, Spain, where

I saw many lovely water

features using shallow

water, we remade this

pool to 8cm deep, with a

cement surround. While the

cement was still damp, we

filled the pool with water.

Using a level and a wooden

board, we levelled the

cement to the water. It

now offers a gentle ripple

and a more calming effect

than the darker pool.

‘We spent ages making sure the water was gently trickling,rather than falling down with an annoying crash’

HE

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DESIGN

Knot gardens have long beensymbols of love, and personallyI can’t think of a nicer way tosay ‘I love you’. You don’t needa lot of space or money, just a

few small box plants and your chosen design.Inspired by French and Italian examples,

English knot gardens appeared in the mid-15thcentury, and by the Tudor era they were virtuallyde rigueur. Most consisted of dwarf box, butlavender, germander,santolina, thyme andwinter savory werealso used. Designswere often inspired by patterns found on textilesand carpets. Representing the bringing togetherof separate elements, knots came to symboliseunity, strength and eternal love.There were open knots, in which the spaces

between the mini-hedges were filled withcoloured earths or brick dust; and closed knots,with the spaces filled with flowers. Most knotgardens were designed to be seen from above,either from a viewing mound or from thewindows of a house. Overly formal for theEnglish landscape movement, they took a

The intricate formality of knot gardens has evolved in form and meaning over thecenturies, says Claire Masset, adopted by every era to suit its own style

TRY THE KNOTnosedive in the 18th century, but theVictorians revived the trend, filling them withcolourful bedding plants.Nowadays, knot gardens still have many fans.

The grande dame of historic garden design, TheDowager Marchioness of Salisbury, is particularlyfond of them. Her designs include one at hergarden at Hatfield House and one for London’sGarden Museum, which features only plantsthat would have been grown in the 17th century.

The late Rosemary Verey created a knotgarden at Barnsley House in the latter decadesof the 20th century. Its interlacing lines are sowell clipped that they give the impression ofgoing over and under one another. Morerecently, Piet Oudolf created a modern and verypractical take on the knot garden at Bury Courtin Hampshire. Instead of sharp edges, the mini-hedges have rounded tops, which are good atthrowing off rain, helping control the spread ofthe dreaded box blight. Another contemporaryexample is the one at Antony House in Cornwall

(above). Its geometric design is cleverly repeatedin the corner bench that lies beyond.A brand new knot garden is currently being

developed at Astley Castle in Warwickshire. Itsdesigner Kate Heppel explains: ‘I’ve mixedgrasses with herbaceous perennials within theevergreen structure to give the garden a modernlook, and I’ve opened the knot up so thatpeople, including wheelchair users, can get rightinto its centre and view it from the inside out.’

Being evergreen, aknot garden offersyear-round delight.A sprinkling of frost

on its trimmed edges can brighten up even thegloomiest of winter days. I don’t happen to haveone in my garden (yet), but there’s a lovely knotoutside my village hall. Planted three years agoby a handful of enterprising neighbours, it givesme pleasure almost every day, as I’m sure it doesto many of my fellow villagers.

Representing the bringing together of separate elements, knotscame to symbolise unity, strength and eternal love

HISTORIC FEATURES

AN

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If you love all things historic, ordera copy of the new bookazine TheUltimate Guide to Historic Britaintoday at www.subscriptionsave.co.uk

TEGUK 165 Historic Features final 03/05/2011 16:43


Summer arrives early at Bridge Eal this month, leaving Susie and David to copewith a heatwave, in additon to planting roses and making compost bins

PHOTOGRAPHS TOM WHITE WORDS SUSIE WHITE

Some like it hotABOVE An unusual pink-flowered sage revels in the well-drained alluvial soil at Bridge Eal. BELOW LEFT Evening sun slanting through the trees highlights

Ligularia dentata ‘Desdemona’ and Persicaria bistorta ‘Superba’. BELOW RIGHT Susie has became fond of this partridge, a regular visitor to her garden.

A GARDEN REBORNNORTHUMBERLAND

�

TEGUK 165 Bridge Eal final:UK 03/05/2011 09:33


�

N

June is normally a fulsome month, atime of lush growth and burgeoningcolour, but for this fledgling gardenin a time of drought, it is curiouslyshrunken. Plants that usually bloom

at shoulder height are flowering just a coupleof feet above soil level; cardoons, Cephalariagigantea and Crambe cordifolia have early flowerspikes on dwarf plants that I have to cut outto conserve their energy. The ground is dry asdust, and the days are full of such heat that itfeels like I am living in a Mediterranean valley.

It is not the best time to be shifting the verylast plants from their temporary refuge at anearby walled garden, but as I don’t want to bemanaging two gardens at once, I just have tomove them anyway. We ‘puddle’ them in withlots of water in the planting holes, and give themthe ‘Chelsea chop’ so it is only the roots thathave to grow for now. Perennials are amazinglyadaptable, and so far we have not lost a singleherbaceous plant, despite the double move andextreme weather conditions.

I am a bit concerned about the trees, though,as they are clearly suffering. The four yew topiarydomes are going brown, and the 8ft-highcorkscrew hazel has only sporadic leaves, butIL

LUS

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OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP The dry conditions are ideal for Susie to hoe among the newly established plants. BELOW The plan for Bridge Eal.

THIS PAGE, TOP LEFT David Austin rose Rosa Brother Cadfael. TOP RIGHT Rosa Sir John Betjeman. ABOVE LEFT Stunning blue Viper’s

bugloss, an outstanding plant for bumble bees. ABOVE RIGHT Gladiolus communis subsp. byzantinus, one of the first plants Susie

planted here at Bridge Eal, because of memories of seeing it in Cretan fields while on holiday.




ABOVE LEFT Susie pressure washes the paving with her Hozelock pressure washer to clean the sandstone slabs and prepare for putting seeds in

the gaps. ABOVE CENTRE A collection of different-sized pots by the front door, planted with Pelargonium ‘Honeywood Suzanne’ and blue violas.

ABOVE RIGHT David finds that earthing up broad beans helps give them stability to withstand winds and avoids the need for staking.

I will leave them all a complete year. I waterthem thoroughly every second day and havelaid a thick mulch of rotted horse muck to keepthe moisture in. I don’t believe in rushing totake plants out; it could take them a longtime to make new roots.The arrival of 30 David Austin roses forces

a new decision, though - do I plant them inthis heat or leave them in their pots? Despitethe heat, I decide to get them in the groundimmediately, so David and I dig generoussquare planting holes, putlots of water in them, plantthe roses and mulch themwell. I am excited to seethem go in, another elementto give the garden structure and bring thewhole jigsaw together.They are all English Roses, bred by David

Austin for repeat flowering and scent, and rangefrom rich pink to white. I position them in anarrow ‘V’ shape, with the path running downthe middle, the point of the ‘V’ leading to wherethe greenhouse will eventually stand. Thosefarthest away are the deepest pinks, and theybecome subtly paler as they lead the eye tothe greenhouse site and the white of RosaWinchester Cathedral. I am out there at 7amthe following morning to water them from thespring-fed hose before the sun gets strong.


With all this newly turned soil, there is a massof weeds. I can hoe some areas but mostly it isdown to hand weeding, working systematicallyon one bed at a time until it is cleaned. Thistakes time and my hands go blindly amongstems of oriental poppies and geraniums,gathering fat bunches of chickweed and feelingfor their tight strands of roots. Docks, burdocksand thistles are easy when young, but there arestill devious clumps of couch grass and creepingthistle to contend with.

Plentiful weeds mean we need compostbins, and David has built a trio - to enableturning from one to the other - set at the sidewall of the vegetable garden, in the sun sothat they can heat up. He makes them fromsquare posts, each a metre cubed, with boardsat the front that lift out. He turns the compostevery 10 days, and adds ‘brown’ materials,layering lawn clippings, veg peelings, horsemuck, comfrey and spent hops. A square ofcarpet and a ‘duvet’ made of bubble wrap insidea hop bag keeps the heat in and rain out.The potatoes are coming on, and when

David earths them up he also does this to the

broad beans to create sturdy plants that willstand up to the wind. There are two nativetrees in the vegetable garden, a bird cherryand a hawthorn, and I raise the crown onboth, revealing the pattern of their trunks.Where the terrace has been muddied from ourboots, I use a heavy-duty pressure washer thatbrings up the lovely colour of the sandstone.There are large cracks between the slabs andinto these I brush the seed and debris that Icollected last year from underneath a huge

Mexican daisy, Erigeronkarvinskianus, that grew inthe greenhouse at ChestersWalled Garden. I want itsdelicate pink flowers to

self-seed in all the cracks.It seems fitting that after a hard day’s work

is the time when the garden looks its best,for that is when the western light comesslanting through the sycamore trees. Anincredible transformation takes place andeverything is magically backlit. The purplesof heuchera, rheum and euphorbia glow likestained glass, aquilegias are infused withwarmth and the grey stone walls are tingedwith gold. That’s when we can sit for a minuteand feel it’s all worth it.

Next month: Susie enjoys the first harvest

I am excited to see roses go in, another element to givethe garden structure and bring the jigsaw together



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ECO-WATCH

FIND OUT MORE� www.pondconservation.org.uk

� www.naturalengland.org.uk

� www.eforp.co.uk

� www.habitataid.co.uk

� www.floralocale.org

� www.britishflora.co.ukILLU

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High on the ‘to do’ list of most gardening

for wildlife manuals is ‘dig a pond’. It’s

sound advice, and if you make a pond

that’s designed specially for wildlife, it will

probably be the most rewarding part of your

garden for nature-watching sessions.

It’s strange, then, that there’s been very little

scientific research done into just how important

garden ponds are. We know that in the

countryside, pond numbers have declined

dramatically from 1.25 million in the late

19th century to some 478,000 today. But

more importantly, say the experts at Pond

Conservation, 80% of

the ponds in England

and Wales are in poor

or very poor condition,

essentially because the

water is polluted. The charity is campaigning to

introduce thousands of new, clean, well-sited

ponds across England and Wales. Meanwhile,

our three million or so existing garden ponds

could be a vital refuge for many of the wetland

animal and plant species that are being displaced,

while also providing food and drink for visiting

birds and small mammals like bats.

From a close study of a variety of ponds in

Oxfordshire (including his own), Jeremy Biggs of

water or some mud from an established pond to

get the whole thing going. Flying and hopping

creatures will find your clean, shallow water

amazingly quickly. Expect the water boatmen,

hoverflies and pond skaters to pitch up within a

few days. Amphibians, if you have some in the

neighbourhood, will move in soon after.

When it comes to planting, this is one habitat

where native does seem to be best. Choosing only

natives will avoid the risk of spreading invasive

exotics such as parrot’s feather (Myriophyllum

aquaticum) and water fern (Azolla filiculoides), which

are still sold by some garden centres.

There’s a wide choice

of pretty plants from the

natives-only list, from

marginals such as purple

loosestrife and flag iris to

shallow water colonisers lesser spearwort and water

forget-me-not. What you plant depends on the

size and depth of your pond, but you should aim

for a mix of submerged and floating plants.

Environmental consultant Hugh Roberts, who

has installed many wildlife ponds, says: ‘Don’t go

to your local garden centre for aquatic plants, as

they tend not to understand invasives. Instead look

in your local pond and try to mimic what’s in there,

as long as it contains no invasives or non-natives.’

For descriptions of native aquatics and the

invasives to avoid, check out Natural England’s

useful booklet ‘Garden Ponds and Boggy Areas’

(downloadable from the website). Alternatively,

you can buy plug plants from specialist growers

of natives. If you want to have fish, it’s best to make

a separate pond for them, as they will devour

smaller creatures and the fish food you give them

will add polluting nutrients to the water. There’s

masses of advice on Pond Conservation’s website

to help you get going - be prepared to start digging!

Pond bombshellWe should celebrate the garden pond, says Anne Gatti - as well as making an attractivefeature, it also provides a vital habitat for our native water-loving animal and plant species

Pond Conservation has come up with results that

suggest we should re-think how we make our

ponds if we want to provide the best possible

conditions for wildlife.

The most important thing is to make sure your

pond contains clean water, which means water not

contaminated by pollutants such as chemicals or

high levels of nutrients from artificially fertilised

soil (nutrients cause fast-growing algae to bloom

and choke out other oxygenating plants). Ideally,

you should fill the pond with rainwater, especially

if your tap water is high in nitrates; i.e. it has more

than 5mg of nitrates per litre.

The next thing to consider is the depth of the

pond. It does not have to be at least 45cm deep,

as you may have heard before - just 30cm at the

deepest part will do fine. The crucial thing is to

have plenty of really shallow water - at least 50%

of the total area. This is because most pond wild

animals prefer to stay in water that’s only a couple

of centimetres deep; deeper, open water is a

dangerous place for them. The edges should be

gently sloping rather than straight sided, so that

animals can get in and out

of the pond easily. A bonus

for the watching humans

is that it’s much easier to

spot submerged creatures in

shallow water.

Once your pond is full, you

should let the water settle for a few

days before adding any plants.

And, says Jeremy, there’s no

need to tip in a bucket of

Pond numbers have declined dramatically, from 1.25million in the late 19th century to some 478,000 today

TEGUK 165 EcoWatch final:UK 03/05/2011 15:43


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You know summer is here when the fruit startsto catch up with the vegetables. Gooseberriesand strawberries are plentiful, as is the

hedgerow elderflower. This may be my favouritemonth for produce, with the last of the asparagus,the baby carrots and sweet early potatoes to go withthe broad beans, salads and peas. All need the barestcooking, if at all, and I try to eat every meal outside.

COURSES AND EVENTS June may seem a littlelate to do a grow-your-own course, but you can buyseedlings to play catch-up and get yourself betterprepared for next year’s growing. Try Sarah Raven’sYear-Round Vegetables course on 23 June(www.sarahraven.com). Alternatively, if youare looking for more of a family day, try RiverCottage’s Spring into Summer Fair on 11 and 12June (www.rivercottage.net), where you’ll finddemonstrations, stalls and entertainment, and foodaplenty. Booking essential. I hope to see you there.

IF YOU’VE NEVER GROWN THEMBEFORE… Now’s the time to sow chicory. It isbest paired with other plainer leaves and/or a non-sharp dressing. You can use it as cut-and-come-again leaves, or allow it to heart up. ‘Variegata diCastelfranco’, ‘Rossa di Treviso’ and ‘Palla Rossa’ areexcellent varieties. Sow seed direct now, thinningseedlings to 5cm for salad leaves, or 25cm forhearting. Try www.nickys-nursery.co.uk for seeds.

A WORD WITH....CHRIS SMITH Owner ofPennard Plants (www.pennardplants.com). He says:‘June is the month for enjoying fresh strawberriesfrom the garden, picking the first succulent peas asyou walk around the veg plot and eating thembefore you get to the kitchen. Warmer eveningsmean thoughts of using aromatic herbs freshlypicked to flavour food, but don’t forget the winterto come: set out your leeks, sow turnips andspinach, transplant the purple sprouting and Brusselssprouts. Always so much to do and so little time!’

June is the month to enjoy the fun of a River Cottage Fair, go ona veg course and try a new salad crop, says Mark Diacono

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Sarah Raven

shows how to get the best from your plot all

year round; join in the fun at River Cottage’s

Spring into Summer Fair; chicory is a delicious

addition to the summer salad bowl; enjoy

fresh peas straight from the pod.MARKPO

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TEGUK 165 Mark Diacono final 03/05/2011 09:58

Lavender

�

There’s one plant you absolutely must have in your kitchengarden: lavender. It looks beautiful flowering awayoutdoors, but it can also be hand picked and dried toperfume indoor vases, make table decorations, wreaths,lavender bags or sleep pillows. But it’s not just decorative;

lavender works hard in the garden, attracting all-important pollinatingbees and other insects essential to a successful vegetable plot. Lavenderhoney is a bonus by-product.On top of all this, the lavender flowers themselves are actually edible.

Tasting more or less like they smell, they can be mixed into breads, cakes,jellies and jams; or crushed with other spicy herbs to create deliciousherbal crusts for meats; soaked in honeys and oils to marinate fish andfowl; or simply used to garnish salads and desserts.A Mediterranean native, the purple-flowering herb needs a free-draining,

sunny site with neutral to alkaline soil. If your soil conditions are tooacidic or too heavy, or cold and wet, then plant lavender in pots filledwith a free-draining compost and place in a sunny, sheltered position.(You can also improve garden soil drainage by incorporating gravel orsmall stones and by planting lavender on a slight mound.) Pots are alsoperfect for tender but longer-flowering varieties such as Lavandulacanariensis and L. dentata, and the more unusual green-flowered L. viridis,which has a distinctive eucalyptus aroma.Once you have established your favourite lavenders, you can bulk up

your plants by taking cuttings. In springtime, you can make softwoodcuttings from non-flowering stems; or in early autumn, try semi-hardwoodcuttings. If growing as a hedge, plant 35-45cms apart, watering young

LEFT Jacky visits the lavender

fields at Castle Farm in Kent, where

cut bunches of lavender are ‘spiked’

onto a metal pole and taken by

tractor to the drying kilns at the

farm. BELOW LEFT Lavender

honey can be bought atThe

Hop Shop. RIGHT Lavandula

angustifolia ‘Folgate’; occasionally

a pale pink stem will appear amid

a sea of blue. OPPOSITE PAGE

From early July, depending on

the weather, the lavender is

harvested for drying.

Pretty as a Provençal picture, this purple herb ismore than just a border plant. Its scent, flavourand colour makes it perfect for the kitchen too

PHOTOGRAPHS MICHELLE GARRETT WORDS JACKY HOBBS

TEGUK 165 Cookery final:UK 28/04/2011 16:42

THE EDIBLE GARDENCOOK YOUR OWN


� Castle Farm holds a Lavender Festival annually,

usually on the first two weekends in July (2/3 and

9/10 July in 2011) with tours of the fields and the

specialist oil distillation unit. Enjoy a relaxing lavender

massage (pre-booking essential), and visit the shop

(voted ‘Best Farm Shop’ in the Kent Life Food and

Drink Awards). It’s open all year for lavender

everything including plants, essences, ice cream, tea,

cakes, fudge, toiletries, wreaths and tea towels as

well as local foods, farm beef and apple juice.

� Capture a purer, more consistent flavour

with specialist culinary lavender essences, which

can be ordered online at £4.75 each plus p&p.

Formulated from lavender oil, there is one for

high temperature cooking, including baking and

preserving; and another for drinks and cold

foods such as ice-cream and cheesecakes.

The Hop Shop, Castle Farm, Shoreham,

Sevenoaks, KentTN14 7UB.Tel: +44 (0)1959

523219. www.hopshop.co.uk


Lavender events & products

plants well to help get their roots established. Water only when essentialthereafter, especially if in pots or containers. To ensure healthy, long-livingplants and for optimum flower crops, Caroline Alexander of Castle Farmrecommends cutting the plants back in late summer or early autumn -pruning to leave only 2-3cm of the current year’s growth. This promotesbushier plants with lots of flowering shoots for the following year. Lavenderleft unpruned has a shorter life span. It becomes leggy and woody withfewer flowers and tends to die back.

If using the heads for cooking, pick stems when they are in full flowerwith their best colour. Bunch them and hang upside down to dry in awarm dry location, such as over a range oven or in an airing cupboard.Once dried, the flower heads can be rubbed off by rolling the stemsbetween your palms. Collect in a basin or paper bag. They must stay dry;to retain flavour and colour they are best stored in a container away fromthe light. They can be used directly in cooking, sprinkled in or on ashortbread mixture, scattered prettily through marmalades and jellies, orfor infusing and flavouring sugars, salt and vinegar.

Alternatively, they can be ground with other herbs or olive oil toextract more flavour, and used with meats or in sauces. They can alsobe used to blend with tea. Caroline sells specialist teas incorporatingher lavender such as ‘Lavender Grey’ and ‘Sleepy Tea’.

Expert advice

CAROLINE ALEXANDER OF

CASTLE FARM GROWS 90

MILES OF LAVENDER AND

LAVANDIN. SHE SAYS:

’While some of our lavender is

cut and dried, the majority is

distilled to produce pure essential

oils. Lavender oil is used for

aromatherapy, pharmaceuticals,

high-grade toiletries and perfumes;

while lavandin is used for candles,

room scents, soaps and insect

repellents. If you are starting out,

choose a dark blue Lavandula

angustifolia - it is the best variety

to grow for aesthetics and home

culinary use.The deep blue flower

heads hang onto their colour

for ages, making them a great

candidate for drying, and they are

also sweet-flavoured for cooking.

There is no harm in using what

you currently have growing in

the garden, but the ‘butterfly’

Lavandula stoechas types are

not appropriate, and the larger-

growing Lavandula intermedia

may be a little bitter in taste.’

ABOVE Beehives on the

perimeters of the expansive

lavender fields at Castle Farm.

The bees produce delicious

lavender-flavoured honey

in season. BELOW LEFT

Lavender grower Caroline

Alexander. OPPOSITE, FROM

TOP LEFT Roast beef with a

lavender and coriander crust;

crushed dried lavender flower

heads, with coriander seeds

and salt to make a crust

for the beef; a lemon and

lavender loaf cake.



Recipe 1Roast beef witha lavender andcoriander crust

This recipe brings a great summer

twist to roast topside of beef,

which can be served traditionally

hot or cold - perfect for a summer

buffet or Sunday lunch. The

lavender flowers will keep over

winter if properly stored. This dish

can be served on a bed of fresh

lavender stems, as demonstrated

by Crispin at Castle Farm (far left),

but the more parsimonious may

prefer to use only a sprig or two.

� Take two teaspoons of

coriander seed and crush with two

teaspoons of lavender flower heads

(dried as described opposite).

� Mix with two tablespoons

honey (preferably lavender) with

pepper and salt to taste. Rub it

into the top of the beef, then

roast the beef as usual.

Recipe 2Lemon & lavenderloaf cake

Ingredients:

125g butter -175g caster sugar -

175g self raising flour - 1-2

tablespoons dried lavender -

2 eggs - 4 tablespoons milk -

1 lemon - 100g icing sugar

� Preheat the oven to 180ºC, and

butter and flour a large loaf tin.

� Cream butter and sugar

together before adding the eggs

and the grated zest of the lemon

(keep the lemon). Quickly but gently

fold in the flour and lavender before

loosening the mixture with milk.

� Spoon into the prepared tin

and pop in the oven for 30-40

minutes, until springy and golden.

� On the hob, gently melt the

icing sugar into the lemon’s

squeezed juice.

� Remove the loaf from the oven

and spike repeatedly with a skewer,

before pouring over the lemon

syrup. Leave to cool and decorate

with sprigs of lavender.

If you are starting out, choose a dark blue Lavandula angustifolia - it isthe best variety to grow for aesthetics and home culinary use




CLOCKWISE FROMTOP

LEFT Fun and ice lollies;

afternoon teas with free

champagne are a big

hit with visitors; local

strawberries for sale;

herb displays at the plant

stalls. OPPOSITE Foxglove

fireworks in one of the

cottage garden borders.

�

Now that summer is here, villages and towns all over the country are opening their gardensfor charity, such as the picturesque village of Ashton under Hill in the Cotswolds,

which has been holding an Open Gardens weekend for the past 33 yearsPHOTOGRAPHS JASON INGRAM WORDS CLAIRE MASSET

Open season

There’s something quintessentially Britishabout opening your garden to the public.The tradition of welcoming fellow garden-lovers into your plot dates back to atleast the 18th century. At Stowe near

Buckingham, Lord Viscount Cobham opened his greatand highly symbolic landscape garden to interestedparties, producing the first ever garden guidebook inthe process. The custom has continued ever since,gaining momentum in the 20th century with thefoundation of the National Gardens Scheme in 1927.Its aim then was, and still is, to ‘open gardens of

quality, character and interest to the public for charity’.And when an entire village gets together to open a

whole range of its gardens, it’s even more admirable.I can’t help feeling moved by that wonderful war-timespirit of everyone pulling together and getting involved,each person bringing something unique to the event -whether expertise or just pure unbridled enthusiasm.For the past 33 years, this is exactly what’s been

happening at Ashton under Hill in south Worcestershire.‘It started as a way of raising funds for our church,’explains resident Malcolm Nelson, who is in charge ofmarketing the event. Every year, on the second weekend

THE EDIBLE GARDENEATS & TREATS

TEGUK 165 EATS & TREATS ASHTON final:UK 03/05/2011 14:30


ABOVE The two-day event

is so well organised that

volunteers are always on

hand to guide visitors and

answer any questions

they might have.

in June, the inhabitants of this picturesque Cotswold villageon the edge of Bredon Hill hold an open gardens weekendthat usually attracts about 1,500 visitors over two days.Last year, the event raised £10,000 for the local churchand the community centre. Of the 700 or so residents,about 100 were involved in one way or another.Ashton under Hill’s mile-long main street is lined

with chocolate-box black-and-white thatched farm-houses, red-brick Victorian cottages, a good sprinklingof picturesque stone cottages, and some modernhousing at the end. ‘It’s a really mixed community,’explains Malcolm, ‘so we can show a whole range ofdifferent gardens. People see things that they canadmire and also things they can relate to. Visitors tellus they take ideas away from the event. If you can takehome one good idea - whether it’s about planting orlayout or design or anything else - then in my bookyou’ve had your £4 worth.’

‘It’s a whole village thing. We try to involve as many people as possible - the Girl Guides,the schoolchildren, the Women’s Institute, the church and the chapel’

But how on earth does such a big event ever getorganised? ‘It’s a whole village thing,’ says Malcom.‘You have to carry people with you, and convey yourenthusiasm even when it’s a dark, miserable day inFebruary and people can’t see that their garden couldever be open to the public.’ He and the rest of the smallcommittee - usually about eight people - make sure theyget the support of all the groups in the village. ‘We try toinvolve as many people as possible. We include the GirlGuides, the children from the primary school and themiddle school, the Women’s Institute, the church and thechapel. Just about every village organisation is involvedin some way.’ The biggest beneficiary is the village’sChurch of St Barbara, whose leaking roof has been indesperate need of repair. ‘We had a wedding last yearwhere we had to put a bucket where the bride’s motherusually sits!’ But the money also goes towards the villagehall, the children’s playground, the playing field and the




two village schools. ‘People see that the community isbenefiting and it encourages them to get involved.’Early planning is essential too. ‘We have a debrief in

July and then we start planning for the next year’s eventin early September. It’s a bit like Chelsea - but withnowhere near the budget!’ Practical issues are also key.‘The pinchpoint is teas and toilets. And because somepeople come back year after year, we try to make eachevent slightly different. We open new gardens, have adifferent exhibition in the church and also invite differentgroups to exhibit. Last year, we had the RSPB, theHereford and Worcester Master Composters - a verypopular stall - and the local wildlife rescue centre.’The event isn’t purely about raising money, though.

The village’s prevailing attitude is one of warmth andopenheartedness. ‘You have to want to welcome peopleinto your community. We are lucky here to live in abeautiful spot, and we enjoy sharing our village and its

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP

LEFTVisitors take a stroll

around one of the many

gorgeous gardens in

Ashton under Hill; round

off a lovely day of garden

visiting with a delicious

cream tea; a giant urn

stands proudly, surrounded

by Nepeta ‘Six Hills Giant’,

Alchemilla mollis and old-

fashioned roses; even the

local pets are pleased to

greet you to the village.

�




beauty with visitors.’ Last year, coach parties came fromas far as Staffordshire and Hampshire. ‘We draw on awide geographic area. Some people come back everyyear - it’s like greeting old friends. Last year, we hadvisitors from Holland, Canada and Hong Kong - all ofthem had seen our website while visiting Britain, anddecided they wanted to come along.’

Perhaps unusually, the event manages to attract bothyoung and old. A special activity sheet is handed out toanyone with children and there are other entertainmentsto keep them occupied, not least the very well-designedvillage playground. ‘Last year,’ Malcolm recalls, ‘a youngvisitor wrote a comment saying that the gardens werelovely but they enjoyed the playground best!’ As well asopen gardens, there’s live music in the church, performedby children from the middle school; garden-relateddisplays by children from the primary school; afternoonteas at two separate venues; plant sales; a wildlife huntfor children; a local pub serving tempting fare; and evena large nursery (Rails End Nursery) to visit on the edgeof the village, where you can select your plants and pickthem up by car on your way home. Nine out of the 22open gardens are accessible to wheelchair users, and there’seven a free mini-bus service that drops people aroundthe village. If you fancy a relaxing walk, one of the biggergardens - Beauchamp House, with glorious Italianatefountains and colourful beds of perennials - is reachedthrough dreamy meadows behind the church. The gardenalso offers panoramic views towards Dumbleton Hill.

Back on the main street, Middle Farm is a large, lovinglytended plot with an immaculate knot garden, colour-themed formal borders, soothing stream and pond, and



a large woodland garden-cum-arboretum. Further up theroad, the Old Farmhouse is utterly charming - just likeits owners, Alex and John Dodge. The centrepiece hereis the herb garden, conveniently situated on a sun-soakedterrace near the house. But this too is a garden of manydelights, with bold borders, quiet corners, an unexpectedbog garden and thriving kitchen garden with greenhouses,fruits cages and more. When she’s not busy gardening,Alex likes to make preserves, which she then sells duringthe open gardens weekend. ‘I made nearly 200 jars lastyear,’ she says. ‘Apart from the oranges for the marmalade,all the fruit is from our garden or from other gardens inthe village. What isn’t sold during the weekend, I sell inaid of St Richard’s Hospice in Worcester.’Alex and John are passionate about their village, which

they fell in love with the moment they first viewed theirhouse some 13 years ago. It’s a Hansel-and-Gretel-typetimber-framed farmhouse, parts of which date back to the16th century. They have been opening their garden formore than 10 years. John, an ex-lecturer at BirkbeckCollege, is a welcoming host. He enjoys talking to people,answering questions with wit and humour. ‘We get suchlovely visitors. A lot of them who come to see us livein towns and are really appreciative. They say thank

OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE

FROM TOP LEFT

St Barbara’s Church; the

formal parterre at Middle

Farm, one of the larger

gardens in Ashton under

Hill; the thatched cottage

garden at Bredon Holt;

Alex Dodge with her

home-made preserves;

potatoes grown by the

school children. ABOVE

Picture-postcard views

abound in the village.

Each of the gardens has something different to offer - meadows, rockeries,topiary, woodlands, potagers, orchards and lots of frothy borders

you so effusively, and we are grateful that they come.’Another highpoint is Bredon Holt. This charming,

rambling garden has a chocolate-box thatched cottage forbackdrop, its powder blue windows offsetting the warmtones of the stone. But twee it is not: this unrestrainedgarden is visual candy for those who love natural-lookingplots, where honeysuckle, cow parsley, foxgloves andgiant angelicas are left, almost, to their own devices;where rambling and old-fashioned roses look as if they’vebeen there for centuries; and birds have colonised everytree and large shrub, their mellifluous song the perfectaccompaniment to this horticultural effervescence.Of course, each of the gardens has something different

to offer - you’ll find meadows, rockeries, topiary,woodlands, potagers, orchards and lots and lots of frothyborders. For anyone who loves visiting gardens, I can’tthink of a better way to spend a sunny afternoon. You’llcome back with inspiration, maybe a few plants, a suntan,and quite possibly the glimmer of an idea to open yourown garden some day very soon...

Ashton under Hill Open Gardens will take place on 11 and12 June 2011, 1-6pm. This year’s theme will be Grow YourOwn. For details, see www.ashtonopengardens.co.uk



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SUMMERSAVIOURS


Penstemon Ice Cream

Series ‘Blueberry Fudge’

Bright colourful penstemons add some good old-fashioned glamour to a border, says Anna Toeman �

PLANT FOCUSPENSTEMONS

TEGUK 165 Plant Focus PENSTEMON final 04/05/2011 10:02


The rewards of growing penstemons are great, andgiven the right conditions (and these are specificbut not onerous), many cultivars will flower from

midsummer to the first frosts.Classified as hardy and half-hardy perennials and

sub-shrubs, their hardiness is variable and greatlydepends on the conditions in which they are growing.As a general guide, the tall broad-leaved cultivars areless hardy than the low-growing narrow-leaved varieties.While the former make splendid border specimens, thelatter are often best grown as alpines or in raised beds,though their habit makes them useful at the front ofa border too. They’re available in every colour of therainbow too, so you won’t struggle to find the perfectone to suit your garden.For eye-catching reds ‘Andenken an Friedrich Hahn’,

better known as ‘Garnet’, is an excellent choice. Itquickly builds into a substantial plant with myriadwine-coloured flowers, while ‘Schoenholzeri’ (betterknown as ‘Firebird’) is equally floriferous with carmine-red flowers that positively glow. With larger andbroader blooms, ‘‘PPoorrtt WWiinnee’’ is much as you wouldexpect - claret-red - but with a contrasting white throatwith deep claret markings. At the other end of thespectrum, ‘Countess of Dalkeith’ has deep purple

�

flowers with a clean white throat. ‘Blackbird’ is a tallcultivar, and the willowy stems might need somesupport, but the deep red-purple flowers are definitelyworth this extra effort; though ‘Raven’, with its shorterstems and luscious burgundy flowers, might be a betterchoice for a windy spot.

TRUE BLUEAmong the blue-purples available, ‘Sour Grapes’ rankshighly. Unfortunately, an inferior-coloured variety hasbeen sold under this name - but once the true one hasbeen seen, second-best will never do. Some of theconfusion arose through a variable cultivar called‘‘SSttaapplleeffoorrdd GGeemm’’. Depending on the growing conditions,the flowers vary from dark blue to lilac. It is gorgeousin its own right, and even the darkest flowers are quitedistinct from ‘Sour Grapes’.The best blue flowers appear in cultivars with

Penstemon heterophyllus in their parentage. This is aCalifornian species, low-growing and ideal for the frontof the border. The flowers are relatively small, oftentinged with pink, and variable to the point where it ishard to decide whether they are blue or pink or both.‘Heavenly Blue’ has pale blue flowers tinted withmagenta. In ‘‘CCaatthheerriinnee ddee llaa MMaarree’’, the tint has largely

ABOVE LEFT Penstemon

‘Alice Hindley’ is one

of the oldest hybrids in

cultivation today. ABOVE

RIGHT P. digitalis ‘Husker

Red’ thrives in partial

shade. OPPOSITE PAGE,

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP

LEFT P. pinifolius bears

delicate, bell-shaped

blooms; elegant, semi-

evergreen P. heterophyllus

‘Catherine de la Mare’;

‘Port Wine’ reaches 90cm

tall; ‘Stapleford Gem’

flowers from June

to the first frosts.


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� There are about 270 species of

penstemon, all of which originate from

North and Central America. They tend

to grow in quite harsh habitats, and

there are species adapted to scree

slopes, sand dunes and hard boulder

clays that bake dry in summer.

� Ideally, penstemons need an open,

sunny border with free-draining soil,

with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH.

The conditions to avoid are excessively

wet soils, as plants are unlikely to

survive the winter months; and

nutrient-rich soils, which will produce

leafy plants with few flowers.

� Penstemons are easy to look

after once established, and all they

need, apart from watering during

lengthy dry periods, is regular dead-

heading. This isn’t the time-consuming

task that it is with some plants, but

involves the complete removal of spent

flower spikes, down to a point where

new side shoots are developing. It is

well worth doing, as it significantly

prolongs the flowering season.

� Penstemons should be cut back in

spring once frosts have passed, to about

5cm above ground level. They should

not be cut back in autumn. Splitting

penstemons is not usually successful,

and neither is moving them.

� The surest way to keep favourite

cultivars is to take stem cuttings in

summer or early autumn, using non-

flowering side shoots. They root fairly

easily in free-draining compost, or

even just water, and once potted

up should be over-wintered in

a frost-free place.

� Penstemons also grow well from

seed, and cultivars come relatively true

where seed is produced (but bear in

mind that continuous dead-heading will

remove any seed pods). Seed should

be sown in early spring - cultivars at

a temperature of 15ºC and alpine

species in a cold frame.

� Plant large groups together for

a high impact show - though they

are equally useful planted in mixed

borders to provide continuity from

summer to autumn.

CULTIVATION &PROPAGATION



ABOVEYou can cut back

the seed heads of ‘Apple

Blossom’ after flowering to

encourage a second flush.

However, hybridisation has taken this popular plantso far from its origins that it is hard to find varietiesthat closely resemble their forebears. A valuableexception is PP.. ddiiggiittaalliiss ‘‘HHuusskkeerr RReedd’’, the beetroot-redleaves forming a basal rosette beneath red flower stemsthat bear small white flowers. In the cultivar ‘Mystica’,the foliage is even more richly bronze-coloured and the flowers are pale lavender.

Penstemons can be replanted every year using young plants propagated from cuttings the previousautumn, or they can be grown from seed sown duringspring. The plants should be fully hardened-off beforegoing out in late April or early May, when the dangerof frost has passed. The earlier and quicker that plantscan be established in their growing positions, the soonerthey will come into flower.

For plants that are to be kept into the next season(and although generally short-lived, they can last fourto six years) all the top growth should be left on throughwinter. In spring, healthy plants will produce strongbasal shoots, and when these are about 5cm long theold top growth can be cut back. If a plant producesweak basal shoots, or none at all, then it won’t recoverand it should be replaced.

Whatever your circumstances, it ought to be possibleto find a penstemon that will grow for your garden - infact, the problem may be picking just one.

disappeared to leave clear blue flowers, which blushpurple with age. Pinks are represented in almost everyshade imaginable, from blush to flamingo. P. ‘DevonshireCream’ is the colour of strawberry mousse, and is asdelicious as it sounds; while PP.. ‘‘AAppppllee BBlloossssoomm’’ is adelicate shade of blush pink.

‘‘AAlliiccee HHiinnddlleeyy’’ is a tall cultivar that might need somesupport in an exposed position, but the large pale mauveflowers are worth it. For something a little different, PP.. ppiinniiffoolliiuuss has pine needle-like foliage, and vivid orangered flowers; and the cultivar ‘Mersea Yellow’ is a garden-worthy yellow penstemon.

There are also pure white penstemons, which stay aclean colour even as they age. ‘White Bedder’ (previouslyknown as ‘Snow Storm’) and ‘Pensham Wedding Day’,are the two most often seen.

WELL-BRED BEAUTIESPenstemons are ideal subjects for hybridising. Many ofthe cottage-garden favourites were bred in Europe fromMexican species especially for garden cultivation. Workis still going on today all over the world, and newcultivars appear regularly, including seed strains suchas ‘Kaleidoscope Mix’ for growing as annuals, and thenew colour collections such as the Ice Cream Seriesincluding ‘Strawberries and Cream’, ‘Raspberry Ripple’,‘Vanilla Plum’ and ‘‘BBlluueebbeerrrryy FFuuddggee’’. T

HIS PAGE/GWI- LEE THOMAS

� Kingston Maurward Gardens,

Dorchester, Dorset DT2 8PY. Tel: +44

(0)1305 215000. www.kmc.ac.uk

� Pershore College, Avonbank, Pershore,

Worcestershire WR10 3JP. Tel: +44

(0)1386 552443. www.pershore.ac.uk

� Rowallane Garden, Saintfield,

Ballynahinch, Co Down BT24 7JA. Tel: +44

(0)2897 510131. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

WHERE TO BUY� Agar’s Nursery, Agars Lane, Hordle,

Lymington, Hampshire SO41 0FL.

Tel: +44 (0)1590 683703.

� Foxgrove Plants, Foxgrove, Enborne,

Newbury, Berkshire RG14 6RE. Tel: +44

(0)1635 40554. www.foxgroveplants.co.uk

� Hayloft Plants, Pensham, Pershore,

Worcester WR10 3HB. Tel: +44 (0)1386

554440. www.hayloft-plants.co.uk

� Pogs Penstemons, Drumterlie

Farmhouse, Newton Stewart,

Wigtownshire DG8 6QG. Tel: +44 (0)1671

401666. www.pogspenstemons.co.uk

� Westcountry Nurseries, Bideford,

Devon EX39 5QH. Tel: +44 (0)1237 431111.

www.westcountrylupins.co.uk


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THE ENGLISH GARDEN JUNE OFFER - EGA45

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Free* Penstemon collection dispatched from June 2011. All other orders will be acknowledged with adispatch date. Delivery to UK addresses only. If in the event of unprecedented demand this offer isoversubscribed, we reserve the right to send suitable substitute varieties. Offer closes 30 June 2011.Please note that your contract for supply of goods is with Thompson & Morgan (Young Plants) Ltd(Terms and conditions available upon request). All offers are subject to availability. Offers available toUK mainland residents only.

THE ENGLISH GARDEN

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�

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Summer is the time for weddings, and with the recent royalevent still fresh in everyone’s minds, the month of Juneis sure to be all about brides walking down the aisle. Itwas after one such wedding 12 years ago that farmerCharles Hudson found himself contemplating the soggy,

papery mess around the lych gate of his own local church, nearPershore in Worcestershire. Sad, he thought, that the tradition ofshowering the bride with rice and fresh flowers had given way toconfetti that litters the ground and is often now banned altogether.

Arriving home to Wyke Manor, he happened to notice a vase filledwith flowers, which were shedding their petals prettily onto the long,polished table. An idea began to form in his mind. Why not createreal flower-petal confetti that would be home-grown, biodegradable

Something blueA farmer has revived the old tradition of making flower-petal confetti with which to shower

newly wedded couples, creating a niche for a hugely popular, natural British productPHOTOGRAPHS TORIE CHUGG WORDS JACKIE BENNETT

and totally natural? He could create something that churches andother wedding venues might allow, because it would die awaynaturally, just like fallen leaves.

With 1,000 acres of arable land that his family had farmed forgenerations, Charles was keen to find something to reinvigorate thefarm business. ‘I started with just a couple of acres, trying out differentflowers that I thought would work, including nigella, marigolds androses,’ says Charles. Surprisingly, roses were the blooms that workedleast well. ‘Rose petals are heavy,’ he explains, ‘and for confetti youwant something that will float on the breeze. Brides want that pictureof being surrounded by clouds of confetti.’

The surprise winner was delphiniums. They have lots and lots ofindividual florets on a stem, and they keep their shape and colour

�

ABOVE Colourful swathes of delphiniums as far as the eye can see greet summer visitors toThe Real Flower Petal Company near Pershore.

TEGUK 165 CONFETTI final 28/04/2011 08:57


in a huge range of colours, they are able to ‘match’ whatever colourschemes the bride has in mind. ‘Though I am a bit out of my depthwhen it comes to what’s fashionable,’ he says. ‘But the customerstell us what they want and we try and provide it.’ Bougainvillea isanother (albeit indoor) flower that works well, with ‘lovely and lightpetals in pink or white’. Roses are still picked and preserved, butbecause they are heavy, they work best strewn across tablecloths or

for petal paths.The petals can be packed

in a number of ways, whichall adds to the charm andrusticity of the product.

Parchment paper cones filled with petals can be given out to guests,handed out by ‘flower girls’ who carry baskets of them. They arealso available in voile bags, pretty envelopes and ‘by the pint’ - apint, apparently, is enough for 10 handfuls or sufficient to sprinklelightly over three tables of 10, according to Charles.If you happen to live near Worcestershire and fancy an outing to

the farm this summer, you will be rewarded with glorious fields of blue,pink, white and red delphiniums. Next door to the Elizabethan manorhouse, the old stables have become the office where potential customers

when dried. The annual Delphinium ajacis Sublime Series, bred inFrance, has proved the most successful on the farm.‘We sow seed in succession from autumn to spring, and keep the

rows hand-weeded to give the flowers the best chance. Even withsuccessional sowing, they all tend to flower together. From 15 June,we harvest non-stop,’ says Charles.The flowers have to be picked within 10 days of flowering, so

like a grape harvest, teams ofskilled workers are draftedin. The flowers must be drywhen picked, so this meansdoing it late in the day - andrain can play havoc with the crop. Some flowers have the petals pickedindividually, while others are cut as stalks and taken indoors to dry. Theyare either dried by hanging the stalks from barn rafters in the traditionalway, letting the petals fall; or they are spread out on trays in thegreenhouses. ‘We then clean off the seedheads, foliage and any otherbugs or undesirables, and the flowers are ready for packing. There’s nospraying or freeze-drying involved, just a slow three-week drying period.’Charles has experimented with plenty of other blooms, including

cornflowers, which have lovely shaggy petals. With petals available

‘Rose petals are heavy, and for confetti you wantsomething that will float on the breeze’

PLANTSCONFETTI

ABOVE Farmer and confetti-petal flower grower Charles Hudson

in one of his flower-filled fields. TOP LEFT & RIGHT Pink and

white delphiniums make particularly popular petal confetti

for brides. RIGHT Hand-crafted paper envelopes and cones

are some of the options available for packaging.

�



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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Hand-picked petals have to be

harvested within 10 days of flowering; from the middle of June,

a team of workers are drafted in to make sure the flowers are

collected at their peak; fashions in petal colours change, and

this year purple-blues and mauves are highly sought after.

can see and touch the whole range of petals available before placing anorder. Traditional mail order is still going strong, but in the past few yearsinternet sales have grown, and now 90% of customers use the websiteto order. Because the petals are light, they are very popular with couplesgoing abroad to get married, as they can just be popped in a suitcase.‘Of our 1,000 acres where we still grow wheat and other arable

crops, only 10 acres are givenover to growing flowers - yetthey provide 50% of ourbusiness,’ says Charles. ‘It hasproved so popular that wenow employ five people all year round just on the flower side.‘The beauty of the flower petals dried in this way is that they keep.

My mother has a bowl of petals on her piano that I gave her five yearsago and they are still in good condition. It is lovely for the familythat they can keep even a small bag of petals picked that summer asa memory of a big day,’ he says.‘We try to move with the times, as seed has to be ordered by late

summer for the following year. The girls in the office and packingroom tell me that purple and lilac are the choice colours for summer2011. After that, it’s anyone’s guess.’

Despite claiming to know nothing of fashion, Charles’ eye for atrend might just be a bit keener than he is letting on. He has noticedthat in among the rows of delphiniums that there is an occasionalelectric blue that catches the eye. ‘I have been selecting and crosspollinating these ones, and soon I hope to have a flower that isabsolutely unique - and hopefully these blue beauties will be the

petals that everyone wants.’The winning combination

of the petals being a naturalproduct and one that isproduced locally attracted

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and Her Royal HighnessCamilla, The Duchess of Cornwall, who chose to have real flowerpetals for their own wedding day in 2005. At the time of writing,the team were waiting to hear if they would also be supplying thewedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. If so, brideseverywhere are sure to want to follow suit.

The Real Flower Petal Confetti Company, Wyke Manor, Wick,Pershore, Worcestershire WR10 3NZ. Tel: +44 (0)1386 555045.www.confettidirect.co.uk

‘It’s lovely for the family that they can keep a smallbag of petals as a memory of a big day’

PLANTSCONFETTI


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Like father,like daughter

Claire Austin has collected more than 600 different iris varieties, with over 400 varietiesavailable for sale, and opens her Shropshire nursery to the public just a few days a year

PHOTOGRAPHS MICHELLE GARRETT WORDS JACKY HOBBS

PLANTSIRISES

TEGUK 165 CLAIRE AUSTIN final 28/04/2011 09:05

PLANTSIRISES


OPPOSITE PAGE Claire picks Iris ‘Before the Storm’. ABOVE, FROM LEFT

’Godfrey Owen’ has a strong lemon scent; the tall bearded iris cultivar,

‘Going MyWay’; Iris x sambucina was named by Linnaeus himself.

BELOW Claire also has a range of hardy perennials on offer at the nursery,

together with a collection of peonies. NEXT PAGE A dolly mixture

collection of bearded iris light up the nursery’s fields in June.

Blazing her own horticultural trail, Claire Austin’s completionof art school coincided with her father’s early success withEnglish roses. Needing room to expand, David Austin discarded

a small but special iris collection, which Claire grabbed with bothhands, and literally set about growing her own business.Though favouring bearded irises, she has embraced the genus

passionately - collecting, travelling, trialling, growing and bringingtogether a glorious jewel box of iris species and varieties from aroundthe world. Unsurprisingly, she is a respected authority on the subject,and her book Irises, A Gardeners Encyclopaedia is considered to besomewhat of a bible; and winning a prized Chelsea Gold medal lastyear confirmed she has a well-trained, artistic eye. In 2009, sheintroduced 63 new varieties, and unveils more new cultivars at thisyear’s show, including ‘Cranberry Sauce’, plush cranberry with a goldenthroat; and ‘Guatemala’, a smoky vintage-looking variety. She will alsoshow her collection of peonies.Claire sources largely from American and Australian breeders and,

a bit like an art dealer, she has her favourites. ‘I try to select newvarieties that are distinctly different.’ She also has her own ‘designs’- patient work in progress, hand-pollinating to increase the occurrenceof purple-stained foliage and sheaths (as seen in ‘Around Midnight’and ‘Best Bet’) or spontaneously match-making floral parents inthe hope of amazing offspring.Aside from differences in coloration and marking, all irises share a

make-up of six petals, three upper ’standards’ and three lower ‘falls’(though some Japanese varieties have more). Claire selects those withgood form, poise, even spacing and branching, with abundant flowerbuds. Petals must have substance, which intensifies colour and affordsresistance to sun and wind blasting. Fragrance varies too. ‘Most aredivine, but a few are deadly,’ says Claire. ‘I love the varieties withlemon, chocolate, honey and spicy scents.’She concentrates on flamboyant bearded iris varieties, characterised

by a cavalcade of colours, with furry caterpillar-like beards emanatingfrom the falls’ shoulder, or haft. This large group is subdivided byheight into six further groups, which tend to flower in ascending

�


PLANTSIRISES


height order. They all love well-drained soils in a sunny spot, asthe sun is needed to bask the exposed, flower-producing rhizomes.‘The sandy soils of the adjoining sun-baked fields here are perfectfor growing irises,’ Claire says.

Iris ‘production’ is hard graft, but luckily Claire found the perfectpartner in her husband Ric, an Australian horticulturist she met on abus in Florida. They pull together at the nursery - Ric takes care ofthe heavy duty tasks such as dealing with the tractors, sheds and fields(as well as the pigs and chickens), managing the bulk of the field workat the nursery. The plants are vegetatively propagated by division, andit is no mean feat to lift, divide and trim 50,000 plants, and thenreplant the stock after packing off orders.

Claire grows predominantly for the British climate, encompassingbeardless irises too. The daintier sibirica irises are popular in damper,shadier gardens; Japanese irises, with their solid, flat flowers setupon stiff stems, are suitable as marginals; while unguicularis typesare evergreen and put on a splendid winter show. ‘There’s an irisfor absolutely every garden occasion,’ she declares. Claire invitesthe public visit to view her specimens at their peak at the end of Mayand beginning of June, to give a stunning and rare glimpse of hundredsof different varieties at their floral best - the perfect opportunity toselect some beauties for your own plot.

Claire Austin Hardy Plants, Shawbury, Shropshire SY4 4EL. This year,her open days are on Thursday 2, Friday 3 & Saturday 4 June; 10am-4pm. Tel. +44 (0)1939 251173. www.claireaustin-hardyplants.co.uk

Claire sources from breeders and, like an art dealer, she has her favourites - ‘I try to selectnew varieties that are distinctly different.’ She concentrates on flamboyant bearded iris varieties,

characterised by a cavalcade of colours, with furry caterpillar-like beards

� Divide at least every

three years to maintain

vigour. Plants can be lifted

from six weeks after

flowering until October.

Snap the rhizomes off,

discarding any old rhizomes.

Trim foliage and roots to

the length of your hand to

stop the newly planted iris

rocking out of the soil.

� Plant in well-drained

soil, not too acidic.

� Ensure rhizomes are planted close to or on top of soil,

to bake in the sun to produce good flowers. Plant in multiples

of three, making a triangle of the rhizomes, leaving the

rhizomes exposed to the sun, barricaded from invading

plants by their own foliage.

� Irises are best planted bare-rooted; Claire sends plants out

when dormant, to produce root growth in spring and autumn.

� Avoid unsightly leaf spot by clearing away old/diseased

foliage, or treating with a fungicide.

CLAIRE’STIPS FOR BEARDED IRIS CARE



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35 years, he has worked on some

of the most fantastic projects

throughout the world, many of

which are well documented and

beautifully photographed in this

book. On closer inspection, the

book does impart valuable design

information, starting with a ‘design’

chapter providing plenty of top tips

on designing gardens.Then, using

26 case studies, he demonstrates

particular design solutions to

projects varying in calibre, from a

tiny, shared garden in Chelsea to

palatial pads in Provence. Most of

the case studies are UK based, but

perhaps my favourite is the eight-

hectare Quebec garden and how

he cunningly created a grandiose

garden from scratch in a place

with the most inhospitable terrain

and climate. In spite of winter

temperatures as low as -40˚C and

a growing window of five months,

Randle conjures up an impressive

planting palette. Opposite in

extreme climate is his decadent

project in the Middle East, which

addresses privacy screening in a

multi-million pound kind of way

by craning in 28 mature palms and

building a Randle-designed water

screen. Here, something starts to

grate on one’s nerves: the tone.The

book is edited by design journalist

Library leavesWe’ve a great mix of topics to entice you this month, with ourselection including design, plants, bees and garden management

Helen Chislett, who makes Randle

out to be some kind of design deity

every wealthy palace-owner should

be worshipping: ‘Randle created

garden cohesion…’ ‘Randle wanted

to inject this garden with some

magic...’ Is there nothing this man

cannot do? Putting that aside, this

is a wonderful account of some

fantastic projects and how Randle

has provided design solutions to

address various situations that can

easily translate into less extravagant

projects: making small city gardens

appear bigger; privacy; linking

gardens to the natural landscape;

re-vamping of out-moded design;

This is a wonderful account of some fantastic projects and howRandle has provided design solutions to address various situations’

BOOKS


feng-shui. There is even a valuable

chapter on garden lighting written

by lighting wizard Sally Storey.The

book includes some of Randle’s

own design graphics and exquisite

photographs from eminent people

such as Marianne Majerus. It

deserves a place on the studio

bookshelf - especially of those who

wish to work in the high-flying

spectrum of design. It deserves a

place on the coffee table too, being

a thing of beauty. I can even forgive

the reverential tone, because, after

all, Randle Siddeley (aka Lord

Kenilworth) is rather wonderful.

Tom Hoblyn, garden designer BOOKSIM

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TEGUK 165 Library Leaves final 04/05/2011 11:22


REFERENCETHE BEE GARDEN(Spring Hill, £16.99)

My parent’s cottage garden on a

sunny spring day seems an ideal

place to read Maureen Little’s book,

which promises to explain ‘how to

create or adapt a garden to attract

and nurture bees’. I’ve asked some

of my family who are here this

weekend for their opinion about

the book too - from avid gardener

to veg-growing chef, we five seem

a good cross-section to make a

panel of reviewers. After a

morning’s reading, we reconvene

to discuss our thoughts: the

overwhelming opinion is that it is

an excellent reference book. High

praise indeed - we all plan to buy a

copy. A huge amount of information

is packed into 269 pages. For both

my father and brother-in-law, who

like to get to grips with a subject,

the more detailed chapters were

fascinating and informative. Did you

know, for example, that a hive can

require up to four litres of water a

day? Opinions ranged when it came

to the book’s style. My sister, a

photographer, found the pictures

uninspiring. On the other hand, my

mother, a passionate gardener,

thought it looked fine and liked the

combination of practical and pretty

shots. Maureen, a professional

garden designer and beekeeper, is

clearly passionate about the topic

and though writes with authority,

deftly tempers the serious

message with a bit of humour. The

book has proven to be a genuinely

useful and inspiring reference book

and a great gift idea for my garden-

loving friends and, of course, family.

Cinead McTernan, deputy editor

THE GARDENER’SYEAR MADE EASY(Which?, £10.99)

A month-by-month guide to

gardening, absolutely bursting

with information on flowers, fruit,

veg, pests, projects and more.

PHLOX(Timber Press, £35)

Subtitled ‘A Natural History and

Gardener’s Guide’, this book is a

definitive, comprehensive work

covering the 61 species of the

genus.With only a few photos,

this really is for serious enthusiasts.

TERRARIUM CRAFT(Timber Press, £9.99)

We’ve had Kirsty Allsop knitting,

sewing, printing, metalworking and

such, and I’m sure next on the

crafts menu is a bit of terrarium

making.You can get on board

before the hype with this chic,

artistic, modern take, presenting

50 inspirational projects.

THE RESILIENTGARDENER(Kyle Cathie, £25)

Marylyn Abbott of West Green

House fame looks at gardening

from the viewpoint of changing

weather systems, taking a more

sustainable approach.

Other books out this month

We plan to spend retirement creatingwide borders and intricate planting...Then we get old and it’s hard to manage’

ADVICEGARDENING FORA LIFETIME(Timber Press, £8.99)

Most of us plan to spend our

retirement creating a garden with

wide borders and intricate planting,

something we spend our entire

working lives waiting to have time

to achieve.Then, inevitably, we get

old and it’s hard to manage.This

brilliant little paperback is written

by well-known American garden

writer Sydney Eddison, and follows

the story of the creation of her

garden in the US and how, as she

has aged, it has been altered in

order for her to manage it. It’s

more than a story - it’s a realistic

guide. Her ‘gleanings’ are practical

pointers, ranging from how to find

help to how to accept that your

garden has imperfections. As a

working mother, there are plenty

of tips for me on how to look after

an extensive garden and think

ahead. I’d suggest it to people who

are trying to help elderly relatives

stay in their homes for as long as

possible. This subject seems taboo

so it’s a relief to find a book that

tackles this very real issue head

on. Definitely a book that you’ll

pass around gardening friends.

TamsinWesthorpe, editor

FOR GREAT OFFERS ONTHESE BOOKSAND FREE UK DELIVERY,VISIT OUR NEWBOOKSHOPAT WWW.EFCBOOKSHOP.COM/TEG ORTEL: +44 (0)1872 562327



...a breath of fresh air

• The UK’s premier waterfront destination

• Miles of sea views, centuries of history

• Fascinating museums, famous historic ships, inspiring cathedrals and entertaining attractions

shopping dining history relaxing

Call for your free visitor guide

+44 (0)23 9288 3545www.visitportsmouth.co.uk

ref: HM11

Railtrail Tours

www.railtrail.co.ukTel: 01538 382323

Take the great English Riviera coast journey to explore beautiful Cornish branch lines, charming St. Ives and experience the amazing Eden Project.

DEPARTURES: APRIL – OCTOBER

CORNWALL & EDEN EXPLORER

4days

Railtrail Tours – over 30 years of exploring beautiful Britain, taking clients on “the best railway holidays ever”.

• Dinner, bed & breakfast at fabulous beach-side hotel with leisure facilities• Fare inclusive of ALL excursions and ALL rail travel - choose First or

standard class from YOUR home station, with reserved seats• Friendly, experienced Railtrail Tours Manager

Fares from

£325

Railtrail Tours

www.railtrail.co.ukTel: 01538 382323

HIGHLAND RAIL VOYAGER

4days

Fares from

£315Roam the glorious Highlands on a “Great railway journey of the world” to Kyle of Lochalsh, and the stunning scenic line to The Far North.

DEPARTURES: APRIL – OCTOBER

• Dinner, bed & breakfast at classic Inverness hotel; tea with sea views to Skye• Fare inclusive of ALL excursions and ALL rail travel - choose First or

standard class from YOUR home station, with reserved seats• Friendly, experienced Railtrail Tours Manager

Railtrail Tours – over 30 years of exploring beautiful Britain, taking clients on “the best railway holidays ever”.

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chose to structure the book as a series of shortpieces on these different topics, making it perfectfor dipping in and out of as the reader wishes.

‘It is very hard sitting waiting for reviews,’ sheadmits. ‘It’s feeling quite oppressive at themoment. It takes so long to get published - 18months from when I handed in the manuscript.I use Twitter, and I’ve got used to an instantresponse when I put something up online.’

Anne, a self-proclaimed ‘troublemaker’, isn’tsure what to expect, but is happy to havefulfilled the reasons for creating the book. ‘Iwanted the freedom to write freely,’ she explains.‘There’s the sort of thing you are expected to

write for magazines andnewspapers about gardens,and I’d done it, and I was fedup with it, so I decided to saywhat I wanted to say.’

of earth & ink

BOOKS

An exclamation-laden message camefrom a writer friend the other day, fullof excitement at seeing her new book

Tea and Tea Drinking not just on the shelves ata big bookshop, but on a large, dressed displayto promote it. This was up on a par with herbeing interviewed on Women’s Hour on Radio 4- an expression of success and recognition, everywriter’s dream. Of course, these high pointscome at the end of incredible slog, the truth ofall those pithy phrases about the craft being 99%something awful to do with sweating, and 1%your own creative ability - and yet many of usstill yearn to write that one book they say is inall of us, and bask in that glory that must, webelieve, beat the usual humdrum triumphs likeweeding a border, meeting a deadline or fixingthe washing machine. Perhaps the book couldbe about weeding a border, meeting deadlinesor fixing machines - they say to write what youknow. Though I highly doubt Ms Rowling wasa Quidditch champion when she started out.

She was, however, rejected by publisherscountless times, just like other famous authorssuch as Rudyard Kipling (‘I’m sorry Mr. Kipling,but you just don’t know how to use the Englishlanguage’) and George Orwell (‘It is impossibleto sell animal stories in the USA’), as well asStephen King, John Grisham and Judy Blume.Robert Persig’s Zen and the Art of MotorcycleMaintenance was allegedly turned down 121times. You say pig stubborn, I say perseverence.

And when the book finally makes it out there,you have the reviews to look forward to. I paida visit to Anne Wareham recently as her book,The Bad Tempered Gardener, was being sent outto newspapers and magazines. Creator of thegardens at Veddw House in Wales, she considersherself on the fringe of the garden media world.Her book tells the story of the making of hergarden (above) and her attitudes to all sorts ofthings from Alchemilla mollis and show gardens

to working in TV. Ratherthan writing chapters inan ongoing story, Anne


WORDS STEPHANIE MAHON

Getting published

This is her first book, but Anne is no strangerto reviews and criticism, through her garden,and wishes more of us would consider the twoart forms in the same way. ‘I’ve invited peopleto be critical of this garden from the start, andas a result we’ve changed things and had heart-breaking times. You put your heart and soul justas much into making a garden as you do intowriting a book, putting yourself out there to beravaged or ignored. The difference isn’t big, butwe don’t put gardens in that category. Peoplewho go to concerts and galleries don’t visitgardens with the same sort of seriousness.’

She lauds the land of blogging for beginningto change this attitude, though says she is notinterested in having her own blog, and is insteadthinking about perhaps writing another book,this time an honest look at plants. And so,nervous of what is to come, but with her bannerheld high, Anne storms off into the future topursue her goal of giving gardening, well, a bitmore of an edge.

The Bad Tempered Gardener, published byFrances Lincoln (£16.99), is out now.

‘For several days after my first book was published, I carriedit about in my pocket and took surreptitious peeps at it tomake sure the ink had not faded.’ J.M. Barrie


On sale 15 June 2011

In the JULY issue…ARDENTHE ENGLISHG

Sold in selected Marks & Spencer,Waitrose andWH Smith

JULI

AS

TAN

LEY

THE FULL PACKAGEEverything you need forthe perfect English summer

WITH 5 FANTASTIC FLOWERFUL GARDENS� Sarah Raven on attractingnative beneficial insects

� Growing and cooking summer fruit� Companion planting inspiration� Plants for a prairie-style border� Toby Buckland on coastal plants� Shopping ideas for green-fingered kids

PLUS FREE* Perennials Collection for everyreader - Seasonal tips from a NationalTrustHead Gardener - cutting scissors on trial

*just pay postage

TEGUK 165 CNM final:UK 03/05/2011 09:55

ADVERTORIAL

GARDEN WILDLIFEAttract a range of wildlife to your garden but keep pesky pests at bay

with our top selection of bird and bee friendly products

1HERITAGE GARDEN TRADERSSOLID OAK BIRD FEEDING TABLE

Feed the birds with this beautiful bird feeding table and stand. It is madefrom solid oak timber which is FSC certified. There are 4 separatesections which come out so that you can easily fill with different seedswith pegs around the sides to hang fat balls or other treats. This is a veryheavy and sturdy item so will last for years. You will be amazed how manybirds will visit your garden when you install this wonderful bird feedingtable. £150.00 + £4.99 P&Pvisit wwwwww..hheerriittaaggeeggaarrddeennttrraaddeerrss..ccoo..uukkor contact us at iinnffoo@@hheerriittaaggeeggaarrddeennttrraaddeerrss..ccoo..uukk or call Rebecca on 0077883322113388770044

2 CHAPELWOODFEED THE BIRDS THIS SUMMER WITH CHAPELWOOD.

ChapelWood is one company that recognises the importance of feedingthe birds all year round, which is why the company has developed themost comprehensive wild bird care range on the market. Henry Corbett,ChapelWood’s brand manager, said: “Summer marks a particularly busytime for our wild birds, with many using up to 10 times more energy thanin winter! From breeding to moulting, our wild birds require a significantamount of energy. Our range of energy boosting, nutritionally balancedfoods has been designed to provide them with much needednourishment throughout the summer months.” Visit: wwwwww..cchhaappeellwwooooddwwiillddlliiffee..ccoomm or Telephone: 0011990055 779911998844

3 NATURESCAPENATIVE BRITISH WILDFLOWERS

Naturescape understands that the best way to attract nature into agarden is by introducing native species of plants, shrubs and trees.Growing wildflowers gives an opportunity to get closer to, and enjoywildlife in its natural surroundings. The wild flower farm extends to over 40 acres and is open to the publicto stroll amongst and enjoy the large areas of wildflowers and thewildlife it attracts. Home-baked refreshments are available, but visitorsare welcome to bring a picnic.email iinnffoo@@nnaattuurreessccaappee..ccoo..uukk or ssaalleess@@nnaattuurreessccaappee..ccoo..uukkTel: 0011994499 886600559922 Fax: 0011994499 886699004477

4 SLUG RINGSTHE MODERN ANSWER TO SAFE PLANT PROTECTION

Made in England from solid copper and elegantly designed to blend into any garden, Slug Rings are a highly effective slug and snail barrier, asafe and wildlife friendly alternative to slug pellets and sprays. They areguaranteed to last a lifetime.The rings come in different sizes and are very easy to use.Slug Rings were voted Which? best buy for barrier protection in 2004 andare the modern answer to safe plant protection.Tel: 0011222255 885511552244Visit: wwwwww..sslluuggrriinnggss..ccoo..uukk

1

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ADVERTORIAL

Summer gardens to enjoyThe best UK gardens to visit right now

❶

❷❸

❹

NEWBY HALLNewby Hall, Ripon

North Yorkshire, HG4 5AE

Tel: 01423 322583 opt 3

email: [email protected]

web: www.newbyhall.comNewby Hall's 25 acres of award winninggardens include superb double herbaceousborders, flanked by smaller compartmentedgardens. A national collection of Cornus(dogwood) is held at Newby and2011 sees the launch of a new free publication,to guide visitors through this stunning rangeof shrubs and small trees. Many of the rareand beautiful plants found in the gardens areon sale at the plant stall.For further details, tickets and events visit ournew website www.newbyhall.com

OPENING TIMES:

1st April – 25th September 2011, Tue – Sunand bank holidays, every day in July /August.

❶

THE GARDEN SHOW

AT STANSTED PARKRowlands Castle, Hampshire

PO9 6DX. 10th-12th JuneSpecialist plantsmen and designers inviteenthusiasts to share their vision of beautifulgardens and homes and replant their future!A wide range of gardening products, sculpture,art, gifts, country food, wines and complementarytherapies in one accessible location. With recycling workshops, Plant Doctor, Medicine Garden, muchto entertain the children and a chance to explore Stansted’s stunning parklands, get lost in its newmaze and unwind with your family ….. life is very good at The Garden Show at Stansted Park!

OPEN 10am - 5pm daily. Adults: £8. Concessions: £6. Family: £24.To pre-book contact Chichester Tickets on 01243 813595 or chichestertickets.co.ukTel: 01243 586323 www.thegardenshowonline.com

❷

WADDESDON MANOR

GARDENSWaddesdon, Nr. Aylesbury

Buckinghamshire HP18 0JH.

Tel: 01296 653226 Email:

[email protected]

www.waddesdon.org.ukThis National Trust property has one of thefinest Victorian gardens in Britain to be enjoyedany time of the year. Its main features includea parterre, seasonal displays, intricate carpetbedding, fountains, statuary, parkland,contemporary sculpture, a woodlandplayground and an aviary housing many exoticbirds. Guided walks take place daily from Aprilto September. There is also a restaurant, cafe,shops and plant centre. Something foreveryone.

OPEN Wednesday-Sunday and Bank Holidaymondays 10.00-5.00. The Manor is open on thesame days from 12.00-4.00. For admissioncharges phone 01296 653226 or visitwww.waddesdon.org.uk

❸

ABBOTSBURY

SUBTROPICAL GARDENSBullers Way, Abbotsbury, Dorset

DT3 4LA,Tel: 01305 871387

Web: www.abbotsburygardens.co.ukThese Grade one listed gardens boast collections ofexotic plants and trees from all over the world.Many of these were first introductions to this country.

● Thirty acres including the world famous Camellia Groves, Magnolia, Rhododendron and Hydrangea collections.

● Superb colonial restaurant for coffee, lunches and teas.● Specialist plant nursery, buy online www.abbotsburyplantsales.co.uk● Magnificent viewing point over the Jurassic Coast

OPENING TIMES: 10am daily, all year (closed Christmas and New Year)

❹

Carole Drake

For more information visit us at www.theenglishgarden.co.uk

BROCHUREDIRECTORY

To receive a brochure this month from any of the listed companies please complete and

return the coupon to the stated address or email [email protected] with your requests.

To order up to four of the featured brochures, please indicate the panelnumbers in the boxes below and return to the following address:

Send to: Emily Lucas, The English Garden Magazine, Archant House, Oriel Road, Cheltenham, GL50 1BB

Alternatively Email: [email protected]

Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms...................Forename..............................................................

Surname.............................................................................................................

Address..............................................................................................................

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.....................................................................Postcode.......................................

Date of Birth..................................................Tel................................................

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T+C’s: Your contact details will be collated and passed through to the relevant companies only. Your information will be forwarded once received, please allow delivery time of your brochure from each company. All product sales thereafter will be dealt with directly through each company and not via The English Garden Magazine.

6. ARTIZANOArtizano provide a stunning range ofItalian, hand-painted stone tables.Each one is individually crafted toeach customer’s requirements and issigned by the artist who painted it.Beautiful in appearance, the tablesare also practical. Suitable for useboth indoors and outside, they arenon-porous, easy to clean and bothfrost and heat resistant.01732 822822www.artizano.co.uke-mail: [email protected]

7. BETH RUSSELL NEEDLEPOINTA charming needlepoint kit featuringWilliam Morris’ famous quotationabout interior design. It’s one ofover 100 printed kits for cushions,rugs and hangings in Beth Russell’snew brochure.

+44 (0) 20 7798 8151www.bethrussellneedlepoint.cominfo@BethRussellNeedlepoint.com

2. KIRKLEES DEVELOPMENTSPrestigious 6 burner stainless steel Gas barbecue with flush fitting sideburner. Supplied with warming rack,hose and propane reg and overnightcover. Cupboard underneath forcooks tools and accessories. Part ofthe exclusive range of catering sizebarbecues and hog roasters designedto make you the envy of your friendsand a star chef. Ask for brochure.Tel: 01484 401134Email: [email protected]

3. MOHICAN WIND HARPSis a builder/designer of outdoormetal harp sculptures that sing inthe breeze! Our harps are forresidential or commercialapplications, we will also do specialdesigns to meet customer specs.For shipping to UK add $70. See ourvideo on YouTube.

[email protected]

5. WIGGLY WIGGLERSWe're not just worms!- Wiggly Wigglers has 2000 plusproducts to Make the Good LifeEasy... From composting kits,through to goat socks... frommushroom logs to Ecover and BritishBirdseed, not exactly a farm shop,not quite a garden centre, we aremost definitely.... Wiggly!

01981 [email protected]

PLEASE

MENTION

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advertisements

1. PADDOCK FENCINGEnclose all your livestock includingcattle, horses, deer and sheep. Withan all steel construction this fencingis easy to fix in place.End posts/corner posts extra.Bowtop Gates to match fencingavailable.Price list available on request.French Drove Farm,French Drove, Thorney,Peterborough, PE6 0QPT: 01733 270580W: www.paddockfencing.com

4. Q LAWNSQ Lawns specialise in growing topquality, hardwearing turf for gardensof all shapes and sizes.

Come to Q Lawns for advice on creating and maintaining a beautifullawn and for sensible prices.

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ail: emily

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The new PlantGirdles offer allround support forflower, plant andvegetablegrowing. Createstunning borderdisplays. Naturalrusted or olivedrab to blend in.Solid steel to last.

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ACCESSORIES

BLINDS & CURTAINS

For a complimentary brochure call now on

0800 975 5757Or visit

www.appealshading.comQuote ref: EG

CONSERVATORY BLINDS

PLEASE MENTION the english garden

when responding to advertisements

ARTS AND CRAFTS

A CERAMIC MODELOF YOUR HOME

Call me or visit my websiteRichard A. Rogers

RAR CeramicsTel: 01777 703711Email: [email protected]: www.rarceramics.co.uk

Recycling your magazinemeans that it could come

back as a newspaper within 7 days.

To

ad

vert

ise

con

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Em

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tel

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0)

1242 2

16081 e

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THE DIRECTORY

For more information visit us at www.theenglishgarden.co.ukThe English Garden

COURSES

TO FIND OUT MORE, CALL 020 7376 3377OR VISIT WWW.KLC.CO.UK

Established, accredited, and highly regarded, KLC School of Design offers:

Professional qualifi cations Help fi nding employment Practical, friendly and inspiring training Flexible study options available

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dovetail greenhousesWe design and build to suit your requirements

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Dovetail GreenhousesBonehill Farm,Tamworth

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HEDGING AND TOPIARY

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HOPES GROVE NURSERIESTHE HEDGING PLANT SPECIALISTS

HOPES GROVE NURSERIES, SMALLHYTHE ROAD, TENTERDEN,

KENT, TN30 7LT Tel: 01580 765600 Fax: 01580 766894

Email: [email protected] Web: www.hopesgrovenurseries.co.uk

All enquiries and Credit/Debit card orders welcome. Mail order specialist: nationwide delivery.

Nursery open 9-5 Mon- Fri, 9-1 Sat. Closed Sunday.

VISA, SWITCH, M.CARD, DELTA, AMEX

To advertisecontact

Emily Bevan

tel: +44 (0) 1242216081

[email protected]

Recycling your magazine means that it

could come back as a newspaper

within 7 days.

THE DIRECTORYT

o ad

vertise con

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ily B

evan tel: +

44 (0

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ail: emily

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ant.co

.uk

For more information visit us at www.theenglishgarden.co.uk The English Garden

harrodhorticultural.com

free 116 page cataloguecall 0845 402 5300

TIMBER RAISED BEDS

10% OFFQUOTE ELSA45

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www.kentbalusters.co.uk

NURSERIES

Beautiful plants ,order onlineGrown in peat free compostand sturdy biodegradable pots

www.withleighnurseries.co.ukT: 01884 253351E: [email protected]

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Beautiful plants, order online.Grown in peat free compostand sturdy biodegradable pots.

PET SERVICES

PLANTS

PERHILL PLANTSWorcester Road, Great Witley,

Worcestershire, WR6 6JTtel:01299 896329

email:[email protected]

Specialist growers of rarermore unusual perennials.Online shop @ www.perhillplants.co.ukMail order catalogue available.(six 2nd

class stamps please).Open most weekdays, 9am-5pm

(Closed weekends)

PONDS

Do you have a garden pond? Is it

as clear as mud? Is itmurky, muddy, slimy,smelly, choked withalgae or weed and achore to clean out?If you have a pump,

are you forever cleaning or changing

the filter?

AQUAPLANCTON

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the same for youFor free brochure and price listtelephone 01298 214003 anytime or send the approx. surface area of your pond to:

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Pond surface sq ft

Does your pond have? EGPlease tick ✓

Algae ❏Full Sun ❏Green water ❏Sludge ❏Clogged filters ❏Blanketweed ❏Murky water ❏Odour ❏Koi carp ❏Ducks ❏

POTS & ORNAMENTS

PUBLISHERS

AUTHORSsynopses and sample chapters

welcome, please send to:

Austin and Macauley PublishersCGC - 33 - 01, 25 Canada Square,

Canary Wharf , London, E14 5LQ

0207 0388212 /edi tors@aust inmacauley.comw w w . a u s t i n m a c a u l e y . c o m

Al l genres welcome

YORKSHIREGARDEN TOURS

FOR PARTIES OF 8+TAILOR MADE SCHEDULES4 NGS Gardens on the doorstep, many otherprivate and public gardens within easy reach.

Accommodation in refurbished NordhamLodgings, North Cave. Beautiful Wolds country - streamside walks and wildlife.

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Contact: Louise Martin 01430 422266

[email protected]

TOURS

PLEASE MENTION

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ENGLISH

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THE DIRECTORY

For more information visit us at www.theenglishgarden.co.ukThe English Garden

WEB SERVICES

Every day more gardeners are turning to the natural way of growing - ORGANICALLY

6x is 100% Natural Fertiliser. The Best Thing on Earth!If you have difficulties in locating 6x within your local garden centre,please visit the products page on our website for mail order details

[email protected] www.6-x.co.uk 01458 272202

ROSESFor Every SPECIAL

OCCASIONTel: 01939 210380

OVER 1000 Varieties to Choose From

www.countrygardenroses.co.uk

Happy Birthday

Special Anniversary

The Directory of Garden Designerswww.gardendesign-uk.com

www.gardenlines.co.ukLawnmowers, Hedgecutters, Strimmers, Garden Furniture

SSmmaarrttSSooiill LLttdd Tel: 01639 701888 • Web: www.smartsoil.co.uk

COMPOST ALL • COOKED AND UNCOOKED

• KITCHEN WASTE INCLUDING MEAT AND FISHjoin

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WILDLIFE

2011 Catalogue

Bird Care & Garden Wildlife

FREENext Day Delivery

DELIGHTFUL COTTAGE – Discounted prices for English Garden readers throughJune and early July. Peaceful location with stunning views towards Exmoor – sleeps 4 –1 double 1 twin both ensuite – large sitting/dining area – very well equipped kitchen –private patio garden. Excellent base for visiting RHS Rosemoor, Marwood, Knightshayes andGlebe Cottage Garden.The beautiful N. Devon coast and Exmoor within easy reach.B&B also available.Welcome pack of local goodies and wine on arrival.Tel: 01598 740203 – www.sannacott.co.uk

PLACES TO STAY

CLARE HOUSEPark Road, Grange over Sands LA11 7HQ

Tel: +44 (0) 15395 33026. www.clarehousehotel.co.ukWe offer rest & relaxation, delightful meals, a garden to sit in, a promenade to saunter along and wonderful bay views from

our family run hotel. We are now closed for winter refurbishments, re-opening March 2011. Please contact us for

our 'Early Season Special Offers'

GARDEN LOVERS BREAKOn the edge of the Cotswolds we are England’s oldest hotel builtin 1220. Standing next to Malmesbury’s medieval Abbey the hotel

has antique furniture, cosy lounges and is traditionally English.Our 2 night break is now only £325 until the end of October fortwo people, bed and breakfast, dinner on 1 night and tickets to

Abbey House Gardens and Westonbirt Arboretum.

The Old Bell Hotel 01666 822344 www.oldbellhotel.com

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• High build breathing coating suitable for all types of external walls• All latest colourings available• Nationwide service with 30 years experience• Guaranteed not to flake, peel or chip for 10 years• Not affected by acid rain or a salt laden atmosphere• Breathing Coating

This resurfacing is applied by high pressure spray by our own fully trained staff

All our work is done by our own highly trained personnel,to an exceptionally high standard of detail, rarely seen these days.

Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Telephone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

To: Climatised Coatings (UK) Ltd, Freepost, Chester CH2 1ZZ or telephone Chester (01244) 378488

www.climatisedcoatingsuk.co.uk

MISCELLANEOUS

PLEASE MENTION

THE ENGLISH GARDENWHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS

SPECIAL OFFER TO READERS WHILST STOCKS LAST!BUY 10 LAVANDULA FOR £10.00 THAT'S JUST £1.00 PER PLANT!

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Lavandula Melissa LilacHeight & spread 60cm (24")Lavandula Hidcote

Height 60cm (24”) Spread 75cm (30”)

Lavandula augustifolia MunsteadHeight 45cm (18”) Spread 75cm (30”)

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10 PLANTS (two of each pictured) YPLAVMTO10-EG0511 £10.0010 HIDCOTE PLANTS YPLAVHTO10-EG0511 £10.00POST & PACKING (UK) PER COLLECTION £2.50

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Supplied as young plants, approximately 6” from root base to stem tip.The plants may be planted directly into the ground in ideal conditions although we

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HAYLOFT PLANTS, MANOR FARM, PENSHAM, PERSHORE, WORCESTERSHIRE WR10 3HB TEL: 01386 554440 FAX: 01386 553833

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GUEST SPEAKER

and frilly knickers. But this is just like thinkingthat a building must have a punchy andexpressive design; a shard or a sail, so that itcan be ‘iconic’ and stand out from the crowd.Occasionally, this sort of thing does sort

of work. The Guggenheim in Bilbao, forinstance, is an astounding sculpture - but it isnot a great art gallery. More often this attitude

results in tiresome, show-off buildings thatdon’t fulfil basic requirements because theyare so busy being eyecatching. The sameprinciple applies with gardens.First of all, they must be places that refresh

the spirit, and this is much more difficultto realise if a designer’s concept is so pervasiveand instructive that you constantly feelbossed around, told where to go, what to lookat, and even what to feel. My belief is thatgardens remain one of the great bastions of

the liberal arts and, for the most part, theexperience should not be excluding. If agarden is conceived around a conceptualframework, it shouldn’t be, as it were, anentry ticket to the garden. It should bepossible to make gardens that have a strongconceptual framework and yet also allowan alternative view.We can learn a lot from the wonderful

garden at Rousham in Oxfordshire (above).Here, there are a number of overlapping andcomplex narratives, but they remain partlysubmerged and obscure. Many visitors mightmiss them altogether, but it doesn’t matter,as a great deal of the meaning of the placefilters in subliminally as you wander at will,discovering things for yourself, inventingyour own stories, finding your own routeand wondering where the place gets its uniqueessential magic from.It is a little ironic that this wonderful garden

is often cited as a favourite by many gardendesigners, especially those who concentrateon concept, and fail to follow Rousham’s mostfundamental lesson: show, don’t tell.

Designer Tom Stuart-Smith has won RHSChelsea Flower Show’scoveted ‘Best in Show’Award twice.

Award-winning garden designer TToomm SSttuuaarrtt--SSmmiitthh considers whether anidea or concept is the guiding principle in the creation of great gardens

Afew years ago, I went on a trip withmy family to see a contemporaryScottish garden: Charles Jencks

and Maggie Keswick’s Garden of CosmicSpeculation at Portrack House. It was along-overdue visit, and I had been feeling forsome time that it was an embarrassingomission in my education. Before going, I read quite a bit about the

garden and had been to a talk by Jencks onthe detailed thinking behind the design, so I thought I knew what to expect. I was wrong.I had anticipated not liking it, but my reactionwas the complete opposite. I had thought that all that ‘cosmic speculation’ would be so persistent and bossy that the whole thingwould be like a tiresome lecture that I would not understand. But the garden wasoverpoweringly sublime. There were momentswhen the metaphor all got a bit literal, but for the most part, it was a transportingexperience of curves and waves. This all came back to me today when I was

asked by a garden design student if, in mywork, the concept came first or the design. I answered, after a long pause, that theygenerally come together - if there is a ‘concept’at all. Much of the time I am led by what

Alexander Pope called ‘The Genius of thePlace’; concept and design seen as one and thesame thing. Or, in other instances, there maybe an explicit metaphor, but it’s well buriedin the design, and it isn’t essential to grasp thisin order to experience the garden.There is a tendency among garden designers

to think that there must be a signpostedconcept for a garden; otherwise you cease to be a creative designer, and the gardendescends into being a pink mush of roses

There is a tendency among garden designers to think that there must be a signposted concept for a garden, otherwise you cease to be creative’

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T/ROUSHAM HOUSE & GARDEN -.WWW.ROUSHAM.ORG

TEGUK 165 Guest speaker final 03/05/2011 12:30

The National Trust

don’t open their doors to just anyone.

They have an unrivalled reputation to maintain. So, when endorsing a collection of greenhouses that would

bear their name, they were scrupulous in their selection. Our design expertise and skilled craftsmanship

convincingly earned their approval. As it will, we trust, gain yours.

Alitex. Aluminium made beautiful. 01730 826900 www.alitex.co.uk

F R O M Y O U R H E A R T, S P R I N G S L I F E

For our CURRENT OFFERS call or click 0800 783 8083 www.hartley-botanic.co.uk [email protected]• Exclusively Endorsed by the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew • Establ ished Over 70 Years • Handmade in Greenfield, England

H A R T L E Y B O T A N I C

APPROVED BY THE

N O T H I N G E L S E I S A H A R T L E Y

THE CHELSEAFLOWER SHOW

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Stand MA6

the english garden 201106

Documents

therose garden

classicrose garden

garden forthe

english garden

bachefield garden pg

nursery pg

lavender pg

ukwin garden museum