The English Garden 201106

WIN GARDEN MUSEUM MEMBERSHIP WORTH 500!
,
THE ENGLISH GARDEN JUNE 2011 ISSUE 165 FOR EVERYONE WHO LOVES BEAUTIFUL GARDENS WWW.THEENGLISHGARDEN.CO.UK
6 FREE
GARDEN
WORTH
THE ENGLISH
PENSTEMONS
14.97
FOR EVERY READER
JUNE 2011 J UNE
FOR EVERYONE WHO LOVES BEAUTIFUL GARDENS
3.99 A$9.50
VISITING TIME
FEATURING 7 STUNNING GARDENS FOR DAYS OUT
Tom Stuart-Smith
ON CONCEPTUAL DESIGN
Full of seasonal f lowers

PENSTEMONS & LAVENDER GROWING FLOWERS FOR CUTTING A PETAL-CONFETTI NURSERY SUMMER CONTAINER ADVICE FROM THE NATIONAL TRUST TOP BEE-FRIENDLY PLANTS
www.theenglishgarden.co.uk
MOWERS, PONDS & MORE...

Claire Austins inspirational IRIS NURSERY An unsung GERTRUDE JEKYLL water garden Open gardens weekend in THE COTSWOLDS Sensational ROSES at bountiful Borde Hill
EDITORS LETTER
Its a great thing to dedicate your whole working life to a garden, especially if it is not yours
s gardening styles change and plants go in and out of vogue, there was a moment when I thought the classic ROSE GARDEN was falling out of favour. Thankfully, the gardens in this issue demonstrate why this could never happen. The rose garden at Borde Hill in Sussex (pg 27), planted with mainly David Austin roses, is such an incredible sight at this time of year - I challenge anyone to find another genus that offers such a show.
THE ENGLISH GARDEN AWARDS 2011

The Nichee Magazine Awards Best Niche Lifestyle Consumer Magazine
Someone that would be happy to set two plants against each other is Claire Austin, Davids daughter. The hundreds of different varieties of BEARDED IRIS that can been seen in flower at her nursery (pg 110) are truly out of this world. They may not flower for long, but if you have the space, they offer a jaw-dropping display. And in this issue theres also LAVENDER (pg 84) - why on earth did I start this mad idea of squabbling over which genus is better than the other? Here at The English Garden were out and about visiting gardens - some are new to us and others we have seen in the past. Last summer, I revisited TYLNEY HALL (pg 34) in Hampshire after 12 years. Seeing a garden for the first time in over a decade allows you to appreciate new features and the maturity of what was new planting
JASON INGRAM
back then. Older planting has been cleared to allow more light into areas, and I can see how the years of graft have improved the garden. The head gardener has been in place for 25 years - this is not unusual, as its hard to leave a place you have given so much to. Its a great thing to dedicate your whole working life to a garden, especially if its not yours. For those who do, the rewards are rich; in particular this month, when they get to see people delighting in their hard work. Have a glorious month, and if youre opening your garden in June, you can now put the details on our website for free - go to www.theenglishgarden.co.uk
2010
Garden Media Guild Gardening Column Of The Year Mark Diacono
2009
Garden Media Guild Gardening Column Of The Year Jackie Bennett Garden Media Guild New Garden Media Talent Of The Year Stephanie Mahon
Tamsin Westhorpe, Editor
Follow @TEGmagazine on Twitter and check out The English Garden magazine page on Facebook to see what we get up to this month
2008
Garden Media Guild New Writer Award Joe Reardon-Smith
On the cover:
Bachefield garden (pg 48) Photograph: Marianne Majerus
The Husqvarna Rider Range
The ride of your life.

Cutting the grass has never been such fun.
Articulated body design for excellent manoeuvrability a Cuts grass finely, feeding it back for healthier lawn greener, Eliminates the need to collect and dispose of grass.
WIN
HUSQVARNA PRODUCTS
visit husqvarna.com/uk for details
TAMING THE WILD
Grass cutting doesnt get much quicker, easier or more fun. With its articulated body, the Husqvarna Rider Range has a tighter turning radius; so no matter what shape or size your lawn, youll be able to manoeuvre around it with ease. Plus, the innovative combi cutting system mulches your grass, before feeding it back into your garden for healthy growth. Once youve sat on this mower, you wont want anything else. Its the perfect way to tame your garden. For more information, details of current promotional offers or to find your nearest stockist visit husqvarna.com/uk or call us on 0844 243 5263.
2011 Husqvarna AB (publ). All rights reserved. Husqvarna and other product and feature marks are trademarks of Husqvarna AB (publ). Terms and conditions apply.
GARDEN
FOR EVERYONE WHO LOVES BEAUTIFUL GARDENS
THE ENGLISH
www.the englishgarden.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1242 211080 Fax: +44 (0)1242 211081 Email: theenglishgarden@archant.co.uk Website: www.theenglishgarden.co.uk
EDITORIAL
Editor Tamsin Westhorpe Deputy Editor Cinead McTernan Art Editor Frances Wallace Production Editor/Writer Stephanie Mahon Editorial Assistant Victoria Kingsbury Gardens Editor Claire Masset Acting Art Editor Cormac Jordan Designer Karen le Gallez
UK ADVERTISING
Tel: +44 (0)1242 211072 Fax: +44 (0)1242 255116 Email: kim.holtham@archant.co.uk Group Promotions Manager Chris Hands Group Communications Manager Lucy Warren-Meeks Group Sales Manager Jamie Bolton Account Manager Kim Holtham Media Sales Executive Emily Bevan
Splash
PRODUCTION
Publishing Production Manager Kevin Shelcott Production Team Leader Mikey Godden
UK SUBSCRIPTIONS
To subscribe, tel: +44 (0)1858 438840 www.subscriptionsave.co.uk Head of Direct Customer Marketing Fiona Penton-Voak Senior Subscription Executive Abigail Stockton Subscription Marketing Executive Natalie Medler Marketing Designer Jane Henbest
PUBLISHING
Circulation Manager Richard Kirby Head of Events Graham Lock
Managing Director, Archant Lifestyle Miller Hogg Email: miller.hogg@archant.co.uk Group Publishing Director, Archant Specialist Suzanne Heaven
The English Garden, Archant House, Oriel Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 1BB
Subscription Offices: UK: The English Garden, CDS Global, Sovereign Park, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 9EF England. Tel: +44 (0)1858 438840. Fax: +44 (0)1858 , 434958. USA: The English Garden, PO Box 433068, Palm Coast, FL 32143-3068. Canada: The English Garden, 1415 Janette Avenue, Windsor, ON N8X 1Z1. Tel: 1-800998-0807 (toll free). Europe and Rest of World: +44 (0)1858 438840. Online: www.theenglishgarden.co.uk Printing: William Gibbons Ltd, Willenhall. News Distribution: UK: Seymour, 86 Newman Street, London W1T 3EX, England. Tel: +44 (0)20 7396 8000. USA and Canada: CMG, LLC/155 Village Blvd, 3rd Floor, Princeton. NJ 08540, USA. Rest of World: As for UK. MAGAZINE BINDERS: Send 11.95 per 12-copy binder to: The English Garden Binders, CDS Global, Sovereign Park, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 9EF England. , Overseas readers add 2. Tel: UK +44 (0)1858 438840. Fax: +44 (0)1858 434958. Overseas +44 1858 438840. BACK ISSUES Available in UK for 4.60, Europe and Eire 5.60, Rest of the World 6.60 from CDS Global, Sovereign Park, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 9EF England. , Tel: +44 (0)1858 438840. Fax: +44 (0)1858 434958. Overseas: Tel: +44 (0)1858 438840.
The English Garden (UK issue) ISSN no 1361-2840. Printed in England.
Splash Armchairs & Low Table, hand-crafted in oak
GAZE BURVILL
E: info@gazeburvill.com T: +44 (0)1420 588444
www.gazeburvill.com
Chelsea Flower Show Stand MA4
Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations
EG611
The English Garden 5
Contents
JUNE
10 12 The Rake James Alexander-Sinclair picks the best of whats on Shopping For the water lover Floating candles and
lake-side ornaments, bridges and ponds; its all aqua this month
: :
14 21 24
National Trust Head Gardener Damian Mitchell at Lytes Cary Talking techniques Toby Bucklands top tips on cutting flowers Editors choice: Petrol mowers Tamsin eyes up rotary
petrol mowers to see which of these top models will cut it
: : : : : :
27 34 41 48 57
55 81 116 130
Focus on Herefordshire The countys best spots to enjoy Eco-watch Anne Gatti discovers the ins and outs of garden ponds Library leaves This months new gardening books reviewed Guest speaker Tom Stuart-Smith on concept in garden design
Glorious gardens
WEST SUSSEX Sunlight & roses Visit one of Englands
most enchanting rose gardens with one of our greatest rosarians
HAMPSHIRE Renewed vigour An historic water garden

designed by Gertrude Jekyll is enjoying a new lease of life
BERKSHIRE Quiet corners Who wouldnt be charmed by

this scented, richly textured garden of secret nooks and crannies?
HEREFORDSHIRE Hilltop haven A windswept plot is

a small price to pay for sensational views of the countryside
LEICESTERSHIRE A real classic Theres nothing bijou

about this grand garden of sweeping lawns and wide borders
65 76
57
On the cover
:
PAGE
75
PAGE
65
PAGE PAGE
57
PAGE
110 9 34
Design Plants
48 41
PAGE PAGE
34
PAGE
14
27
:
65 73 75
DESIGN GUIDE Mix and match Helen Dillon takes us on a

tour of her ravishing town garden, featuring its iconic canal
HISTORIC FEATURES Try the knot Knot gardens arent just

a thing of the past, as modern reinventions show
A GARDEN REBORN Some like it hot The summers come

early for Suzie and David as they hoe, clean and enjoy the flowers
: : : :
9 97
Plant swatch Three bee-beloved cottage garden plants Plant focus Penstemons add that special something to
a border for a dash of old-fashioned glamour confetti according to the Real Flower Petal Confetti Company carved her own horticultural niche with her iris nursery, where she looks after thousands of these flamboyant flowers
105 Something blue Delphinium petals make great wedding 110 Like father, like daughter David Austins daughter has
The edible garden
Offers, competitions & events
: :
88
83 84
Mark Diacono All the latest veg- and fruit-related events and tips Cook your own Lavender looks good and tastes great - enjoy
our essential guide to growing and cooking it
Eats &Treats Ashton Open Gardens is the perfect family day out:
a village opening of more than 20 gardens with fun for all ages
: :
23 33
Subscriptions Subscribe today and get six issues half price! Competition WIN! One of four prize memberships to The
Garden Museum in London, worth 500 each! pay 4.50 postage - and plenty of other great deals too
103 Plant offers 6 FREE* Penstemons for every reader - just
HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW
Exclusive Preview Evening

in aid of the RHS and St John Ambulance
Monday 4 July 2011 5.30pm10.30pm RHS Members: 50pp* Public: 55pp
Summers best kept secret

Picnic and Restaurant bookings available
Registered charity no: 222879/SC038262 St John Ambulance, registered charity no. 1077265
0845 3700 128
rhs.org.uk/hamptoncourtpreview Summers glorious garden party
* RHS members can purchase up to four tickets at the members rate. Please note under 18's are not admitted to the Preview.
PLANT SWATCH
PLANTS FOR BEES
Get the buzz

Include some bee-friendly plants in your garden and help to ensure the future of our most precious pollinators
Perovskia Blue Spire

PEROVSKIA/GWI - LIZ EVERY ECHINACEA/GWI - FLOWERPHOTOS/MICHAEL PEUCKERT ACHILLEA/GWI - MARTIN HUGHES-JONES COMPILED BY/CINEAD MCTERNAN
Echinacea purpurea Achillea millefolium Lilac Beauty

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. Its late flowering and a great plant to extend a border into autumn. Height: to 1.5m; spread; 45cm. 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.
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.
CULTIVATION
Grow 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 dont like much disturbance, so only divide when well established.
CULTIVATION
Plant 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.
CULTIVATION
Copes with most conditions but a well-drained soil that doesnt 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.
The English Garden
news G updates G events G trends G gossip G news G updates G events

oets over the years have enjoyed June. Poetry is something that has long gone hand in hand with gardens, flowers, balmy days and long evenings. Not just because of the general air of light-hearted fecundity, but also for more rudimentary reasons. Have you ever tried thinking of a word that happily rhymes with August? Or October ? It requires a certain manipulation of the syllables. But June: well, there are many more possibilities. Moon, for example, and spoon, tune, rune, goon and boon. Just for a start. So why not let the muse take you this month? It certainly beats weeding.
James Alexander-Sinclair
BAG SOME LAVENDER

There 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
ACROSS THE BORDER

Okay, I know that this is The English Garden, but I am making the bold 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 Scotlands 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
RAKE ILLUSTRATION/JO DAVIES JAMES ALEXANDERSINCLAIR/JENNY LEWIS SCULPTURE/RICHARD GREEN
assumption that it is also read North of the Border. Or at least read
A DAY TO SHOW OFF

The joint is jumping with flower shows at the moment, both national and local. Just for a change, why not give the West 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
10 The English Garden
trends G gossip G news G updates G events G trends G gossip G news

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
The 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
JUNE
G Friday 3 - Sunday 5, Cumbria The Holker Garden Festival at Holker Hall and Gardens is celebrating gardens, countryside, food and crafts. 10am5.30pm. Tickets cost 14.50. Tel: +44 (0)1539 558838. www.holkerfestival.co.uk G 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 G 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 G Wednesday 15 - Sunday 19, Birmingham BBC Gardeners World Live at the NEC area. To book tickets, see www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com
FIELD OF DREAMS
One 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 to Woottens of Wenhaston. 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 from Tuesday to Thursday 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 cant get there, his catalogue is well worth a fiver. www.woottensplants.co.uk
G Friday 17 - Saturday 18, Devon See Toby Buckland open the very first Arts & Crafts Garden Festival at Coombe Trenchard Estate. Toby will be giving a special talk on Planning and Planting for Continuous Colour. For more information, visit www.coombetrenchard.co.uk G 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 G Friday 24 - Sun 26, East Sussex Visit Pashley Manor Garden for the Kitchen Garden Weekend. 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 G 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. G Saturday 25 - Sunday 26, Worcestershire Fifteen private gardens are opening in aid of local charities in the village of Wichenford. Serving coffee, lunches and teas. For more details visit the website: www.wichenfordopengardens.com
SCULPTURE AND PLANTS

Ive always liked the idea of a town called Gainsborough. Or any town whose name is more famous for something else. I mention Gainsborough because its 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
SHOPPING
FOR THE WATER LOVER
The life aquatic

Make a splish and a splash in your garden this summer with the latest water and pond products
2 3
4 5
ALL PRICES & DETAILS CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRINT OPPOSITE PAGE/RICHARD BLOOM COMPILED BY/VICTORIA KINGSBURY
6 9
7 8
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
The English Garden
13
JUNE
NATIONAL TRUST
A DREAM IN GREEN
In the next of our exclusive series on National Trust gardens, we visit Head Gardener Damian Mitchell at Lytes Cary Manor in Somerset to get top tips for midsummer
PHOTOGRAPHS JASON INGRAM
nderstated 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 Sir Walter 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 Stuart Thomas 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 snakes-head fritillaries, while blossom bursts from medlars, quinces and crab apples. And youll find even more things to delight the eye here, such as the tranquil pool garden, hornbeam tunnel and raised walk.
FACT FILE
PLACE 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.
WHATS IN SEASON
In flower this month is the lovely Scabiosa atropurpurea Beaujolais Bonnets (far left), which is particularly attractive to bees and butterflies. With its d zur (centre) is easily recognisable. It A 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
L
COMPILED BY/CLAIRE MASSET
delicate pale blue flowers, Clematis Perle
profusely and is ideal for light soils.
I love the satisfaction of getting the shapes spot on. Its hard work, but it is definitely worth it
JUNE
NATIONAL TRUST
3
We also supply cut flowers for the main house and the holiday cottage
4 6
Traditional techniques
Many gardeners favour watering plants in the early morning.This guarantees that they dont get scorched and have adequate moisture during the day.
STEP BY STEP
SUMMER CONTAINERS
Planting a display of annuals and tender plants in a pot is an easy, relatively cheap way of creating an eye-catching display.
1 2 5 3 4 5 6
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.
L
Turn over for gardeners diary
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
www.redwoodstone.com
FOLLY & GARDEN
See us at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Stand PW44
The Old Manor House Garden, Capel Manor
The Ruin
The Potting Shed

The Stoneworks, West Horrington Wells, Somerset ba5 3eh England
01749 677777
Opening hours: Weekdays 9.00am 5.00pm, Saturday 9.00am 1.00pm
GARDENERS DIARY
June
with Damian Mitchell
IN THE GARDEN THIS MONTH

Damian spends June looking after these essential garden jobs. G Water plants thoroughly - this can keep them going for a week. G Hoe weeds regularly before they get too big and eventually set seed. G Keep tying in climbers and rambling roses, before they get away! G When deadheading roses, go as far as the first or second leaf; dont just cut the faded buds off.
SENSATIONAL SWEET PEAS

Just 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). G Some perennials will need additional staking this month. Damian
LOOKING AFTER LAWNS

With 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 isnt enough. This keeps weeds down and the lawn in good shape.
uses hazel, birch and beech brush from the Lytes Cary estate. G Dont always mow in the same direction. By mowing vertically, horizontally and diagonally youll achieve a better quality lawn. G Give box hedges and topiary the first of two yearly trims. The next one needs to be done in August. G Weeds in paths can be eradicated by using a weed burner every week. G Use environmentally friendly pest controls, such as Nemaslug, and garlic and seaweed sprays.
SPRAYING ROSES
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.
Garden information
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.
Quality * without VAT
PAY NO VAT*
Call 0 8 7 0 7 7 7 7184 for your free brochure Or visit www.ehbp.com
CERTIFICATE NUMBER BSYS-006
BUILDING SYSTEMS SCHEME
IBULEVE
PAIN RELIEF - WITHOUT PILLS
Contains ibuprofen. Always read the label.
* in the healthcare aisle
EXPERT ADVICE
Talking techniques
Flowers for cutting
Toby Buckland offers tips on growing blooms for the vase
hen I was a teenager working on a pinks nursery, part of my job was to harvest the clove-scented blooms that grew above the silvery tufts of leaves. As we sold only rooted cuttings, the flowers went begging, so every day during the summer Id bowl home on my bike with a bunch as big as a cathedral bell under my arm. Even outside in the fresh air of the country lanes, the intensity of their spicy fragrance was unforgettable. If I get a waft of the scent now, it gives me a feeling of freedom and utter abundance. At the time Doris, with its shell pink petals, dark centres and pure sugary scent, was the most desired by my aunties, with whom I shared my bounty. But I preferred the fragrant Miss Sinkins, with her tousled white flowers, despite the fact her wiry stems made gathering flowers and taking quill-like cuttings almost painful. I also rated Laced Monarch, a double raspberry-ripple colour combination with dark centres and pale pink edges. In a garden, the colours of Laced Monarch are, to my eye, unnatural and hard to use - but cut for a vase, they are positively celebratory. Thats one of the things I love about growing cut flowers: it enables me to grow plants from parts of the nursery catalogues Id normally avoid with a barge pole. One such bloom is a cactus dahlia
Growing cut flowers enables me to grow plants from parts of the nursery catalogues Id normally avoid with a barge pole
IMAGE/COURTESY OF EBURY PRESS, GARDENERS WORLD PRACTICAL GARDENING HANDBOOK - JASON INGRAM
called Rothesay Reveller. First I tried it in a border, but the massive blackcurrant and nougat-white blooms made it stand out like Frankensteins monster at a beauty pageant. Grown for cutting, this unashamedly gaudy and vigorous plant is perfect, with long vase-ready stems that carry a succession of blooms from summer until the frosts. Some gardeners blend their cut flowers into existing borders, but if space allows, a dedicated patch in sun, at least 3ft by 6ft with the flowers grown in neat rows, is far more productive. Space annuals like cornflowers and marigolds
45cm apart, and double that for perennials and dahlias. The plants grow together, but this proximity is good as it encourages them to grow tall on easy-to-gather stems; and rows allow easy access to weed, water and harvest. My personal cut-flower favourites are annuals such as cosmos and Blackball cornflowers, and both can still be sown until the middle of this month, despite what it says on the seed packet. Scrape out a drill, water it well and scatter the seeds in three fingers apart before raking back the soil. The key to success when it comes to June sowings is to keep the ground moist, and
if you do that youll have flowers for cutting by the end of August. To get a succession of flowers, either stagger your sowings every fortnight from spring until midsummer; or choose varieties of the same species with different heights, as the shorter varieties are always first to bloom. Other must-haves are bulbous plants - not just the daffodils and tulips of spring, but also late-season summer bulbs such as nerines. They seem too precious to pick from a border, but if they are lined out in rows in free-draining soil, you can get over the guilt - and in a vase the bright pink trumpets last for weeks.
The English Garden
21
Gifts & Gardens

www.giftsandgardens.com
Traditional, Historical, Classical, Contemporary, & Bespoke Garden Furniture
Andrew Crace
A
Granite Balls - 9 sizes
Limestone Toadstools Indian Lattice 3 Seater painted White Medium Edo Seat painted White
protect plants & seeding from damage by animals, footballs, light frost and wind-chill. Fleece & newspaper can be used to cover the plants inside the cloches during periods of heavy frost. The micro climate inside the cloches Alley Cat 49 cms long Hares 50 cms high promotes growth and allows rain through to the plants. Prices start from 4
B A M Koi Girl Reading Book 46 cms B 65 cms long O Made of bamboo woven into an open dome and available in 5 sizes plus a O tunnel cloche. These attractive cloches C L O C H E S
Moot Seat
Biddenham 2 Seater
Medium Windsor Seat painted Green
Sissinghurst Sun Seat
Leighton 2 Seater
Highbacked Edo 2 Seater painted Black
Herb Stone Labels
Lizard Candle Lanterns
GARDEN FRIENDS : Pheasant, Cat, Hen, Cockerel, etc
Barbecue Table
Octagonal Table & Slatted Chairs
50 Humorous & Functional Signs and over 90 Kegrings
Hadham High Table & Slatted Chairs
32 Bourne Lane, Much Hadham, Hertfordshire SG10 6ER, UK. Tel 01279 842685
Made in the UK
Made from Iroko or Oak
www.andrewcrace.com
32 Bourne Lane, Much Hadham, Hertfordshire SG10 6ER, UK. Tel 01279-842685
Subscribe and get 6 issues for HALF PRICE

Subscribe for just 11.97 by Direct Debit and receive 6 issues of The English Garden (usually 23.44)
Your subscription will then continue at 19.15 every 6 months by Direct Debit, saving 35% in your first year! Alternatively, subscribe to 12 issues by credit/debit card for 35.91, saving 25% on the cover price
SAVE UP TO
50%
GREAT REASONS TO SUBSCRIBE

G G G G Save up to 50% on cover price for your first 6 issues Every issue delivered FREE to any UK address (add 10 P&P to Europe, or 12 P&P to RoW) FREE subscriber access to fully searchable digital editions of current and back issues - worth 18! Never miss an issue packed with beautiful, inspirational gardens and practical advice
SUBSCRIBE TODAY
VISIT www.subscriptionsave.co.uk/eg or CALL 01858 438840 and quote code 06PA
Terms and conditions: Savings are based on the retail price of 3.99 per issue. Direct Debit is a UK offer only. For overseas subscriptions rates please call +44 (0)1858 438840 or visit www.subscriptionsave.co.uk. Details of Direct Debit guarantee available on request. Offer ends 15/06/2011
PETROL MOWERS
B
they are workhorses that will last for decades. Im 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 cant just flick a switch and go; and engine manuals dont make for exciting reading. I wish each came with a simple Users 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 cant 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 fathers 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.
Tamsin eyes up rotary petrol mowers - but which one will cut it?
y back lawn has looked like a mower showroom for the past couple of weekends. Pushed to one side is my fathers 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 theyll tackle rough, long grass and be a great all-round mower for most gardens - in short,
IMAGES/JASON INGRAM
2
The self-propelled action made them all far easier to use, and raising and lowering the height of cut did not require a hammer!
3
38kg and comes with a Briggs and Stratton 190cc engine. The blade looks almost identical to the Toro, and I found it the easiest to push from shed to lawn when the engine was not on. I have picked this as my EDITORS CHOICE as it seems a good allrounder at a sensible price - however, my husband favoured the red Wolf Garten. Price: 567 .26
The Toro 20950 48cm AD Steel Deck Recycler
comes with a polymer deck, which means it wont 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 its 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.
Mower 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 Im 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 (Id prefer one). Comes with a two-year warranty and is reasonably priced at 449.
The Wolf Garten Blue Power 48AHWES comes with 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, its 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 mowers speed. It comes with a sturdy steel deck, and a side shoot. It was
The Hayter R53S Recycling Mower VS ES is the best looking of the bunch. It offers rear
grass collection in a 54.5-litre bag (a little small in a
The new Honda HRX 476 VY was the easiest of the lot to get going. I am familiar with the
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. Its one of the lightest of the selection at
rabbit-and-hare starter, and was pleased to see something recognisable. Unlike all the others, it
nicknamed the Ferrari in my house, thanks to its dashing red colour. Price: 659.
ALL PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRINT
STOCKISTS
G The Toro 20950 48cm AD Steel Deck Recycler mower From www.toro.com G The Honda HRX 476 From www.honda.co.uk G The Hayter R53S Recycling Mower VS ES www.hayter.co.uk G The Wolf Garten 48AHWES Available from www.wolf-garten.co.uk
The English Garden
25
HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW

510 July 2011
Exclusive Preview Evening: 4 July RHS Member days: 56 July
Quality of Life.
More opportunities with Tetra Pond
The Largest Flower Show in the World
tra Pon d with Teisit v
WIN
et in.tetra.n www.w
le Phosp hate
25%
d less adde
Find out about RHS Short Breaks on rhs.org.uk/shortbreaks
Registered charity no: 222879/SC038262
A brand built on a lifetime of knowledge
E NmprWd! I o ve
a! F ormu l
With 60 years of experience, and the industrys largest research and development operation, you can be sure that Tetra is the best way to care for your sh.
For a beautiful pond and healthy sh, easy and convenient Tetra offers a wide range of high quality products, helping to improve the quality of the water, ensure the quality of a balanced and healthy nutrition for your sh its all about the Quality of Life!
BOOK NOW* 0844 581 0774
rhs.org.uk/hamptoncourtpalace The best day out a gardener can have

*quoting: ENGLISH3 National call rate applies. Transaction fee may apply: 1.75 (RHS members exempt).
For more information: www.tetra.net
GLORIOUS GARDENS
WEST SUSSEX
Sunlight & roses

If that great British classic, the rose, is your passion, you will discover an enticing array of them thriving in Borde Hill Gardens clay soil in West Sussex
PHOTOGRAPHS DEREK ST ROMAINE WORDS CHARLES QUEST-RITSON
orde Hills rose garden is a model of its kind. You will seldom encounter anything so beautiful and satisfying as its colours and scents in June and July. The rose bushes are bursting with good growth - healthy, lush and profuse. The design, the setting, the backdrop of ancient walls and hedges - 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, has principally been known for more than 100 years
for its collection of rhododendrons and Asiatic trees. Botanists rate Borde Hill as unsurpassed among privately owned gardens in England for the diversity of its rare trees. But the trouble with many gardens that rely overmuch on rhododendrons is that there is not much left to see when visitors peak in summer. This explains the major change of gear at Borde Hill in the 1990s, when Andrewjohn and Eleni Stephenson Clarke inherited the estate, and started to transform the Sussex-style woodland. Eleni had the brilliant idea of planting a rose garden that would extend the horticultural
interest beyond the rhododendrons. It is just one of a series of inventive schemes that have brought new investment, new life and new enjoyment to this remarkable garden, including a prize-winning restaurant. Eleni commissioned Robin Williams to design the rose garden, and he turned an odd-shaped piece of the old rose and herbaceous garden into a strong, compelling structure that shows off the roses brilliantly. The Stephenson Clarkes named this masterpiece Jay Robins Rose Garden for their daughter. The first view of the rose garden is unforgettable. Turn the corner and there it
The English Garden
27
GLORIOUS GARDENS
WEST SUSSEX
stands, opening out immediately, with the surrounded by a great pink curving swathe of flowerers are gradually being replaced by mansions many brick chimneys as a bristling the polyantha rose The Fairy. repeaters. David Austins English roses are backdrop. At the centre is a small fountain in a The rich clay soil is perfect for rose-growing. the dominant theme - there are more than 100 low pool, made from the same bricks as the Beds are irrigated and raised up above the level varieties - and, unlike the old-fashioned roses central path, but all encircled by box edging, to of the paths by an annual dressing of mushroom that they resemble so closely, they flower again soften its outline. This in turn is surrounded by compost. The head gardener Andy Stevens came and again, often putting on their best handsome catmint Nepeta x faassenii. Within from Leonardslee, perhaps the greatest of performance in early autumn. David Austin the rose garden itself, grass paths radiate out Sussexs rhododendron gardens (now - alas - no bred them to combine the beauty, shape and from the middle. Lavandula angustifolia Loddon longer open the public). Andy is a firm believer scent of old roses with the floriferousness and Blue lines the long, main, diagonal axis of the in good cultivation. Were often asked why our repeat-flowering habit of floribunda roses. garden. Chosen because it is Eleni was one of the first to compact and low-growing, it discern their merit as the We are asked why our roses look so healthy... we is in scale with the other mainstay of a dedicated concentrate on feeding, watering and deadheading plantings here. garden of roses. Many of the The rose beds are edged cultivars she planted here with low box hedges, with larger bobbles of roses look so healthy, he says, but we spray in the 1990s are still the best. box at the corners. Small ornamental trees them as little as possible. We concentrate instead There are no herbaceous underplantings give height at the centre of each bed: Prunus on feeding them properly, watering from the within the rose garden itself, though the lush serrula, Malus sargentii and Amelanchier lamarckii. estate water supply in dry periods and deadplantings of the adjacent herbaceous borders In the background are ancient yews cut into heading to obtain well-balanced growth. Happy provide interest in all seasons. It is clear castellations, and established trees such as plants are more resistant to pests and diseases. that thickly planted roses make their own Koelreuteria paniculata and Maackia amurensis. Once you get down to looking at the groundcover, and that dense planting also Along one side are climbing roses trained along individual roses, youll find a splendid mix of intensifies their colours. Most of the roses, rope swags; in one corner lies a sundial, varieties, old and new; though the onceancient and modern, run from palest pink to
PREVIOUS PAGE The mansions 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.
GLORIOUS GARDENS
WEST SUSSEX
GLORIOUS GARDENS
WEST SUSSEX
ABOVE LEFT The archway to the Mediterranean garden is hung with rambling roses. ABOVE RIGHT Irises and sculpture show theres more than roses on offer here. BELOW A romantic view.
crimson and are colour-graded within the beds for maximum effect. The darker sections have David Austins cherry-red Noble Antony and darkest crimson Tradescant. Among the rosecoloured varieties are deep pink Cottage Rose; Evelyn (with a hint of apricot and mother-ofpearl in its colouring); the pale pink Mary Rose; and cabbage-shaped Heritage. The yellow sector is dominated by Jayne Austin, Graham Thomas (named for the guru of old roses) and Crocus Rose, a very bushy shrub that is one of Austins best. But there are real old-fashioned roses 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 pale blue - a colour echoed by the elegant wooden pyramids in the herbaceous borders - and into the adjoining Mediterranean garden. In behind is a collection of brand new gold standard roses that have recently won awards from the British Association of Rose Breeders. Eleni would like to show off their merits in mixed borders, as good design and colourgrouping are the making of any garden - and Borde Hills rose garden has both of these in super abundance. Borde Hill, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 1XP Open from 21 March to 11 September daily, . and October mid-term; 10am - 6pm, with the last admission at 5pm. There is a rose masterclass with Michael Marriot from David Austin on 8 June. Tel: +44 (0)1444 450326. www.bordehill.co.uk
GLORIOUS GARDENS
WEST SUSSEX
The notebook
Borde Hill Garden is known for its collection of rhododendrons and trees, and its rose garden, which is sheltered and faces south. The soil is clay, perfect for growing roses SPIKY BRIGHT
The 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).
ANDY STEVENS ROSE TIPS

G Feed roses regularly, but dont overdo it. Giving a small amount of feed regularly is better than overdoing it every now and then. G If your soil is very sandy or free draining, give your roses a good soak two or three
STRONG SUPPORTS
Rambling and climbing roses need sturdy supporting structures (below). When you tie them in, make sure you dont do so too tightly to avoid causing damage to the stems. Check ties every few months and loosen if necessary.
times a week when its hot. Mulching with well-rotted organic matter is also beneficial. G 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. G Make sure you have a good pair of gardening gloves, strong enough to protect you from rose thorns.
DAINTY SCULPTURE
The 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.
CONTACTS
OTHER ROSE GARDENS TO VISIT NEARBY
G Nymans, Handcross, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH17 6EB. Tel: +44 (0)1444 405250. www.nationaltrust.org.uk G Pashley Manor Gardens,Ticehurst, East Sussex TN5 7HE. Tel: +44 (0)1580 200888.
PERFECT PARTNER
The 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.
www.pashleymanorgardens.com
RECOMMENDED ROSE NURSERIES

G Country Garden Roses, Hadnall, Shropshire SY4 3DH. Tel: +44 (0)1939 210380. www.countrygardenroses.co.uk G David Austin Roses, Bowling Green Lane, Albrighton, Wolverhampton, Shropshire WV7 3HB. Tel: +44 (0)1902 376300. www.davidaustinroses.com G Peter Beales Roses, London Road, Attleborough, Norfolk NR17 1AY. Tel: +44 (0)1953 454707 www.classicroses.co.uk .
The English Garden
31
RHS FLOWER SHOW TATTON PARK

2024 July 2011
RHS Member Day: 20 July Ladies Day: 21 July
The Norths Greatest Garden Party
Find out about RHS Short Breaks on rhs.org.uk/shortbreaks
Registered charity no: 222879/SC038262
BOOK NOW* 0844 581 0790
rhs.org.uk/tattonpark The best day out a gardener can have
*quoting: ENGLISH4 National call rate applies. Transaction fee may apply: 1.75 (RHS members exempt).
COMPETITION
WIN!
S
designer Tom Stuart-Smith open until August.
One of four fantastic lifetime memberships to The Garden WORTH Museum in London 500
EACH!
Enter now for your chance to win a lifetime membership to The Garden Museum, which offers FREE access to exhibitions, the extensive collections, the behindthe-scenes library and exclusive events
ince 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 Situated on the South Bank of the River Thames next to Lambeth Palace, The Garden Museum is the worlds 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 museums collection now includes 10,000 garden-related objects,
PERMANENT COLLECTION/GARDEN MUSEUM GARDEN AT NIGHT/GARDEN MUSEUM KNOT DETAIL/GAVIN KINGCOMBE
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, Nol Kingsbury, Dan Pearson and Arne Maynard. Specialist plant fairs are held throughout the year. There is a charming caf serving delicious seasonal vegetarian food, cooked on site by chef Sorrel Ferguson, and a small enclosed garden, whose 17th-centurystyle 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 prize
Four entrants will win a lifetimes 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.
THE ENGLISH GARDEN GARDEN MUSEUM COMPETITION - JUNE, ISSUE 165

Q. Which British film director created a garden in Dungeness in Kent? A.
Name (Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss) Address Postcode Tel Email
Return form to: The English Garden Garden Museum Competition, Archant House, Oriel Road, Cheltenham, Glos GL50 1BB
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 Ltd to contact you in this way by I email I SMS. Please tick if you would prefer NOT to receive information by I post I phone. We occasionally pass your details onto carefully selected companies who wish to contact you with information about their products/services - please tick if you DO wish to be contacted in this way by I email I SMS. Please tick if you would prefer NOT to receive such information by I post I phone. Please tick if you would prefer NOT to receive information from The Garden Museum I
The English Garden
33
Renewed vigour
A new chapter is underway in the story of Tylney Hall, a grand historic Hampshire house where Gertrude Jekyll once created a wild and wonderful water garden
PHOTOGRAPHS & WORDS NICOLA STOCKEN TOMKINS
GLORIOUS GARDENS
HAMPSHIRE
LEFT Edged in flag iris, the top lake has been extensively restored and planted with water lilies. ABOVE The gazebo in the Italian garden frames a view of the north wing of the hall, behind which stand great redwoods.
ncient gardens often have a strong sense of place, a lingering spirit of the passing generations that have not only lived and loved there, but also tended the land. It is an elusive quality that is at its most potent in Tylney Halls water gardens and woodland. Trees are my great love, and when you feel their presence towering above you, or see them reflected in the water as they have been for decades, they create a strong link with the 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 down to see the water gardens, but the top pool was totally overgrown and choked with willow and Norfolk reed - it was dry and completely impenetrable. There was no hint of any illustrious connection with Gertrude Jekyll, and it was only once restoration work started that her plans for the 15-acre wild water gardens were uncovered. We removed trailer-load after trailer-load of rotted material from the pools, as well as cutting 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, and the 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,
The English Garden
35
ABOVE A brick arch clad in elderly Wisteria sinensis leads to a path edged with bearded iris and pleached limes. ABOVE RIGHT The Italian garden features castellated yews and stone garden buildings. BELOW CENTRE A wooden pergola with roses Albertine Ccile Brnner and New Dawn , .
compacting the clay to make it watertight, Paul explains. One of the most rewarding sights was when we refilled the pool, and the reflections and life returned once again. Today, the pools surface reflects rhododendrons, flag irises, shimmering trees and scudding clouds, broken only by ducks or carp as they weave between the water lilies. The rocky stream - edged in candelabra primulas, gunnera, darmera, astilbe, fern and angelica - tumbles down to the lower pool and its sheltering magnolias, maples, willows, alders, dawn redwoods, oaks and a beautiful pendant lime. I planted it 20 years ago as a tiny sapling, and now its 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 three saplings bound together, a technique that results in a number of dominant branches. It is one of many interesting trees throughout the estate, such as the fine fern-leaved beech in the azalea garden; a swamp cypress behind the boathouse lake; silver, field and Norway maples; Douglas firs; liquidambars; and ash, birch and oak. The Victorians really looked into the plant catalogues of the day, and chose well, Paul says. Todays imposing Victorian building is in fact the second Tylney Hall the first was built in 1700, but it wasnt until the 18th century that a formal landscape was laid out. The largest lakes date back to then, and some of the original oaks still survive, says Paul. The Victorian Tylney
ABOVE LEFT This delightful rounded summerhouse overlooks the top lake. ABOVE Gertrude Jekyll designed Tylney Halls wild water gardens, which have been extensively restored and are edged in mature trees, as well as flag iris and valerian.
Hall was built in the 1890s as a private home, amid 66 acres that were gradually laid out to lakes, woodland and gardens, including the Italian terrace, Dutch garden and walled kitchen garden. An avenue was planted with magnificent redwoods that still frame a long and lovely, uninterrupted view of the Hampshire countryside. You look southwest for about 12 miles 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 War loomed. Tylney Hall became a hospital for the duration, and between the wars it was shipping company Clan Lines headquarters, before being sold and converted into a school in 1946. Finally, in 1984, it was bought by the present owner and transformed into a country house hotel. By this time, the gardens were in a sorry state. The Italian garden and pool were buried beneath tennis courts, and could have been lost forever had it not been for Gilly Drummond OBE, the then chairman of the Hampshire Gardens Trust, who alerted the new owner to Tylney Halls unusual historic garden. As a result, Dominic Cole was called in from Land Use Consultants, a company specialising in restoring historic landscapes. The woodland was virtually impassable, he says, as none of the paths were visible; the yew topiary and hedging that had survived was in urgent need of restoration; and the lake system was completely solid. Dominic drew up a restoration
The English Garden
37
ABOVE Spring brings masses of colour and flower to Tylney 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 the Arts and Crafts-inspired garden buildings and the water tower.
plan and planting schemes. The challenge lay in identifying what parts work in progress, with a new herb bed, and a crab apple walk planted of the original plans had survived and which structures it was practical with red-, gold- and purple-berried varieties such as Red Sentinel, Golden to restore, he explains. Jekylls correspondence and plans were studied, Hornet and Profusion. There is also a long pergola that, by June, is but it quickly became clear that the site had changed greatly in the smothered in roses Ccile Brnner, Albertine and New Dawn, with intervening years. Originally, it was open and sunny, but with the growth blue delphiniums at their feet. The idea came from an old photograph of the surrounding woodland, it became shadier and damper, so different of this area that showed blue delphiniums and pink roses, says Paul. plants were needed to suit the conditions and scale. Being south facing, this central area of the garden tends to get very dry It was at this point that Paul was appointed and, aided by his team of and is proving tricky, but fan-trained apples and cordon pears are thriving six gardeners, began to patiently mastermind the gardens restoration. on the old brick walls. Im trying to recapture the feel of the original Weve stuck pretty faithfully to the original planting scheme, with a little Victorian garden, without making it too time-consuming, he adds. self indulgence when it Paul has discovered comes to introducing new that restoring an historic Im forever trying to complete the restoration plan, colours as the established garden can be a constant but theres always something more to be done planting matures, he says. balancing act between Initially, the restoration of your time and resources, the pools was all-absorbing, but just as there was time to draw breath, and your dreams and practicalities, and Dominic Cole is full of praise. the great storms of 1987 and 1989 devastated the estate, tearing down Theyve achieved a massive amount, he says. But for Paul, so close for some 350 trees. Surprisingly, the long-term effects were not as disastrous so long, completion seems a distant goal. Im forever trying to complete as it first appeared. It helped, because the enforced storm clearance meant the restoration plan, but theres always something more to be done, he we could bring in heavy machinery to clear some areas that had become exclaims. In the meantime, he gains much satisfaction from the pathways choked with self-seeded trees, says Paul. While weak and ailing trees around the lower pool, where, in the dappled light of the trees, there is were removed, many healthy ones remained. great tranquillity and beauty. A lot of the restoration work is completed Younger tree specimens include the charming avenue of pollarded limes here, and at last I really can see what a long way weve come. underplanted with old bearded irises, which leads through a wisteriaclad arch and down one side of the walled kitchen garden - near to the Tylney Hall, Rotherwick, Hook, Hampshire RG27 9AZ. Gardens open for the original greenhouses, which are invaluable for growing the scores of NGS on Sunday 12 June and 9 October; 9am-5pm. Tylney Hall is a country bedding plants for the hotels summer gardens. The kitchen garden is a house hotel and spa. Tel: +44 (0)1256 764881 www.tylneyhall.co.uk
GLORIOUS GARDENS
HAMPSHIRE
The notebook
Tylney 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 TOP TECH FOR TREES
Acoustic 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.
GORGEOUS GLIMPSES
Arches 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, Solomons seal and flag irises.
WISTERIA EVERYWHERE
There are some magnificent wisterias at Tylney 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 Jekylls time, which adorns the arch in the middle of the lime avenue.
PAUL TATTERSDILL TOP TIPS S

G 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 years flowers. At this stage, remove any dead or overcrowded wood. G 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. G 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!
CONTACTS
GARDENS TO VISIT IN THE AREA
G Houghton Lodge, Stockbridge, Hampshire SO20 6LQ. Tel: +44 (0)1264 810502. www.houghtonlodge.co.uk G West Green House and Gardens, near Hartley Wintney, Hook, Hampshire RG27 8JB. Tel: +44 (0)1252 844611. www.westgreenhouse.co.uk
NURSERIES NEARBY
G Southview Nurseries, Eversley Cross, Hook, Hampshire RG27 0NT. Tel: +44 (0)1189 732206. www.southviewnurseries.co.uk G Vicarage Hill Nursery, Hartley Wintney, Hook, Hampshire RG27 8EH. Tel: +44 (0)1252 842523.
The English Garden
39
SALE
20
SAVE OVER
Making a Splash
Contact Haddonstone for high quality garden ornaments and architectural cast stone in contemporary, classical and traditional styles. Each design is handcrafted in England. Inspirational 208 page catalogue available.
OFF
RRP
On all Greenhouses
8 x 10 GROWHOUSE IN RED CEDAR

Also available as 6x6, 6x8 and a 6x10
Current Offer
2 Roof vents as standard 2 Side vents as standard High capacity gutters &
downpipes
The all new Growhouse Greenhouses feature:

PATIO GLASSHOUSE
A mini greenhouse which would sit comfortably on a patio or terrace.
Toughened safety glass to BS

6206
Stainless steel fixings as

standard
100% designed and

manufactured by British craftsmen
COLDFRAMES
AVAILABLE IN THREE SIZES
Easy to assemble Free delivery to the UK

mainland
For our range of quality cedar coldframes visit us online.
www.haddonstone.com
At Growhouse it is our philosophy to keep things simple, creating top quality, affordable greenhouses.
FOR DETAILS OF ALL OUR OFFERS VISIT US ONLINE AT:
www.growhouse.co.uk
OR FOR OUR FREE BROCHURE CALL 0845 603 9791
THE FORGE HOUSE, EAST HADDON, NORTHAMPTON NN6 8DB 01604 770711 info@haddonstone.co.uk NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COLORADO NEW JERSEY
M o n u m e n t P l a c e , F a r n d o n , C h e s t e r C H 3 6 Q P.
GLORIOUS GARDENS
BERKSHIRE
Quiet corners
A couple of former film and television prop makers have used their skills and creativity to turn a tiny, hard-landscaped space into a romantic, secluded haven full of colour and scent
L
PHOTOGRAPHS DEREK ST ROMAINE WORDS NAOMI SLADE
The English Garden
41
GLORIOUS GARDENS
BERKSHIRE
PREVIOUS PAGE A bounty of roses in a romantic alcove at Whitehouse Farm Cottage. ABOVE The greenhouse is in the pond garden, attached to the back of one of the converted farm buildings. OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The 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.
hen Louise and Keir Lusby first saw their garden, roses Pauls Himalayan Musk and Veilchenblau, it provides deep shade it was a far cry from the detailed, complex and next to the sun-drenched terrace. The trees are severely pollarded each creative confection that it is today. With just a few spring to keep their dimensions small, while encouraging huge, almost climbing roses in a sea of concrete and mown grass, tropical leaves. A curved border separates the gazebo from the farm the boundaries were unclear, and the garden building, and a second timber and metal colonnade mirrors the curve of appeared much bigger than its bare quarter acre. But, as it happened, the border. Underplanted with ferns and spring bulbs, it is laden with it didnt make any difference. scented roses Seagull and R. filipes Kiftsgate. I fell in love with the house and the garden, says Louise. But it was When I made the garden, I didnt want it to be obvious what it was dreadful - the house looked like people had been dossing in it, and the all about, says Louise, explaining the curves, hidden areas and changes garden was a completely blank in mood. Dror, my Israeli canvas. But I could see past all gardener, helps me maintain it. Their ability to design and build things at will He says that I am teaching him of that. I liked the atmosphere has had an enormous impact on the garden about English gardening! and I wanted it. The farmhouse Back towards the house, the had been rescued from utter courtyard area between the three buildings is decorated with a rounded dereliction in the 1970s, and while a brick in the chimney is dated 1687, pebble and glass mosaic. This, along with the raised ponds, was Louise parts of the house could actually be even older. An old forge and another and Keirs solution to the impenetrable concrete slab they had inherited. building are what remains of the farm complex. Refurbished as two tiny To say that they are a bit arty would be a mammoth understatement. but perfect B&Bs, their ancient brickwork sets the tone of the garden. When she was 17, Louise was the youngest student at the Central School In front of the house, the garden is small but scented. Brick paths are of Art and Design, or Central St Martins as it is now known. She bordered by frothy plantings of alchemilla, lavender and balls of box, subsequently worked as a designer at the BBC, and for 40 years they ran while honeysuckle, Wisteria floribunda Yae-Kokurya and Clematis Blekitny Keir Lusby Props, based at Shepperton Film Studios. Their ability to Aniol climb metal obelisks and jostle over the porch. To the rear, a brick design and build things at will has had an enormous impact on the garden. terrace leads on through an arch in a rose- and clematis-smothered The spare, elegant colonnade and gazebo were rustled up by the studio colonnade to a steel gazebo. Surrounded by catalpa trees and scrambling
GLORIOUS GARDENS
BERKSHIRE
The English Garden
43
GLORIOUS GARDENS
BERKSHIRE
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 Keirs birthday in June, and Louises 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.
with walls and planting. With its distinct areas and framed views, pots metalworkers; and the two raised ponds (there are four ponds in the of flowers, shrubs and bedding, this garden presents itself in a series of garden altogether) were created by wrapping fibreglass around a tableaux or interlinked film sets, minus the actors. Set decoration is the polystyrene former and then cladding it with aged brick. Keir himself most important thing in a film, says Louise. Once the set has been built, built the cupola on top of the shed, and Louise commissioned artist Chris the set decorator dresses the interior, puts in the furniture, the ornaments Philipson to make a weathervane in the shape of a pig. and drapes. The garden is an extension of that for me. The pebbled mosaic is another case in point. We made a pattern from In Louises garden, the buildings and structures provide the bones of vacuum-formed plastic in the workshop for the curved bits, and then the set, draped with wisteria and roses. There are period pots, watering Keir did the paviours, explains Louise. We were given a blue glass bottle cans and buckets; a French day-bed with plants growing through it; some of South African wine and it was perfect for the design, so Keir had to old sinks; and ceramic bottles. drink a lot of it! The smaller It is a complex, detailed space roundels are made from the tops The garden presents itself in a series of tableaux with little sprinkles of beauty and of the bottles, with the top of a or interlinked film sets, minus the actors design in scarlet-edged leaves, ginger jar in the centre. plum and cerise pelargoniums Pretty annuals spill from a and leitmotiv scallop shells. There is topiary left over from a foray to the variety of pots and the planting is soft and spreading. There are no hard RHS Chelsea Flower Show, scent from dozens of roses and lilies, and edges and moss and self-seeders like Alchemilla mollis are encouraged, as gently dripping water from the mossy pot-fountain - coming together as are white wild strawberries. A wall separates the enclosed courtyard near a richly textured garden and the ultimate reflection of a life lived in art. the house from the wild garden beyond and Louises prized greenhouse, which is filled with tender pelargoniums and other delights. This area Whitehouse Farm Cottage, Murrell Hill Lane, Binfield, Berkshire RG42 4BY. has a completely different feel, and a rather sybaritic summerhouse looks Tel: +44 (0)1344 423688. Open for the NGS on Sat 11 (8-10.30pm) and out over an informal pond and wildflower meadow, frothy with ox-eye Sun 12 June (2-6pm). www.ngs.org.uk daisies and marjoram in summer. Over the past 25 years, Louise and Keir have created a garden full of Turn over for garden notebook secret corners, quiet places and surprises; enclosing open boundaries
GLORIOUS GARDENS
BERKSHIRE
The English Garden
45
GLORIOUS GARDENS
BERKSHIRE
The notebook
Whitehouse Farm Cottage garden has heavy clay soil, and wraps in a C-shape around the house, with the front garden facing east and the back facing west. The plot covers a quarter of an acre FINDERS, KEEPERS
Objets trouvs 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.
POTS OF COLOUR
Louise 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.
PATCHWORK PALS
Inspired 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.
FAMILY MEMORIAL
The ornate cross (above) was made by family friend, Alastair Lockhart. Originally designed as the gravestone of Keirs Celtic mother, they decided to place it as a memorial rather than leave it unvisited in Manchester.
LOUISE & KEIRS GARDEN TIPS

G 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. . G 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. G We take cuttings to increase stock and overwinter tender things like sage, pelargonium and penstemons Ill have a go at anything! G 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. G If you clad them in a nice brick, raised ponds are great, as you dont have to dig down. You are a bit restricted as to what you can grow, but lilies and rushes both seem to do well. G Ensure good drainage at the bottom of pots. Put in plenty of gravel so the plants dont sit in water.
CONTACTS
G Waltham Place, Church Hill, White Waltham, Berkshire SL6 3JH. Tel: +44 (0)1628 825517 . www.walthamplace.com
NURSERIES NEARBY
G Edulis Nursery, 1 Flowers Piece, Ashampstead, Reading, Berkshire RG8 8SG. Tel: +44 (0)1635 578113. www.edulis.co.uk G Foxgrove Plants For snowdrops and hellebores. Foxgrove, Enborne, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 6RE. Tel: +44 (0)1635 40554. www.foxgroveplants.co.uk G Laleham Nurseries For annual bedding, pelargoniums and fuchsias. Laleham Road, Shepperton TW17 0JW. Tel: +44 (0)1932 563322. G The Herb Farm, Peppard Road, Sonning Common, Reading RG4 9NJ. Tel: +44 (0)1189 724220. www.herbfarm.co.uk
Greenhouses
Lean Tos
Patio Glasshouses
Coldframes
Shed Combi
Planthouses
Staging
gabriel ash
CEDAR GREENHOUSES
A 0 TH S E W 1 O 20 AT EL H Y S U H S A M E C SE S ER H 8T R HO W 2 F LTH 4
E
Naturally Superior Quality

The Classic Ten The Rosemoor The Wisley
The Extended Hyde Hall
The only greenhouses endorsed by the RHS
Gabriel Ash superior greenhouses are made in the UK by master craftsmen. Produced using only the finest Western Red Cedar, we ensure every detail functions exactly as it should. Available in a range of sizes and styles to suit any garden and endorsed by the RHS, a Gabriel Ash greenhouse will remain a thing of beauty for years to come.
New Greenhouse Builder

Create your own custom greenhouse in 7 simple steps
VISIT OUR SHOWROOM AT FOR OUR LATEST OFFERS CALL OR VISIT US ONLINE AT
Monument Farm, Farndon, Chester CH3 6QP .
0800 0851 652
gabrielash.com
GLORIOUS GARDENS
HEREFORDSHIRE
Hilltop haven
The owners of this high up, sloping country garden have to battle the wind, but enjoy the rewards of spectacular views
PHOTOGRAPHS MARIANNE MAJERUS WORDS TAMSIN WESTHORPE
L
GLORIOUS GARDENS
HEREFORDSHIRE
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The 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 youll reach the kitchen garden, which is offered protection by a brick wall; runner beans, peas and cabbages are joined by Rowenas collection of hemerocallis. FAR RIGHT Nepeta Six Hills Giant cosmos and achillea offer a colourful scene from the garden room. ,
he dream was to find a property Rowena has a vast stock of plants ready to take can hear the laughter of children playing with no neighbours in the Welsh the place of any that fail. I cant resist potting at the local school. Marches and create a garden. Jim up seedlings or dividing things, she says. The With this view, however, comes gardening and Rowena Gale have done resulting plants are sold at our NGS open days challenges. Their one-in-five slope has been just that, and after seven years or used to fill gaps. As county organiser, she is terraced, but mowing is still a fair task, and of gardening the sloping plot, they have created always planning for the next open day or event. they are open to the elements. When we a garden flocked to by National Gardens Her kitchen displays all the evidence of a busy arrived, there was a thick conifer hedge to the Scheme visitors. The country lanes that lead volunteer, with NGS posters and leaflets on the right of the property that kept the garden up to the property are table, and windowsills familiar to me, as packed with seedlings We werent going to sacrifice this amazing view for Bachefield is in my to sell. Together with a bit of wind protection, so we took the hedge out 56 other open gardens village. It was on the in Herefordshire, she local grapevine that helped to raise an amazing 41,000 last year protected from the wind, explains Jim. We I heard about the garden, as you cant see its for worthy charities. werent going to sacrifice this amazing view for charms when you pass by on the road. Asked if they enjoy opening their garden a bit of wind protection, so we took the hedge From the top of the garden, the view to the public, Jim is pragmatic. It gives you out. Their boundary is now a mixed native perfectly captures the appeal of the area. Over something to work to and makes you complete hedge, which is cut about three times a year. the top of the billowing borders and beautiful jobs to a deadline. On open days, visitors enter The cattle that lean over the top have become cottage, youll see as far as Bircher Common the property up a drive lined with silver birch part of the view, and their dewy, inquisitive and Croft Ambrey. The highest point in the trees, with two small paddocks either side - in noses are most welcome. garden is where Jim can be found relaxing in summer these are home to Texel rams. This treeWithout the windbreak, Jim and Rowena do his summerhouse in the evenings. From here lined drive is about the only formal feature here, lose plants, and last winter was particularly cruel youll just see the tops of the oast houses of as beds and borders have constantly evolved to their ceanothus, cistus and halimiocistus. But my family farm, and on a windy day you
GLORIOUS GARDENS
HEREFORDSHIRE
TOP LEFT Tall Allium sphaerocephalon join a purple carpet of Sedum telephium Purple Emperor Geranium Ann Folkard and Zinnia elegans Purple Prince , . TOP RIGHT The 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.
over the years to make room for Rowenas protection by a brick wall built by the previous Laboratory at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. healthy collection of plants. owner. Rowena is the veg gardener of the two, Understanding the biology of plants is where The back of the 19th-century cottage is but Jim is the one who relies on a good harvest. her love of them started, and what was once a home to a garden room, and from here you I love blackcurrant jam, and we need 50lbs a science is now a hobby that has enabled her to can see the bottom terraces, which feature year to make enough home-made jam for me create a wonderful garden. species tulips and alpines. Although this site to have every day, he says with a smile. When asked what they feel the garden lacks, is far from sheltered, I am surprised to discover His own passion for roses is evident as you Jim is quick to reply. I wish that someone had that auriculas thrive in these beds. walk up to the top garden. This is the newest planted a copper beach just behind my The borders offer summerhouse about mixed colours from 150 years ago. If thats We were lucky to inherit some great shrubs from the dahlias, penstemons, the only thing theyd previous owner, who was also a keen gardener roses and alliums, change, then I suggest and every gap is filled they stay well and with annuals such as zinnias, cosmos and area, and the rose collection includes his truly rooted here. Because the truth is that even salpiglossis. This is not a garden where youll favourite Alchymist, along with soft pink The without beautifully planted borders and their find drifts of carefully placed matching flower Generous Gardener and the bolder pink Spirit collection of 130 different roses, this spot colours - this is a typical picture-postcard of Freedom. Rowena favours irises and tree on high would be idyllic - but they have cottage garden, and not a highly designed plot. peonies, which shes been delighted to discover sympathetically added to that natural beauty. The relaxed nature of the planting allows the are pretty hardy. We were lucky to inherit some For me, its been like taking a ride in a hot air garden to fit its surroundings and melt in to great shrubs from the previous owner, who was balloon over the land that I hold dear. Im glad the lush green fields either side. also a keen gardener, explains Jim. the Gales are the keepers of such a special place. Having previously gardened on a chalk soil Before retiring, Rowenas work entailed in Wiltshire, the Gales enjoy the fertile soil here, identifying wood. She studied the anatomical Bachefield House, Kimbolton, Hereford HR6 0EP . which provides them with bountiful crops structure of pieces found at archaeological Open for the NGS on 5 June and 14 August, or by from their kitchen garden. This area is offered digs, and her career led her to work at the appt. Tel +44 (0)1568 615855. www.ngs.org.uk
GLORIOUS GARDENS
HEREFORDSHIRE
The notebook
Bachefield House garden covers just under one acre and is surrounded by fields on both sides. It is northwest facing and has a heavy but fertile clay soil. Its a windy spot, with only a few sheltered places to grow less hardy plants
TIPS FROM THE GALES

G When starting a new garden from scratch, dont be tempted to plant quickspreading ground cover. Plants such as Campanula glomerata or plants that seed into other plants (Meconopsis cambrica; the Welsh poppy) are potential thugs. G To avoid a sea of white plant labels use
TAKE A BREAK
There 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.
black plastic labels with a silver marker pen. G Put seeds in the fridge for a few days before sowing, as this hastens germination. G Feed yellowing plants with Epsom salts; plants need plenty of magnesium to photosynthesise. G Spray new cuttings with a weak solution of fungicide and foliar feed. G The most useful tools are: a threepronged 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.
LOOSE SHEEP
The 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.
CONTACTS
G Ivy Croft, Ivington Green, Leominster HR6 0NJ. Tel: +44 (0)1568 720344.
GOING GREEN
The 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 Second World War. 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.
www.ivycroftgarden.co.uk G Stone House Cottage, Nr Kidderminster, Worcs DY10 4BG. Tel: +44 (0)1562 69902. www.shcn.co.uk
NURSERIES NEARBY
G Whimble Garden & Nursery, Kinnerton, Presteigne LD8 2PD. Tel: +44 (0)1547 560413. www.whimblegardens.co.uk
The English Garden
53
The Savill Garden
Simply Stunning
The Savill Garden, Windsor Great Park Tel 01784 435544 enquiries@theroyallandscape.co.uk
www.theroyallandscape.co.uk
SPOTLIGHT
Focus on... Herefordshire

Head to this historic county for garden festivals, castles, specialist nurseries and local county pubs and restaurants
The seats of ancient Marcher families such as Monnington Court, Holme Lacy House, Hellens and Wilton Castle provide a cornucopia of Hereford gardens.
Rowena Gale, NGS county organiser
ACRES OF ACTIVITY
Youll need to put on your hiking boots or wellies to fully explore Croft Castle and
A JOB WELL DONE

Ross and Philippa Williams 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
Gardens, thanks to the acres of land on offer. Theres 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. Theres also a parish church, woodland, extensive parkland with a magnificent avenue of ancient Spanish chestnuts, and panoramic views of the county. Youre 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
LOCAL FESTIVAL BRILLIANT BASKETS

Lyonshall 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
CROFT C ASTLE/NTPL - ROBERT MORRIS COMPILED BY/VICTORIA KINGSBURY
The Garden Festival on 11 and 12 June, held at Hellens 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 TVs 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
of colourful hanging baskets and also replants your tired ones all year round. If theres something in particular youre 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
The English Garden
55
the
SWIMMINGPOND company
Design & Construction of Natural Swimming Ponds
The New Environmentally Friendly Alternative to Conventional Swimming Pools

01379 688000
Carpe Diem Common Rd Bressingham Diss Norfolk IP22 2BD
No chemicals Attractive to wildlife Clear water Show Swimming Pond Well established concept on the continent As seen on BBC
www.theswimmingpondcompany.com
Have Your Garden Photographed

Capture its beauty forever in a unique set of pictures by professional garden photographer Marcus Harpur
Marcus Harpur, Pannells Ash Farm West, Pentlow, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 7JT 07961 934226 01787 277784 info@harpurgardenimages.com www.harpurgardenimages.com
GLORIOUS GARDENS
LEICESTERSHIRE
A real classic
Sweeping lawns, wide borders, neat parterres and other formal features make the grand garden at Stoke Albany House a model of its kind
PHOTOGRAPHS NICOLA STOCKEN TOMKINS WORDS ANNE LOCKYER
L
The rose parterre sits in front of the east faade of Stoke Albany House, and looks out onto fields.
The English Garden
57
GLORIOUS GARDENS
LEICESTERSHIRE
n an era when space is at a premium, it half the walled garden with his true love: the garden. The first thing he said to me was is wonderfully refreshing to visit the vegetables. I had to lure him back into the that he hoped I liked gardening - I knew garden at Stoke Albany House and find cultivation of flowers so that we could start absolutely nothing about it, but I quickly a traditional landscape with room to reinstating the main border, says Anna. The became very interested, possibly too interested breathe. The very first time I stood in east-facing main border had long stretched along for Freddie, says Anna. the sitting room and looked out of the window the outside of the walled garden, within sight Initially, she ignored conventional wisdom over a big expanse of lawn, I felt a great sense of the house, but by the time the Vintons about growing plants that suit the soil type. of peace, recalls Anna Vinton. I have always arrived, it was totally over-run with ground elder. When you look through the plant catalogues liked wide open spaces, and knew this I expected wed sort it out within months - I and dont know what youre doing, everything was somewhere I could live very happily. She just didnt understand gardening at all. Now I is so tempting. But after a lot of mistakes, I felt instinctively drawn to this fine English have got used to waiting. Borders evolve over realised that soil is absolutely key to success. country garden with its framework of years. Ive photographed ours regularly, and Annas bookshelves soon started filling up with walls, borders, walks its very helpful. It and trees. Despite is different every We met Rosemary Verey and I felt so in awe of her... and needing renovation, year and can never when I visited Hidcote it just took my breath away it had retained its be perfect, but while essence. I was under there will always be no illusions, she adds. I recognised the plot for something that disappoints, theres also always gardening books, but the first and most what it is - a flat site with a big lawn and walled something that surprises. influential was The Englishwomans Garden by garden - but I also knew there were limitations The border evolved from a blank canvas, the Rosemary Verey. I visited many of the gardens to the changes that could be made. result of a year under black plastic to kill off featured in her book - it really conveyed peoples It is now 32 years since Stoke Albany House any weeds. Once uncovered, it was planted love of their gardens. Her first visit was to was acquired by Anna and her husband Fred. with shrubs - berberis, dogwood, ceanothus, Barnsley House - We met Rosemary Verey and Built in 1836, the Georgian mansion is set amid euonymus and hazel - to add height and I felt so in awe of her - followed by Hidcote. It eight acres. Its an ancient site, once part of continuous form throughout the year. Colour just took my breath away, recalls Anna. Im a Rockingham Forest, where the Plantagenet kings schemes came next, and Anna decided to group very visual person, and so many of my ideas used to hunt. The Vintons inherited the old all the hot reds, oranges and golds at the top have come from visiting other peoples gardens. gardener, Freddie Frohawk, who wasted no time end, with the cooler shades of blue, purple and While Anna was reading, visiting gardens and making them aware of their responsibilities in pink at the other. Weve had to design this trying out different plants, Freddie was filling
GLORIOUS GARDENS
LEICESTERSHIRE
border to look good from a distance, ensuring there are large plants that you can recognise from the house, but as you draw nearer, finer details are revealed. Among Annas favourite plants here are oriental poppies, especially those in unusual shades such as Pattys Plum or Cedric Morris. Alliums are planted in swathes to trickle through the main border, with hardy geraniums at their feet providing the glue that holds everything together. Then there are roses - old-fashioned, English and rambling. They do incredibly well here, she admits. Change came about gradually in the walled garden, with the kitchen garden transformed into a delightful potager of box-edged beds filled with topiary, flowers, fruit and vegetables. Running from one side to the other, three separate pergolas now form one long tunnel
OPPOSITE, BELOW Poppies, geraniums, galega, delphinium, persicaria, tradescantia and echinops in the border, and Rosa Wedding Day on the wall. ABOVE LEFT The Felbrigg-inspired formal pond with fountain. ABOVE RIGHT The border is full of lupins, foxgloves and delphiniums. BELOW The parterre , . contains catmint and roses Trevor Griffiths, Winchester Cathedral, De Resht The Fairy and White Pet Beyond is the lawn with the old Atlas cedar.
L
The English Garden
59
GLORIOUS GARDENS
LEICESTERSHIRE
swathed in Rosa Madame Alfred Carrire, with of their lives. Every year we remove one tree I cant bear to go away then. If her absence is aromatic blue catmint at its feet. A formal grey and replace it - that way, well never be faced unavoidable, then on her return she is no sooner garden is planted with white roses, aquilegia, with the shock of taking them all out at once. out of the car, than she goes directly into the lychnis and lavender blended with silvery This has been carefully carried out by Alistair garden. It never ceases to amaze me how it can foliage, and a Memorial Garden commemorates Peake, the head gardener for 17 years, who has change so quickly at that time of year, she says. Annas mother-in-law and parents, who all died masterminded many of the changes. One of his In hot summers, however, the ground bakes during 2002. I wanted something that was favourites is the rose parterre, which was hard and cracks. Its basically clay, so its not simple and peaceful with the sound of water, inspired by an English Heritage tour of gardens easy, and were forever working on it. Looking but wouldnt create lots of work, recalls Anna. in the Scottish Borders. He adapted a design he at the luxuriant beds full of foliage and flower, The original idea came from a visit to Felbrigg saw at Mellerstain to fit the area between the it is hard to believe this plot causes any trouble. Hall that Anna had made with her mother faade of the Georgian house and the ha-ha, The gardens many visitors are certainly shortly before her very appreciative - as death. Wed admired patron for Marie I love allium time, when theres the early promise of everything this circular raised Curie, Leicestershire, to come in June: I cant bear to go away then pool in the middle of Anna often opens in the garden, and it aid of charity. This seemed right to do something similar, using box hedges and pink, white and red roses adds to her enjoyment of the garden and the incorporating a fountain that my mother had such as Trevor Griffiths, Winchester Cathedral, feeling of well-being. After all these years, given me. The layout - essentially a circle within De Resht, The Fairy and White Pet as well as I very much feel its my garden, she says. a square - was designed by Laura Morland for Nepeta Six Hills Giant. I especially love to walk around at dusk in a tranquil corner of the walled garden that had With the roses flowering at different times, summer - the main border looks incredible in been the childrens play area. Its a lovely grassy extending the season, the catmint remains a the light. Its just enchanting at that time. space, especially now we let the grass grow constant. Its such a useful edging plant, and is longer, cutting paths through. Its very green and brilliant for attracting bees, says Anna. In the Stoke Albany House, Desborough Rd, Stoke Albany, restful, a great foil to all the colour around. main border, it flowers in time to partner the Leics LE16 8PT. Open every Wed in June (2Behind the nearby iris walk runs a row of old first alliums. I love allium time, when theres 4.30pm), and in aid of Marie Curie on Sun 26 June espaliered apples, which are reaching the end the early promise of everything to come in June: (2-5.30pm) with teas. Tel: +44 (0)1858 535227.
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.
GLORIOUS GARDENS
LEICESTERSHIRE
The notebook
Stoke 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 EYE-POPPING POPPIES
Oriental poppies (left) feature throughout the sunny borders, where they thrive in welldrained 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, theyre best teamed with late summer perennials, such as Japanese anemones or asters.
GRAVEL GUYS
The 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.
A CUT ABOVE
The 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.
IRRESISTIBLE IRISES
The 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.
TIPS FROM STOKE ALBANY

G 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. G 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. G 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. G Sow flowering annuals in trays and pots and use these to fill gaps in the borders. Its also a quick and inexpensive way to experiment with new colours. G Dont deadhead lupins and delphiniums to the ground - instead, as they fade, prune to the sideshoots, and they will flower again later.
CONTACTS
GARDENS TO VISIT
G Coton Manor, Coton, Northamptonshire NN6 8RQ. Tel: +44 (0)1604 740219. www.cotonmanor.co.uk G Cottesbrooke Hall, Cottesbrooke, Northamptonshire NN6 8PF . Tel: +44 (0)1604 505808. www.cottesbrookehall.co.uk G 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 G Rockingham Castle Gardens, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 8TH. Tel: +44 (0)1536 770240. www.rockinghamcastle.com
The English Garden
61
PARTTIME DIPLOMA STUDIES IN GARDEN DESIGN HORTICULTURE PLANTSMANSHIP BOTANICAL PAINTING WORLD RENOWNED TUTORS SHORT COURSES DISTANCE LEARNING
Tel: 020 7352 4347 email: info@englishgardeningschool.co.uk www.EnglishGardeningSchool.co.uk
Clive Nichols
YOUR INDISPENSABLE GUIDE TO SUCCESS WITH FRUIT & VEG
G
P
G G G G G G
THE EDIBLE
ick up your brand-new guide to spring and summer kitchen gardening, from the team at The English Garden magazine
ARDEN
G Designing a kitchen garden G MasterChefs Gregg Wallace on his passion for veg G Tempting shopping ideas
NE ON W! SA
NOW LE
FROM THE TEAM AT THE ENGLISH GARDEN MAGAZINE
Creating a kitchen garden or growing fruit and vegetables within your decorative plot is the ultimate dream. We bring you everything you need to know to reap the rewards from a garden that looks spectacular and offers healthy crops of tasty fruit and veg. The Edible Garden is packed with design ideas and ways to make the most of your growing space. Inside, you will find: River Cottage - behind the scenes Five glorious kitchen gardens Colourful veg for plate and plot Growing tips and seasonal jobs Becoming a gardening smallholder Spring/summer recipes
PLUS LOTS, LOTS MORE
Order your copy now, only 4.99 with FREE delivery to the UK
ON SALE NOW IN WH SMITH AND SAINSBURYS STORES OR TO ORDER...

CALL (0)1242 265892 VISIT www.subscriptionsave.co.uk/ediblegarden POST a cheque made payable to Archant Specialist Ltd to:
The Edible Garden,The English Garden Magazine, Archant House, Oriel Road, Cheltenham GL50 1BB
see us at
Chelsea Stand
SR20
{Cushions not required}
Receive a FREE picnic table or teak cheese board with your order.
(low minimum order values apply)
Quality garden furniture in sustainable TEAK

Visit: www.walkham.co.uk or call free NOW: 0800 298 8076 for our brochure and price list.
Walkham TeakLtd.Walkhampton, Devon PL20 6LW Member of The Forest Trust (TFT).
Garden
Conversation Bench
Conservatory
See our furniture collection at
Costa Rica
Pesaro
Imagine
Imagine a perfectly furnished conservatory, imagine a beautiful garden room, imagine a relaxing outdoor space. Imagine Holloways.
www.holloways.co.uk
Tel: 01886 884665 for our free colour brochure. Visit our extensive showrooms and courtyards at Lower Court, Suckley, Worcestershire WR6 5DE
DESIGN GUIDE
TOWN GARDEN
MIX & MATCH

Irelands most celebrated garden designer shares her secrets about transforming her one-acre urban plot in Dublin into a series of rooms that feature a canal, a rill and boldly coloured herbaceous borders
L
PHOTOGRAPHS ANDREA JONES WORDS HELEN DILLON
The English Garden
65
DESIGN GUIDE
TOWN GARDEN
y husband Val and I arrived in Dublin about 40 years ago. We knew that the 1830s town house was for us when we looked through its windows, with the afternoon sun streaming in over the grass and old apple trees. Youll be expecting the usual story of valiant battles with bindweed and nettle (nearly forgot the brambles) but in fact the garden at Sandford Road was already very pleasant - and even faced south west. There was, however, a rather unfortunate rockery in the middle of the lawn, in the style referred to by Reginald Farrer, the great writer on alpine plants, as the Currant Bun. The garden is just under an acre, with light limey soil thats easy to work. Problems are extensive, though, and include honey fungus (found in many old Dublin gardens, due to people leaving roots behind when taking out old fruit trees), larvae of the vine weevil and, worse still, the larvae of the swift moth. I would like to say that I sat down straightaway and drew up meticulous garden plans, but I couldnt wait to get stuck in, and began by sending the rockery off in a series of skips. Id love to admit that I had an epiphany in the middle of the night and conceived the idea of my series of arches, but
66
The English Garden
in fact I began with just two arches. It took me about eight years to join them up. Around 1976 we took away some of the lawn, to make wide borders on either side. I first thought of replacing the lawn with a canal about 25 years ago, but didnt dare do this until the new millennium, after an inspiring visit to the Generalife gardens at the Alhambra in Spain. One lovely feature of our house - which you see in many late Georgian town houses - is that the main room is on the first floor, so were looking down on the garden as if on a stage, which is how I always think of the garden anyway. Im just the person who positions the actors, which in my case are the plants. I believe there are many different ways to enjoy a garden: one is to consider where you are looking at it from; the other is from the totally different angle of actually walking through the garden. For me, the third most essential element is colour. For years I was labouring to make the two borders either side of the canal: one border of blue flowers opposite the other of red. I suddenly realised that not only did it look like an over-painted picture, but also I was bored with it, so now Im mixing up all the colours, with plenty of dazzling oranges and luminous yellows.
Garden profile
OWNERS Helen and Val Dillon DESIGNER Helen Dillon PLACE The Dillon Garden, 45 Sandford Road, Ranelagh, Dublin 6, Republic of Ireland. www.dillongarden.com STYLE A plantsmans garden with strong design elements, arranged in a series of rooms. OPEN April to September - see the website for specific opening times.
ILLUSTRATION/NEIL GOWER
SIZE Just under one acre
DESIGN GUIDE
TOWN GARDEN
Powerful planting
I 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.
Id like to say that I sat down straightaway and drew up meticulous garden plans, but I couldnt 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 Barkers Variety, Agapanthus praecox and the lateflowering dark purple Clematis x durandii, a very good sprawling clematis, which is long lived and doesnt 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
L
bright sparks of colour (above).
DESIGN GUIDE
TOWN GARDEN
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.
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.
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.
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.
DESIGN GUIDE
TOWN GARDEN
This bottom pool contains two potted Typha angustifolia, the lesser bulrush. Out of the picture, below the bulrushes, are plantings of Dianella tasmanica or Tasmanian flax-lily.
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.
We put these cones within squares of box because we thought the sphinxes would like to be reminded of the pyramids.
Crataegus laciniata is a small and pretty hawthorn with leaves more silver than green, which has decorative large tomato-red fruits in autumn.
L
The English Garden
69
DESIGN GUIDE
TOWN GARDEN
Water features
Although 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.
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 theres so much happening. This allows the plants to offer sharp contrast to the pool (above).
CALMING CANAL Water 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.
DESIGNER PROFILE
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
HELEN PORTRAIT/JANE SEBIRE
We spent ages making sure the water was gently trickling, rather than falling down with an annoying crash
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.
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 New York Botanical Garden.
70
The English Garden
ALITAGS PLANT LABELS

www.alitags.com
Annual labelling is a thing of the past with Alitags. Simply write on Alitags aluminium labels with Alitags or HB pencil. The pencil will react with our specially made aluminium tags and become permanent. Alitags labels can also be punched with Alitags character punches & jig. Copper, Teak & Bamboo labels are also available.
Mature & Formal Hardy Plants
TENDERCARE
Unrivalled range of mature plants

We grow the finest range of specimen trees & shrubs in the UK. With over 24 acres just West of London there is plenty of choice and friendly, knowledgeable staff to help.
Plants in the 'Nurseryman's Art' exquisitely formed and pruned trees. Espalier, pleached, box-headed, roof-trained, topiary in spirals, pyramids, cubes and balls.
Maturity Matters - Semi-mature trees Alitags, 32 Bourne Lane, Much Hadham, Herts SG10 6ER, UK. Tel 01279 842685 www.alitags.com
'character', parkland and avenue specimens including graceful conifers. Hand selected by us from the best nurseries in Europe. Planting by our team recommended.
Trees - 'Through the garden gate' ideal for the smaller garden. Lovely varieties in pots no more than 65cm diameter for access through the garden gate.
The Bronze Collection
Japanese maples and bamboos admired the World over. Essential elements of an Oriental style garden.
Shrubs for the connoisseur larger than sold by your garden centre - 10L to 1000L pots. Flowering for every day of the year, deciduous, evergreen - fantastic choice & quality!
Cats Crouching & Sitting Up
Limestone Toadstools Mice 10 cms high
Fruit trees - perfect for the Potager! Mature trees, espalier, fan-trained and 'step-overs'. Apples, pears, plums, cherries, vines, figs, quince, kiwis - and more.
Hedges-for privacy and structure

Granite Balls
prepared units to form 'instant', clipped runs. Traditional yew and box, large laurels and both green and copper beech, native species and reliable conifers.
Plants of the Mediterranean - and 'Planthunter' exotics - olives, palms and spikey
Ducks Preening 34 cms long Elephant Topiary and others Lotus Vase
plants for the arid and tropical look. Many gardens in sheltered and milder areas afford scope for stylish planting ideas. We also hold the largest selection of New Zealand tree ferns in the UK.
Wall-trained shrubs and climbers grown and trained for immediate impact. The best flowering and covering plants, pruned onto 1.8m trellises or on canes at various heights up to 6m.
'Instant borders' - seasonal herbaceous plants, ferns and grasses - foliage and flowering
Hanging Signs : 50 messages Chinese Lanterns 49 cms high Angry Goose 54 cms high
plants, deciduous and evergreen, to add form, texture and colour for any location. The most pleasing varieties are selected and grown in our nurseries locally.
Don't miss our one day plant sales May 28 & June 11
Wooden Keyrings : 70 Locations Garden Friends : Cockerel
Nationwide Delivery - Planting Services

Southlands Road, Denham, Middlesex UB9 4HD
(Just off M40, junction 1, near M25)
01895 835544 sales@tendercare.co.uk

Buddha 5 sizes : 20 - 86 cms high Chinese Temple Lions 28 cms high
Made from solid bronzes with over 200 designs of birds, animals, classical figures, fish & reptiles, pots & planters, orientals and mythical beasts.
Candle Lanterns : Crocodiles
www.tendercare.co.uk
Exhibiting at Chelsea Flower Show May 24-28 Grand Pavillion D7
32 Bourne Lane, Much Hadham, Hertfordshire SG10 6ER, UK. Tel 01279 842685 www.thebronzecollection.com
Herb & Sentiment Stones Labels
Amdega Ltd. 2011 All rights reserved
Exquisite design, built by hand from the finest Western Red Cedar. This is your Amdega Summerhouse.
Call 0800 980 0796

www.amdega-summerhouses.co.uk
Your Amdega
S U M M E R H O U S E S & G A Z E B O S
REF: 828A
DESIGN
HISTORIC FEATURES
TRY THE KNOT

The intricate formality of knot gardens has evolved in form and meaning over the centuries, says Claire Masset, adopted by every era to suit its own style
nosedive in the 18th century, but the (above). Its geometric design is cleverly repeated not gardens have long been Victorians revived the trend, filling them with in the corner bench that lies beyond. symbols of love, and personally colourful bedding plants. A brand new knot garden is currently being I cant think of a nicer way to Nowadays, knot gardens still have many fans. developed at Astley Castle in Warwickshire. Its say I love you. You dont need The grande dame of historic garden design, The designer Kate Heppel explains: Ive mixed a lot of space or money, just a Dowager Marchioness of Salisbury, is particularly grasses with herbaceous perennials within the few small box plants and your chosen design. fond of them. Her designs include one at her evergreen structure to give the garden a modern Inspired by French and Italian examples, garden at Hatfield House and one for Londons look, and Ive opened the knot up so that English knot gardens appeared in the mid-15th Garden Museum, which features only plants people, including wheelchair users, can get right century, and by the Tudor era they were virtually that would have been grown in the 17th century. into its centre and view it from the inside out. de rigueur. Most consisted of dwarf box, but Being evergreen, a lavender, germander, knot garden offers santolina, thyme and Representing the bringing together of separate elements, knots year-round delight. winter savory were came to symbolise unity, strength and eternal love A sprinkling of frost also used. Designs The late Rosemary Verey created a knot on its trimmed edges can brighten up even the were often inspired by patterns found on textiles garden at Barnsley House in the latter decades gloomiest of winter days. I dont happen to have and carpets. Representing the bringing together of the 20th century. Its interlacing lines are so one in my garden (yet), but theres a lovely knot of separate elements, knots came to symbolise well clipped that they give the impression of outside my village hall. Planted three years ago unity, strength and eternal love. going over and under one another. More by a handful of enterprising neighbours, it gives There were open knots, in which the spaces recently, Piet Oudolf created a modern and very me pleasure almost every day, as Im sure it does between the mini-hedges were filled with practical take on the knot garden at Bury Court to many of my fellow villagers. coloured earths or brick dust; and closed knots, in Hampshire. Instead of sharp edges, the miniwith the spaces filled with flowers. Most knot hedges have rounded tops, which are good at If you love all things historic, order gardens were designed to be seen from above, throwing off rain, helping control the spread of a copy of the new bookazine The either from a viewing mound or from the the dreaded box blight. Another contemporary Ultimate Guide to Historic Britain windows of a house. Overly formal for the example is the one at Antony House in Cornwall today at www.subscriptionsave.co.uk English landscape movement, they took a
ANTONY KNOT GARDEN/ NTPL - ANDREW BUTLER
The English Garden
73
A GARDEN REBORN
NORTHUMBERLAND
ABOVE 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. .
Some like it hot

Summer arrives early at Bridge Eal this month, leaving Susie and David to cope with a heatwave, in additon to planting roses and making compost bins
L
PHOTOGRAPHS TOM WHITE WORDS SUSIE WHITE
The English Garden
75
A GARDEN REBORN
NORTHUMBERLAND
une is normally a fulsome month, a time of lush growth and burgeoning colour, but for this fledgling garden in a time of drought, it is curiously shrunken. Plants that usually bloom at shoulder height are flowering just a couple of feet above soil level; cardoons, Cephalaria gigantea and Crambe cordifolia have early flower spikes on dwarf plants that I have to cut out to conserve their energy. The ground is dry as dust, and the days are full of such heat that it feels like I am living in a Mediterranean valley. It is not the best time to be shifting the very last plants from their temporary refuge at a nearby walled garden, but as I dont want to be managing two gardens at once, I just have to move them anyway. We puddle them in with lots of water in the planting holes, and give them the Chelsea chop so it is only the roots that have to grow for now. Perennials are amazingly adaptable, and so far we have not lost a single herbaceous plant, despite the double move and extreme weather conditions. I am a bit concerned about the trees, though, as they are clearly suffering. The four yew topiary domes are going brown, and the 8ft-high corkscrew hazel has only sporadic leaves, but
ILLUSTRATION/NEIL GOWER
A GARDEN REBORN
NORTHUMBERLAND
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 Vipers 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.
A GARDEN REBORN
NORTHUMBERLAND
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 water With all this newly turned soil, there is a mass broad beans to create sturdy plants that will them thoroughly every second day and have of weeds. I can hoe some areas but mostly it is stand up to the wind. There are two native laid a thick mulch of rotted horse muck to keep down to hand weeding, working systematically trees in the vegetable garden, a bird cherry the moisture in. I dont believe in rushing to on one bed at a time until it is cleaned. This and a hawthorn, and I raise the crown on take plants out; it could take them a long takes time and my hands go blindly among both, revealing the pattern of their trunks. time to make new roots. stems of oriental poppies and geraniums, Where the terrace has been muddied from our The arrival of 30 David Austin roses forces gathering fat bunches of chickweed and feeling boots, I use a heavy-duty pressure washer that a new decision, though - do I plant them in for their tight strands of roots. Docks, burdocks brings up the lovely colour of the sandstone. this heat or leave them in their pots? Despite and thistles are easy when young, but there are There are large cracks between the slabs and the heat, I decide to get them in the ground still devious clumps of couch grass and creeping into these I brush the seed and debris that I immediately, so David and I dig generous thistle to contend with. collected last year from underneath a huge square planting holes, put Mexican daisy, Erigeron lots of water in them, plant karvinskianus, that grew in I am excited to see roses go in, another element to give the roses and mulch them the greenhouse at Chesters the garden structure and bring the jigsaw together well. I am excited to see Walled Garden. I want its them go in, another element delicate pink flowers to to give the garden structure and bring the Plentiful weeds mean we need compost self-seed in all the cracks. bins, and David has built a trio - to enable whole jigsaw together. It seems fitting that after a hard days work turning from one to the other - set at the side They are all English Roses, bred by David is the time when the garden looks its best, wall of the vegetable garden, in the sun so for that is when the western light comes Austin for repeat flowering and scent, and range that they can heat up. He makes them from slanting through the sycamore trees. An from rich pink to white. I position them in a square posts, each a metre cubed, with boards incredible transformation takes place and narrow V shape, with the path running down at the front that lift out. He turns the compost everything is magically backlit. The purples the middle, the point of the V leading to where every 10 days, and adds brown materials, of heuchera, rheum and euphorbia glow like the greenhouse will eventually stand. Those layering lawn clippings, veg peelings, horse stained glass, aquilegias are infused with farthest away are the deepest pinks, and they muck, comfrey and spent hops. A square of warmth and the grey stone walls are tinged become subtly paler as they lead the eye to carpet and a duvet made of bubble wrap inside with gold. Thats when we can sit for a minute the greenhouse site and the white of Rosa a hop bag keeps the heat in and rain out. and feel its all worth it. Winchester Cathedral. I am out there at 7am The potatoes are coming on, and when the following morning to water them from the David earths them up he also does this to the Next month: Susie enjoys the first harvest spring-fed hose before the sun gets strong.
THE GARDEN HOUSE LTD

Bespoke manufacturers of quality garden rooms
Trellis ~ Screening ~ Planters ~ Arches Gates ~ Gazebos ~ Arbours ~ Pergolas Benches ~ Obelisks ~ Tree Seats ~ Bridges
Garden offices, summer houses, pool rooms, granny annexes, teenage dens
All buildings are individually designed and constructed with a highly specified finish to include double glazing, superb insulation and beautiful dcor to ensure they are comfortable for use all year round. Each building is manufactured and installed personally by our own experienced team, and with a 10 year guarantee it gives you peace of mind to enjoy your additional room come rain or shine.
WWW.STUARTGARDEN.COM
tel: 01984 667458
Manufactured in the UK
Modern living for your garden

Call now for brochure & design schedule 01843 821851 info@thegardenhouseltd.co.uk
www.thegardenhouseltd.co.uk
ECO-WATCH
Pond bombshell
We should celebrate the garden pond, says Anne Gatti - as well as making an attractive feature, it also provides a vital habitat for our native water-loving animal and plant species
igh on the to do list of most gardening Pond Conservation has come up with results that water or some mud from an established pond to for wildlife manuals is dig a pond. Its suggest we should re-think how we make our get the whole thing going. Flying and hopping sound advice, and if you make a pond ponds if we want to provide the best possible creatures will find your clean, shallow water thats designed specially for wildlife, it will conditions for wildlife. amazingly quickly. Expect the water boatmen, probably be the most rewarding part of your The most important thing is to make sure your hoverflies and pond skaters to pitch up within a garden for nature-watching sessions. pond contains clean water, which means water not few days. Amphibians, if you have some in the Its strange, then, that theres been very little contaminated by pollutants such as chemicals or neighbourhood, will move in soon after. scientific research done into just how important high levels of nutrients from artificially fertilised When it comes to planting, this is one habitat garden ponds are. We know that in the soil (nutrients cause fast-growing algae to bloom where native does seem to be best. Choosing only countryside, pond numbers have declined and choke out other oxygenating plants). Ideally, natives will avoid the risk of spreading invasive dramatically from 1.25 million in the late you should fill the pond with rainwater, especially exotics such as parrots feather (Myriophyllum 19th century to some 478,000 today. But if your tap water is high in nitrates; i.e. it has more aquaticum) and water fern (Azolla filiculoides), which more importantly, say the experts at Pond than 5mg of nitrates per litre. are still sold by some garden centres. Conservation, 80% of Theres a wide choice the ponds in England of pretty plants from the Pond numbers have declined dramatically, from 1.25 and Wales are in poor natives-only list, from million in the late 19th century to some 478,000 today or very poor condition, marginals such as purple essentially because the loosestrife and flag iris to The next thing to consider is the depth of the water is polluted. The charity is campaigning to shallow water colonisers lesser spearwort and water pond. It does not have to be at least 45cm deep, introduce thousands of new, clean, well-sited forget-me-not. What you plant depends on the as you may have heard before - just 30cm at the ponds across England and Wales. Meanwhile, size and depth of your pond, but you should aim deepest part will do fine. The crucial thing is to our three million or so existing garden ponds for a mix of submerged and floating plants. have plenty of really shallow water - at least 50% could be a vital refuge for many of the wetland Environmental consultant Hugh Roberts, who of the total area. This is because most pond wild animal and plant species that are being displaced, has installed many wildlife ponds, says: Dont go animals prefer to stay in water thats only a couple while also providing food and drink for visiting to your local garden centre for aquatic plants, as of centimetres deep; deeper, open water is a birds and small mammals like bats. they tend not to understand invasives. Instead look dangerous place for them. The edges should be From a close study of a variety of ponds in in your local pond and try to mimic whats in there, gently sloping rather than straight sided, so that Oxfordshire (including his own), Jeremy Biggs of as long as it contains no invasives or non-natives. animals can get in and out For descriptions of native aquatics and the of the pond easily. A bonus invasives to avoid, check out Natural Englands for the watching humans useful booklet Garden Ponds and Boggy Areas is that its much easier to (downloadable from the website). Alternatively, spot submerged creatures in you can buy plug plants from specialist growers shallow water. of natives. If you want to have fish, its best to make Once your pond is full, you a separate pond for them, as they will devour should let the water settle for a few smaller creatures and the fish food you give them days before adding any plants. will add polluting nutrients to the water. Theres And, says Jeremy, theres no masses of advice on Pond Conservations website need to tip in a bucket of to help you get going - be prepared to start digging!
FIND OUT MORE

ILLUSTRATION/EMMA DIBBEN
G www.pondconservation.org.uk G www.naturalengland.org.uk G www.eforp.co.uk G www.habitataid.co.uk G www.floralocale.org G www.britishflora.co.uk
The English Garden
81
A R C H E S
C A N O P I E S
T R E L L I S
Beautiful, practical supports for the garden, including designs for herbaceous perennials, roses, shrubs and climbing plants.
Made in England
Leander Products, Idridgehay, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 2SL
B A T H E N G L A N D
Handmade for house and garden
01225 851577
w w w. g a r d e n - r e q u i s i t e s . c o . u k
Beautiful buildings for the finest of gardens.
Arbours, gazebos, summerhouses, pavilions and bespoke designs
www.hspgardenbuildings.com
30a Hampstead Avenue, Mildenhall, Suffolk IP28 7AS. Tel +44 (0) 1638 583814 Fax +44 (0) 1638 583815 info@hspgardenbuildings.com
June is the month to enjoy the fun of a River Cottage Fair, go on a veg course and try a new salad crop, says Mark Diacono
Y
MARK PORTRAIT/JASON INGRAM SARAH RAVEN/JONATHAN BUCKLEY PEAS, CHICORY & RIVER COTTAGE/MARK DIACONO
ou know summer is here when the fruit starts to catch up with the vegetables. Gooseberries and strawberries are plentiful, as is the hedgerow elderflower. This may be my favourite month for produce, with the last of the asparagus, the baby carrots and sweet early potatoes to go with the broad beans, salads and peas. All need the barest cooking, if at all, and I try to eat every meal outside.
COURSES AND EVENTS June may seem a little late to do a grow-your-own course, but you can buy seedlings to play catch-up and get yourself better prepared for next years growing. Try Sarah Ravens Year-Round Vegetables course on 23 June (www.sarahraven.com). Alternatively, if you are looking for more of a family day, try River Cottages Spring into Summer Fair on 11 and 12 June (www.rivercottage.net), where youll find demonstrations, stalls and entertainment, and food aplenty. Booking essential. I hope to see you there. IF YOUVE NEVER GROWN THEM BEFORE Nows the time to sow chicory. It is best paired with other plainer leaves and/or a nonsharp dressing. You can use it as cut-and-comeagain leaves, or allow it to heart up. Variegata di Castelfranco, Rossa di Treviso and Palla Rossa are excellent varieties. Sow seed direct now, thinning seedlings to 5cm for salad leaves, or 25cm for hearting. Try www.nickys-nursery.co.uk for seeds. A WORD WITH....CHRIS SMITH Owner of Pennard Plants (www.pennardplants.com). He says: June is the month for enjoying fresh strawberries from the garden, picking the first succulent peas as you walk around the veg plot and eating them before you get to the kitchen. Warmer evenings mean thoughts of using aromatic herbs freshly picked to flavour food, but dont forget the winter to come: set out your leeks, sow turnips and spinach, transplant the purple sprouting and Brussels sprouts. Always so much to do and so little time!
The English Garden
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Sarah Raven shows how to get the best from your plot all year round; join in the fun at River Cottages Spring into Summer Fair; chicory is a delicious addition to the summer salad bowl; enjoy fresh peas straight from the pod.
83
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 at The 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.
Lavender
Pretty as a Provenal picture, this purple herb is more than just a border plant. Its scent, flavour and colour makes it perfect for the kitchen too
PHOTOGRAPHS MICHELLE GARRETT WORDS JACKY HOBBS
heres one plant you absolutely must have in your kitchen garden: lavender. It looks beautiful owering away outdoors, but it can also be hand picked and dried to perfume indoor vases, make table decorations, wreaths, lavender bags or sleep pillows. But its not just decorative; lavender works hard in the garden, attracting all-important pollinating bees and other insects essential to a successful vegetable plot. Lavender honey is a bonus by-product. On top of all this, the lavender owers 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 delicious herbal crusts for meats; soaked in honeys and oils to marinate sh and fowl; or simply used to garnish salads and desserts. A Mediterranean native, the purple-owering herb needs a free-draining, sunny site with neutral to alkaline soil. If your soil conditions are too acidic or too heavy, or cold and wet, then plant lavender in pots lled with a free-draining compost and place in a sunny, sheltered position. (You can also improve garden soil drainage by incorporating gravel or small stones and by planting lavender on a slight mound.) Pots are also perfect for tender but longer-owering varieties such as Lavandula canariensis and L. dentata, and the more unusual green-owered 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 softwood cuttings from non-owering stems; or in early autumn, try semi-hardwood cuttings. If growing as a hedge, plant 35-45cms apart, watering young
THE EDIBLE GARDEN

COOK YOUR OWN
THE EDIBLE GARDEN

COOK YOUR OWN
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 largergrowing 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.
plants well to help get their roots established. Water only when essential thereafter, especially if in pots or containers. To ensure healthy, long-living plants and for optimum ower crops, Caroline Alexander of Castle Farm recommends cutting the plants back in late summer or early autumn pruning to leave only 2-3cm of the current years growth. This promotes bushier plants with lots of owering shoots for the following year. Lavender left unpruned has a shorter life span. It becomes leggy and woody with fewer owers and tends to die back. If using the heads for cooking, pick stems when they are in full ower with their best colour. Bunch them and hang upside down to dry in a warm dry location, such as over a range oven or in an airing cupboard. Once dried, the ower heads can be rubbed off by rolling the stems between your palms. Collect in a basin or paper bag. They must stay dry; to retain avour and colour they are best stored in a container away from the light. They can be used directly in cooking, sprinkled in or on a shortbread mixture, scattered prettily through marmalades and jellies, or for infusing and flavouring sugars, salt and vinegar. Alternatively, they can be ground with other herbs or olive oil to extract more flavour, and used with meats or in sauces. They can also be used to blend with tea. Caroline sells specialist teas incorporating her lavender such as Lavender Grey and Sleepy Tea.
Lavender events & products

G 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). Its 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. G 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, Kent TN14 7UB. Tel: +44 (0)1959 523219. www.hopshop.co.uk
THE EDIBLE GARDEN

COOK YOUR OWN
Recipe 1 Roast beef with a lavender and coriander 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. G Take two teaspoons of coriander seed and crush with two teaspoons of lavender flower heads (dried as described opposite). G 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.
If you are starting out, choose a dark blue Lavandula angustifolia - it is the best variety to grow for aesthetics and home culinary use
Recipe 2 Lemon & lavender loaf 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 G Preheat the oven to 180C, and butter and flour a large loaf tin. G 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. G Spoon into the prepared tin and pop in the oven for 30-40 minutes, until springy and golden. G On the hob, gently melt the icing sugar into the lemons squeezed juice. G 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.
The English Garden
87
THE EDIBLE GARDEN

EATS & TREATS
Open season
Now that summer is here, villages and towns all over the country are opening their gardens for 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 years
PHOTOGRAPHS JASON INGRAM WORDS CLAIRE MASSET
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP 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.
heres something quintessentially British about opening your garden to the public. The tradition of welcoming fellow gardenlovers into your plot dates back to at least the 18th century. At Stowe near Buckingham, Lord Viscount Cobham opened his great and highly symbolic landscape garden to interested parties, producing the first ever garden guidebook in the process. The custom has continued ever since, gaining momentum in the 20th century with the foundation 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, its even more admirable. I cant help feeling moved by that wonderful war-time spirit 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 whats 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 of marketing the event. Every year, on the second weekend
88
The English Garden
The English Garden
89
Its a whole village thing. We try to involve as many people as possible - the Girl Guides, the schoolchildren, the Womens Institute, the church and the chapel
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 village on the edge of Bredon Hill hold an open gardens weekend that usually attracts about 1,500 visitors over two days. Last year, the event raised 10,000 for the local church and the community centre. Of the 700 or so residents, about 100 were involved in one way or another. Ashton under Hills mile-long main street is lined with chocolate-box black-and-white thatched farmhouses, red-brick Victorian cottages, a good sprinkling of picturesque stone cottages, and some modern housing at the end. Its a really mixed community, explains Malcolm, so we can show a whole range of different gardens. People see things that they can admire and also things they can relate to. Visitors tell us they take ideas away from the event. If you can take home one good idea - whether its about planting or layout or design or anything else - then in my book youve had your 4 worth.
But how on earth does such a big event ever get organised? Its a whole village thing, says Malcom. You have to carry people with you, and convey your enthusiasm even when its a dark, miserable day in February and people cant see that their garden could ever be open to the public. He and the rest of the small committee - usually about eight people - make sure they get the support of all the groups in the village. We try to involve as many people as possible. We include the Girl Guides, the children from the primary school and the middle school, the Womens Institute, the church and the chapel. Just about every village organisation is involved in some way. The biggest beneficiary is the villages Church of St Barbara, whose leaking roof has been in desperate need of repair. We had a wedding last year where we had to put a bucket where the brides mother usually sits! But the money also goes towards the village hall, the childrens playground, the playing field and the
90
The English Garden
THE EDIBLE GARDEN

EATS & TREATS
two village schools. People see that the community is benefiting 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 years event in early September. Its a bit like Chelsea - but with nowhere near the budget! Practical issues are also key. The pinchpoint is teas and toilets. And because some people come back year after year, we try to make each event slightly different. We open new gardens, have a different exhibition in the church and also invite different groups to exhibit. Last year, we had the RSPB, the Hereford and Worcester Master Composters - a very popular stall - and the local wildlife rescue centre. The event isnt purely about raising money, though. The villages prevailing attitude is one of warmth and openheartedness. You have to want to welcome people into your community. We are lucky here to live in a beautiful spot, and we enjoy sharing our village and its
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Visitors 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 oldfashioned roses; even the local pets are pleased to greet you to the village.
L
The English Garden
91
THE EDIBLE GARDEN

EATS & TREATS
beauty with visitors. Last year, coach parties came from as far as Staffordshire and Hampshire. We draw on a wide geographic area. Some people come back every year - its like greeting old friends. Last year, we had visitors from Holland, Canada and Hong Kong - all of them had seen our website while visiting Britain, and decided they wanted to come along. Perhaps unusually, the event manages to attract both young and old. A special activity sheet is handed out to anyone with children and there are other entertainments to keep them occupied, not least the very well-designed village playground. Last year, Malcolm recalls, a young visitor wrote a comment saying that the gardens were lovely but they enjoyed the playground best! As well as open gardens, theres live music in the church, performed by children from the middle school; garden-related displays by children from the primary school; afternoon teas at two separate venues; plant sales; a wildlife hunt for children; a local pub serving tempting fare; and even a large nursery (Rails End Nursery) to visit on the edge of the village, where you can select your plants and pick them up by car on your way home. Nine out of the 22 open gardens are accessible to wheelchair users, and theres even a free mini-bus service that drops people around the village. If you fancy a relaxing walk, one of the bigger gardens - Beauchamp House, with glorious Italianate fountains and colourful beds of perennials - is reached through dreamy meadows behind the church. The garden also offers panoramic views towards Dumbleton Hill. Back on the main street, Middle Farm is a large, lovingly tended plot with an immaculate knot garden, colourthemed formal borders, soothing stream and pond, and
92
The English Garden
Each of the gardens has something different to offer - meadows, rockeries, topiary, woodlands, potagers, orchards and lots of frothy borders
a large woodland garden-cum-arboretum. Further up the road, the Old Farmhouse is utterly charming - just like its owners, Alex and John Dodge. The centrepiece here is the herb garden, conveniently situated on a sun-soaked terrace near the house. But this too is a garden of many delights, with bold borders, quiet corners, an unexpected bog garden and thriving kitchen garden with greenhouses, fruits cages and more. When shes not busy gardening, Alex likes to make preserves, which she then sells during the open gardens weekend. I made nearly 200 jars last year, she says. Apart from the oranges for the marmalade, all the fruit is from our garden or from other gardens in the village. What isnt sold during the weekend, I sell in aid of St Richards Hospice in Worcester. Alex and John are passionate about their village, which they fell in love with the moment they first viewed their house some 13 years ago. Its a Hansel-and-Gretel-type timber-framed farmhouse, parts of which date back to the 16th century. They have been opening their garden for more than 10 years. John, an ex-lecturer at Birkbeck College, is a welcoming host. He enjoys talking to people, answering questions with wit and humour. We get such lovely visitors. A lot of them who come to see us live in towns and are really appreciative. They say thank 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 for backdrop, its powder blue windows offsetting the warm tones of the stone. But twee it is not: this unrestrained garden is visual candy for those who love natural-looking plots, where honeysuckle, cow parsley, foxgloves and giant angelicas are left, almost, to their own devices; where rambling and old-fashioned roses look as if theyve been there for centuries; and birds have colonised every tree and large shrub, their mellifluous song the perfect accompaniment to this horticultural effervescence. Of course, each of the gardens has something different to offer - youll find meadows, rockeries, topiary, woodlands, potagers, orchards and lots and lots of frothy borders. For anyone who loves visiting gardens, I cant think of a better way to spend a sunny afternoon. Youll come back with inspiration, maybe a few plants, a suntan, and quite possibly the glimmer of an idea to open your own garden some day very soon... Ashton under Hill Open Gardens will take place on 11 and 12 June 2011, 1-6pm. This years theme will be Grow Your Own. For details, see www.ashtonopengardens.co.uk
The English Garden
OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT St Barbaras 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.
93
SPECIAL OFFER
THE ENGLISH GARDEN INSURANCE OFFER
Great value, better cover: what could be simpler?
for The English Garden readers
10% discount
To help you protect your home and garden and save you money The English Garden has negotiated preferential rates with leading insurance brokers, SmithGreenfield. High Net Worth Insurance Cover can be very beneficial to readers whose homes are valued at over 250,000 or whose contents are worth more than 50,000
eaders of The English Garden may be able to save on their current premiums and improve the scope of their cover by
changing to a specialist High Net Worth Insurance
Cover via specialist broker SmithGreenfield Services. High Net Worth policies may often be cheaper as they are underwritten correctly. A standard insurer may assume that the more an individual owns, the greater the risk. The reality is that the people who own valuables take good care of them. High Net Worth policies offer you worldwide All Risks cover for contents; agreed value settlements on items of high value, and restoration and depreciation cover for antiques and fine art. Garden plants, statues and furniture can be included at generous limits. The English Garden is delighted to offer readers access to effective and bespoke insurance through SmithGreenfield, who will provide confidential quotations, advice and information at no charge. Readers also benefit from a 10% discount.
SPECIAL BENEFITS
G Specialist cover for garden plants, furniture and statuary G Worldwide All Risks cover for all your possessions G Cover includes new for old replacement G Prompt claims handling G Full accidental damage
For a free quote or more information, tel: 0844 873 3919 or visit www.smithgreenfield.co.uk and go to the private clients page
The English Home & Garden Insurance Offer is administered by SmithGreenfield Services PLC, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
G L A SS
RO O M S
G L A SS
H O U S E S
G L A SS
V E R A N DA S
AT R I U M S
There are Glass Rooms and there are Glass Rooms... And then there is Countrywide
Bespoke glass structures Precision engineered in Germany Full one stop service from planning to building works to completion Unbeatable range and quality Full Nationwide service
For a free colour brochure or a no-obligation survey telephone
0800 085 6277

or visit our website
www.countrywideltd.co.uk
CODE: EG6/11
A Huge Choice of Gates, Manual & Automated Call 01794 367 286 For Brochure or view on line.
Tripod ladders
The perfect solution for landscapers, tree surgeons & gardeners
Reaching the parts that are hard to reach

Tripods 3 legs, broad base and telescopic rear leg make them ideal for use on uneven ground, slopes and steps. They offer the perfect solution for pruning hedges due to their triangular footprint giving an easy working position and their stability which does not require a 2nd man to support it. Prices include delivery
Height feet 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 Price Ex VAT 104.55 140.50 166.25 214.70 237.40 295.10 354.40
Tel. 01228 591091 or visit www.terratree.co.uk
5% DISCOUNT
Order online & receive 5% discount using code: EG003 Please call or e-mail us for a complete ladder catalogue.
PLANT FOCUS
PENSTEMONS
Penstemon Ice Cream Series Blueberry Fudge
SUMMER SAVIOURS
Bright colourful penstemons add some good oldfashioned glamour to a border, says Anna Toeman
L
The English Garden
97
PLANT FOCUS
PENSTEMONS
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, semievergreen P heterophyllus . Catherine de la Mare; Port Wine reaches 90cm tall; Stapleford Gem flowers from June to the first frosts.
he rewards of growing penstemons are great, and given the right conditions (and these are specific but 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 greatly depends on the conditions in which they are growing. As a general guide, the tall broad-leaved cultivars are less hardy than the low-growing narrow-leaved varieties. While the former make splendid border specimens, the latter are often best grown as alpines or in raised beds, though their habit makes them useful at the front of a border too. Theyre available in every colour of the rainbow too, so you wont struggle to find the perfect one to suit your garden. For eye-catching reds Andenken an Friedrich Hahn, better known as Garnet, is an excellent choice. It quickly builds into a substantial plant with myriad wine-coloured flowers, while Schoenholzeri (better known as Firebird) is equally floriferous with carminered flowers that positively glow. With larger and broader blooms, P or t W i n e is much as you would expect - claret-red - but with a contrasting white throat with deep claret markings. At the other end of the spectrum, Countess of Dalkeith has deep purple
flowers with a clean white throat. Blackbird is a tall cultivar, and the willowy stems might need some support, but the deep red-purple flowers are definitely worth this extra effort; though Raven, with its shorter stems and luscious burgundy flowers, might be a better choice for a windy spot.
TRUE BLUE
Among the blue-purples available, Sour Grapes ranks highly. Unfortunately, an inferior-coloured variety has been sold under this name - but once the true one has been seen, second-best will never do. Some of the confusion arose through a variable cultivar called Stapleford Gem. Depending on the growing conditions, the flowers vary from dark blue to lilac. It is gorgeous in its own right, and even the darkest flowers are quite distinct from Sour Grapes. The best blue flowers appear in cultivars with Penstemon heterophyllus in their parentage. This is a Californian species, low-growing and ideal for the front of the border. The flowers are relatively small, often tinged with pink, and variable to the point where it is hard to decide whether they are blue or pink or both. Heavenly Blue has pale blue flowers tinted with magenta. In Catherine de la Mare, the tint has largely
98
The English Garden
PREVIOUS PAGE/GWI - GILES DELACROIX THIS PAGE, TOP LEFT/GWI - FLOWERPHOTOS:CAROL SHARP TOP RIGHT/GWI - GILES DELACROIX OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT/GWI- MARTIN HUGHES-JONES; GWI/PHILIP SMITH; GWI - MARTIN HUGHES-JONES; GWI - TREVOR SIMS
PLANT FOCUS
PENSTEMONS
CULTIVATION & PROPAGATION

G 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. G 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. G Penstemons are easy to look after once established, and all they need, apart from watering during lengthy dry periods, is regular deadheading. This isnt 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. G 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. G The surest way to keep favourite cultivars is to take stem cuttings in summer or early autumn, using nonflowering 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. G 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 15C and alpine species in a cold frame. G 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.
PLANT FOCUS
PENSTEMONS
WHERE TO SEE
G Kingston Maurward Gardens, Dorchester, Dorset DT2 8PY. Tel: +44 (0)1305 215000. www.kmc.ac.uk G Pershore College, Avonbank, Pershore, Worcestershire WR10 3JP Tel: +44 . (0)1386 552443. www.pershore.ac.uk G Rowallane Garden, Saintfield, Ballynahinch, Co Down BT24 7JA. Tel: +44 (0)2897 510131. www.nationaltrust.org.uk
WHERE TO BUY
G Agars Nursery, Agars Lane, Hordle, Lymington, Hampshire SO41 0FL. Tel: +44 (0)1590 683703. G Foxgrove Plants, Foxgrove, Enborne, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 6RE. Tel: +44 (0)1635 40554. www.foxgroveplants.co.uk G Hayloft Plants, Pensham, Pershore, Worcester WR10 3HB. Tel: +44 (0)1386 554440. www.hayloft-plants.co.uk G Pogs Penstemons, Drumterlie Farmhouse, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire DG8 6QG. Tel: +44 (0)1671 401666. www.pogspenstemons.co.uk G Westcountry Nurseries, Bideford, Devon EX39 5QH. Tel: +44 (0)1237 431111. www.westcountrylupins.co.uk
ABOVE You can cut back the seed heads of Apple Blossom after flowering to encourage a second flush.
disappeared to leave clear blue flowers, which blush purple with age. Pinks are represented in almost every shade imaginable, from blush to flamingo. P Devonshire . Cream is the colour of strawberry mousse, and is as delicious as it sounds; while P. A ppl e B lossom is a delicate shade of blush pink. Alice Hindley is a tall cultivar that might need some support in an exposed position, but the large pale mauve flowers are worth it. For something a little different, P. pinifolius has pine needle-like foliage, and vivid orange red flowers; and the cultivar Mersea Yellow is a gardenworthy yellow penstemon. There are also pure white penstemons, which stay a clean colour even as they age. White Bedder (previously known as Snow Storm) and Pensham Wedding Day, are the two most often seen.
WELL-BRED BEAUTIES
Penstemons are ideal subjects for hybridising. Many of the cottage-garden favourites were bred in Europe from Mexican species especially for garden cultivation. Work is still going on today all over the world, and new cultivars appear regularly, including seed strains such as Kaleidoscope Mix for growing as annuals, and the new colour collections such as the Ice Cream Series including Strawberries and Cream, Raspberry Ripple, Vanilla Plum and Blueberry Fudge.
100
The English Garden
However, hybridisation has taken this popular plant so far from its origins that it is hard to find varieties that closely resemble their forebears. A valuable exception is P. digitalis Husker Red, the beetroot-red leaves forming a basal rosette beneath red flower stems that 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 previous autumn, or they can be grown from seed sown during spring. The plants should be fully hardened-off before going out in late April or early May, when the danger of frost has passed. The earlier and quicker that plants can be established in their growing positions, the sooner they will come into flower. For plants that are to be kept into the next season (and although generally short-lived, they can last four to six years) all the top growth should be left on through winter. In spring, healthy plants will produce strong basal shoots, and when these are about 5cm long the old top growth can be cut back. If a plant produces weak basal shoots, or none at all, then it wont recover and it should be replaced. Whatever your circumstances, it ought to be possible to find a penstemon that will grow for your garden - in fact, the problem may be picking just one.
THIS PAGE/GWI- LEE THOMAS
1 760
gardening shear
*
Made in Germany
forged steel body teel d chromium-plated cutting head one handed thumb lock
One piece drop forging for the blades and handles
INC VAT
Tel. 01228 591091 91 or visit www.terratree.co.uk k
*This guarantee covers the one piece drop forgings in the tool, and not the spring or thumb lock. The Berger 1760 secateurs are guaranteed to be unbreakable during their working life and when in normal use. The guarantee does not cover deliberate abuse or accidental damage.
www.leadsigns.co.uk
Huge range of quality leadwork all made in England For a brochure call or click - 02392 870000 quote Eh04 online brochure www.redfields.co.uk
Feature & Rockery Stone Cobbles & Pebbles Pebble Dashing Adverse Weather Product Large Cobbles & Boulders Top Soil & Bark Slate Mulch, Paddlestones and Monoliths Garden Gravel & Chippings
P O T T E R Y
Photo by Liz Eddison
Hand-made English Flowerpots

with a 10 Year Frostproof Guarantee
Our designs are unique - ranging from the properly traditional to the completely new.
LANDSCAPING AGGREGATES FOR ALL YOUR PROJECTS:

Decorative aggregates to transform your garden into a place of tranquility and beauty direct from the source
Visit us and enjoy.... Our full range of owerpots Plants for Sale Stunning Courtyard Garden
Or, we can deliver to your door. Please contact us for a catalogue and full details of special gardening events.
Whichford Pottery, Whichford, Nr. Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire, CV36 5PG Tel: 01608 684416 www.whichfordpottery.com
www.stonewarehouse.co.uk
t: 01629 630139
THE ENGLISH GARDEN

READER OFFERS
FREE* Penstemons for every reader!

T hese popular hardy perennials deserve prime spots in the garden, w here they will return reliably, year after year. Send off for your free collection w orth 14.9 7 today - just pay 4. 50 for postage and six beautiful plants, two of each chosen variety, will be yours. And perhaps some of our other fantastic offers wi ll catch your eye too, including a worl d first, an exoti c beauty and bl ooms for butterfl ies...
FREE* Penstemon Royal Collection

Wedding Day produces creamy white flowers from summer all the way through to autumn. Princess has white flowers with velvety, mauve fringes. Westminster Belle (left) will brighten up your borders with purple blooms streaked with lines of white. Height: 90cm; spread: 45cm. Claim your six plants (worth 14.97) free - *just pay 4.50 to cover postage.
Verbascum Blue Lagoon

A world exclusive to Thompson & Morgan, Verbascum Blue Lagoon is the worlds first trueblue verbascum, the result of a unique breeding programme to create a shade very rarely seen in the garden. These astonishing plants are low maintenance and adapted to grow in poor, stony soil. One 7cm potted plant - 9.99 Two plants - only 12.98 SAVE 7!
Passiflora Collection
Grow tropical, evergreen passion flowers in your British garden. Pink Passion has superb pink blooms with contrasting white anthers; Azure Passion (right) is fully hardy, with sophisticated blue and white flowers; and Perfume Passion has beautiful blooms with the sweet scent of jasmine. Height: 4m; spread: 2m. 3 jumbo plugs - 10.99 6 jumbo plugs - 14.98 - SAVE 7!
Buddleja Buzz
Named Best New Plant Variety at The Grower of the Year Awards, Buzz is the worlds first container buddleja. An attractive, compact plant, loved by bees and butterflies. Smothered with blooms in summer, its perfect for terraces and small gardens. The collection comprises three colour varieties: magenta, lavender and ivory. Now only 14.98 (RRP 29.97) HALF PRICE!
ORDER BY PHONE: 0844 573 2020 Please quote EGA45. Phone lines open 7 days a week, 9am-8pm. (Minimum order value is 10 for telephone orders) ORDER BY POST: The English Garden Offers, Dept. EGA45, PO Box 99, Sudbury, CO10 2SN. Please make cheques payable to English Garden Offers. ORDER ONLINE: www.thompson-morgan.com/eg
THE ENGLISH GARDEN JUNE OFFER - EGA45

Please send me Penstemon Royal Collection 6 plants FREE!
Offer limited to one gift per reader
Method of payment
Quantity 1 Price FREE 9.99 12.98 10.99 14.98 14.98 Total
(for delivery purposes only) ...................................................... Postcode ...........................
Code 93237 91826 92315 91923 93091 90090
Total 4.50 postage
Cheques payable to The English Garden Offers OR (Please delete as applicable) Cheque/Maestro/Mastercard/Visa
Name .................................................................................. Address ............................................................................... .......................................................................................................
Verbascum Blue Lagoon 1 plant Verbascum Blue Lagoon 2 plants SAVE 7 Passiflora Collection 3 jumbo plugs Passiflora Collection 6 jumbo plugs SAVE 7 Buddleja Buzz Collection HALF PRICE
Telephone ............................................................................. Card number........................................................................

(Maestro only)
Free* Penstemon collection dispatched from June 2011. All other orders will be acknowledged with a dispatch date. Delivery to UK addresses only. If in the event of unprecedented demand this offer is oversubscribed, 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 to UK mainland residents only.
Expiry date ..................................... Issue no ...................... Signature....................................................... ......................

103
The English Garden
SPECIALISTS IN THE SUPPLY OF QUALITY SPECIMEN AND SCREENING TREES
Professional landscape services, coupled with unrivalled customer satisfaction over 30 years
We create landscapes to suit every garden and gardener, from bespoke individual trees and hedges to prestigious UK projects for designers, architects and property developers. Our tree nursery is a fantastic shop window of specimen trees and we are one of the few to stock containerised large trees. We offer a thorough design service taking you from the initial idea, to installation and after sale care.
PRACTICALITY BROWN Ltd

Iver Stud, Iver, Buckinghamshire SL0 9LA Tel: 01753 652022 Fax: 01753 653007 Email: sales@pracbrown.co.uk www.pracbrown.co.uk
PLANTS
CONFETTI
ABOVE Colourful swathes of delphiniums as far as the eye can see greet summer visitors to The Real Flower Petal Company near Pershore.
Something blue
A 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 product
PHOTOGRAPHS TORIE CHUGG WORDS JACKIE BENNETT
ummer is the time for weddings, and with the recent royal event still fresh in everyones minds, the month of June is sure to be all about brides walking down the aisle. It was after one such wedding 12 years ago that farmer Charles Hudson found himself contemplating the soggy, papery mess around the lych gate of his own local church, near Pershore in Worcestershire. Sad, he thought, that the tradition of showering the bride with rice and fresh flowers had given way to confetti that litters the ground and is often now banned altogether. Arriving home to Wyke Manor, he happened to notice a vase filled with flowers, which were shedding their petals prettily onto the long, polished table. An idea began to form in his mind. Why not create real flower-petal confetti that would be home-grown, biodegradable
and totally natural? He could create something that churches and other wedding venues might allow, because it would die away naturally, just like fallen leaves. With 1,000 acres of arable land that his family had farmed for generations, Charles was keen to find something to reinvigorate the farm business. I started with just a couple of acres, trying out different flowers that I thought would work, including nigella, marigolds and roses, says Charles. Surprisingly, roses were the blooms that worked least well. Rose petals are heavy, he explains, and for confetti you want something that will float on the breeze. Brides want that picture of being surrounded by clouds of confetti. The surprise winner was delphiniums. They have lots and lots of individual florets on a stem, and they keep their shape and colour
The English Garden
105
PLANTS
CONFETTI
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.
in a huge range of colours, they are able to match whatever colour when dried. The annual Delphinium ajacis Sublime Series, bred in schemes the bride has in mind. Though I am a bit out of my depth France, has proved the most successful on the farm. when it comes to whats fashionable, he says. But the customers We sow seed in succession from autumn to spring, and keep the tell us what they want and we try and provide it. Bougainvillea is rows hand-weeded to give the flowers the best chance. Even with another (albeit indoor) flower that works well, with lovely and light successional sowing, they all tend to flower together. From 15 June, petals in pink or white. Roses are still picked and preserved, but we harvest non-stop, says Charles. because they are heavy, they work best strewn across tablecloths or The flowers have to be picked within 10 days of flowering, so for petal paths. like a grape harvest, teams of The petals can be packed skilled workers are drafted Rose petals are heavy, and for confetti you want in a number of ways, which in. The flowers must be dry something that will float on the breeze all adds to the charm and when picked, so this means rusticity of the product. doing it late in the day - and Parchment paper cones filled with petals can be given out to guests, rain can play havoc with the crop. Some flowers have the petals picked handed out by flower girls who carry baskets of them. They are individually, while others are cut as stalks and taken indoors to dry. They also available in voile bags, pretty envelopes and by the pint - a are either dried by hanging the stalks from barn rafters in the traditional pint, apparently, is enough for 10 handfuls or sufficient to sprinkle way, letting the petals fall; or they are spread out on trays in the lightly over three tables of 10, according to Charles. greenhouses. We then clean off the seedheads, foliage and any other If you happen to live near Worcestershire and fancy an outing to bugs or undesirables, and the flowers are ready for packing. Theres no the farm this summer, you will be rewarded with glorious fields of blue, spraying or freeze-drying involved, just a slow three-week drying period. pink, white and red delphiniums. Next door to the Elizabethan manor Charles has experimented with plenty of other blooms, including house, the old stables have become the office where potential customers cornflowers, which have lovely shaggy petals. With petals available
106
The English Garden
NORTON GARDEN STRUCTURES

Summerhouses - Pergolas - Arbour Seats - Trellis Obelisks - Bridges - Fencing - Garden Art
OCTAGONAL OAK PLANTER
01243 607690
www.nortongardenstructures.co.uk
When youre away, whos cutting the lawn?

Imagine never having to cut your lawn again. Our range of automatic lawn mowers saves you time, effort and even money. They will cut even when youre away from home.
No need to collect the clippings Cuts the lawn automatically A model to suit every lawn Simple, safe and affordable Fully weather proof
No more spending your weekends mowing the lawn.

nd a e5 FF m O ve sa e 5% er! d v te uo ecei ur or Q r yo
It mows.You dont.
To view our full range of automatic mowers, to suit any lawn, visit us at www.robomow.co.uk or call us on 0845 123 5844.
PLANTS
CONFETTI
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 an Despite claiming to know nothing of fashion, Charles eye for a order. Traditional mail order is still going strong, but in the past few years trend might just be a bit keener than he is letting on. He has noticed internet sales have grown, and now 90% of customers use the website that in among the rows of delphiniums that there is an occasional to order. Because the petals are light, they are very popular with couples electric blue that catches the eye. I have been selecting and cross going abroad to get married, as they can just be popped in a suitcase. pollinating these ones, and soon I hope to have a flower that is Of our 1,000 acres where we still grow wheat and other arable absolutely unique - and hopefully these blue beauties will be the crops, only 10 acres are given petals that everyone wants. over to growing flowers - yet The winning combination Its lovely for the family that they can keep a small they provide 50% of our of the petals being a natural bag of petals as a memory of a big day business, says Charles. It has product and one that is proved so popular that we produced locally attracted now employ five people all year round just on the flower side. His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and Her Royal Highness The beauty of the flower petals dried in this way is that they keep. Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall, who chose to have real flower My mother has a bowl of petals on her piano that I gave her five years petals for their own wedding day in 2005. At the time of writing, ago and they are still in good condition. It is lovely for the family the team were waiting to hear if they would also be supplying the that they can keep even a small bag of petals picked that summer as wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. If so, brides a memory of a big day, he says. everywhere are sure to want to follow suit. 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 packing The Real Flower Petal Confetti Company, Wyke Manor, Wick, room tell me that purple and lilac are the choice colours for summer Pershore, Worcestershire WR10 3NZ. Tel: +44 (0)1386 555045. 2011. After that, its anyones guess. www.confettidirect.co.uk
108
The English Garden
Our best-selling music system

Now for iPhone and iPod
Shown in Titanium Silver without hideaway DAB module. iPod not included
The Wave music system - DAB with connect kit for iPhone and iPod
Just plug it in and hear what youve been missing. The Bose Wave music system - DAB is like no other audio system. Designed to be compact and discreet enough to fit almost anywhere, advanced acoustic technologies inside the system work together to fill the room with the acclaimed performance that has made Bose one of the most respected names in sound. Stuff magazine says The Wave is probably Boses cleverest act of shrinkage so far With no dials to adjust, everything you need is included: a CD/MP3-CD player, DAB/FM/AM tuner, stereo speakers, clock and alarm all controlled by a convenient credit card-sized remote. And with an additional connect kit for your iPhone or iPod its quite possibly all the hi-fi youll ever need.

A room full of sound not equipment. You buy a sound system to listen to music not to spend hours positioning cables and setting it up. With a Wave music system - DAB you can experience true, Bose-quality sound within moments of opening the box. The sound is punchy and impressive ... its ability to fill a room is quite astonishing ... all one could want from a system of this kind, says Gramophone magazine.
Try it for 30 days, risk free. Its easy to add Bose performance to your iPhone or iPod music. Just purchase our award-winning Wave music system - DAB and receive a free Wave connect kit for iPhone and iPod. Hear it for yourself and enjoy a 30-day, RISK-FREE audition in comfort of your own home theres absolutely no risk and no obligation.

How do we do it? Its all down to patented waveguide speaker technology. Concealed within a compact, shoebox-sized case is some of our most advanced acoustic engineering. The result? Room-filling sound for your iPhone/iPod, CDs and radio: Two tapered waveguides create from precise, defined highs richer, more lifelike sound. Available only from Bose. to the richest, deepest lows.
Compatible with all iPhones and most iPod models including iPod touch and all iPods that feature a click wheel: nano, mini, photo, video and classic models.
Shown in Graphite Grey with hideaway DAB module
Shown in Platinum White with hideaway DAB module
Call now to ask how you can receive a FREE Wave connect kit for iPhone and iPod worth 99 when you order before 20th June 2011
Call free on 0800
081 3520 today

*
(iPod not included)
Bring every song on your playlists to life in room-filling Bose sound. The dock plays and charges your iPhone/iPod while a custom remote controls both your Wave music system and navigates your iPhone/iPod.
quoting reference 17435 and find out more about our: 30-day, risk-free home trial Easy interest-free instalment plan
Mon-Fri: 9.00am 6.30pm Sat & Sun: 10.00am 5.00pm
Visit: www.bose.co.uk/wms
Text Bose17435 to 84118
Or for a free information pack
*Instalment plan available on credit / debit cards only and is subject to status. An initial deposit is due at the time of order and payments will be charged to your credit / debit card. There will be no interest charges from Bose but in the event of late payment credit / debit card company charges may apply. Price/Payment Plan/free Wave connect kit for iPhone and iPod offer subject to change without notice. If the product is returned FREE Wave connect kit for iPhone and iPod must also be returned for a full refund. Offers may not be combined with any previous offer or applied to previous purchases. 2011 Bose Corporation. All rights reserved. Risk-free refers to 30-day home trial. Wave music system is a registered trademark of Bose Corporation in the US and other countries. iPod and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc. Quotes reprinted with permission: Gramophone magazine 08/2005, Stuff magazine 12/2006. DAB Digital Radio used with permission of Digital One Ltd. The DAB Digital Radio logo and the stylised r mark and Digital One Ltd. The connect kit is compatible with all iPhone and most iPod models. In the event of audio interference, set iPhone to Airplane Mode. Registered in England no 1187672. Registered Office: Bose Ltd, 1 Ambley Green, Gillingham Business Park, Gillingham, Kent ME8 0NJ.
PLANTS
IRISES
Like father, like daughter

Claire Austin has collected more than 600 different iris varieties, with over 400 varieties available for sale, and opens her Shropshire nursery to the public just a few days a year
PHOTOGRAPHS MICHELLE GARRETT WORDS JACKY HOBBS
PLANTS
IRISES
OPPOSITE PAGE Claire picks Iris Before the Storm ABOVE, FROM LEFT . Godfrey Owen has a strong lemon scent; the tall bearded iris cultivar, Going My Way; 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 nurserys fields in June.
lazing her own horticultural trail, Claire Austins completion of art school coincided with her fathers early success with English roses. Needing room to expand, David Austin discarded a small but special iris collection, which Claire grabbed with both hands, and literally set about growing her own business. Though favouring bearded irises, she has embraced the genus passionately - collecting, travelling, trialling, growing and bringing together a glorious jewel box of iris species and varieties from around the world. Unsurprisingly, she is a respected authority on the subject, and her book Irises, A Gardeners Encyclopaedia is considered to be somewhat of a bible; and winning a prized Chelsea Gold medal last year confirmed she has a well-trained, artistic eye. In 2009, she introduced 63 new varieties, and unveils more new cultivars at this years show, including Cranberry Sauce, plush cranberry with a golden throat; and Guatemala, a smoky vintage-looking variety. She will also show 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 new varieties that are distinctly different. She also has her own designs - patient work in progress, hand-pollinating to increase the occurrence of purple-stained foliage and sheaths (as seen in Around Midnight and Best Bet) or spontaneously match-making floral parents in the 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 with good form, poise, even spacing and branching, with abundant flower buds. Petals must have substance, which intensifies colour and affords resistance to sun and wind blasting. Fragrance varies too. Most are divine, but a few are deadly, says Claire. I love the varieties with lemon, chocolate, honey and spicy scents. She concentrates on flamboyant bearded iris varieties, characterised by a cavalcade of colours, with furry caterpillar-like beards emanating from the falls shoulder, or haft. This large group is subdivided by height into six further groups, which tend to flower in ascending
The English Garden
111
PLANTS
IRISES
Claire sources from breeders and, like an art dealer, she has her favourites - I try to select new varieties that are distinctly different. She concentrates on flamboyant bearded iris varieties, characterised by a cavalcade of colours, with furry caterpillar-like beards
height order. They all love well-drained soils in a sunny spot, as the sun is needed to bask the exposed, flower-producing rhizomes. The sandy soils of the adjoining sun-baked fields here are perfect for growing irises, Claire says. Iris production is hard graft, but luckily Claire found the perfect partner in her husband Ric, an Australian horticulturist she met on a bus in Florida. They pull together at the nursery - Ric takes care of the 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 work at the nursery. The plants are vegetatively propagated by division, and it is no mean feat to lift, divide and trim 50,000 plants, and then replant the stock after packing off orders. Claire grows predominantly for the British climate, encompassing beardless irises too. The daintier sibirica irises are popular in damper, shadier gardens; Japanese irises, with their solid, flat flowers set upon stiff stems, are suitable as marginals; while unguicularis types are evergreen and put on a splendid winter show. Theres an iris for absolutely every garden occasion, she declares. Claire invites the public visit to view her specimens at their peak at the end of May and beginning of June, to give a stunning and rare glimpse of hundreds of different varieties at their floral best - the perfect opportunity to select 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; 10am4pm. Tel. +44 (0)1939 251173. www.claireaustin-hardyplants.co.uk
112
The English Garden
CLAIRES TIPS FOR BEARDED IRIS CARE

G 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. G Plant in well-drained soil, not too acidic. G 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. G Irises are best planted bare-rooted; Claire sends plants out when dormant, to produce root growth in spring and autumn. G Avoid unsightly leaf spot by clearing away old/diseased foliage, or treating with a fungicide.
Unusual Herbs Online

www.uk-herbs.com
Whether you are planting a medieval or knot garden, planning a kitchen garden, or require medicinal or dyer's herbs - Iden Croft specialise in the unusual. Beautiful variegated and creeping thyme, 12 varieties of lavender and even chocolate mint - all available online and posted to you within 5 working days. We are holders of the NCCPG National collection of Mentha, Origanum and Nepeta. Visit our lovely walled garden or request a brochure.
IDEN CROFT HERBS, FRITTENDEN RD STAPLEHURST, KENT TN12 0DH TEL: 01580 891432 idencroftherbs@yahoo.co.uk
Reader Offe r 5 off orders over 50
Vases
01284 789666 Italianterrace.co.uk
Urns
Plaques
Statuary
Traditional Morris Dancing
Rousham House
Blenheim Palace
Steeped in history, rich in heritage and awash with natural beauty, the Oxfordshire Cotswolds epitomises all that is fine in rural England. Beautiful rolling countryside, historic market towns, amazing attractions and Cotswold stone villages make this an irresistible destination to visit. As an area of outstanding natural beauty theres no better place to get away from it all and enjoy great days out in the countryside. With walking and cycling routes a plenty theres many a great opportunity to explore designated routes or even undiscovered adventures. If history and heritage are your desire then why not explore the World Heritage Site that is Blenheim Palace or Kelmscott Manor the Country home of the great William Morris, leader of the Arts and Crafts movement. Also there is Chastleton House where the rules of croquet were first recorded, the mystical Neolithic Rollright Stones and the haunting remains of Minster Lovell Hall. For days out with the family why not visit the famous Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens or the Oxford Bus Museum and Morris Motors. While the Oxfordshire Cotswolds takes great pride in its unique heritage, the area is very much alive and offers an intriguing mix of theatres, festivals, a year round events programme, restaurants (including its own Brewery!) and shopping. Those in search of cultural pursuits and the good things in life will find plenty of activities to keep them entertained. With so much to see, do and explore the Oxfordshire Cotswolds is a great destination for a short break, longer stay or even a day trip. A range of accommodation awaits you from traditional hotels to magical self catering hideaways, the area has it all. With the delightful market towns of Burford, Woodstock, Witney and Chipping Norton on your door step and award winning villages like Kingham too its a fantastic place to stay and explore and an ideal touring base for Oxford, Stratford and London.
Great Tew
Witney
We look forward to welcoming you to the Oxfordshire Cotswolds!

For more information:
01993 823558 Email: tourism@westoxon.gov.uk

Call: Visit:
Minster Lovell Hall
www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org
Approved Travel
Seven days from only 589pp
Recommended Escorted Tours
Classical Spain
Seville, Cordoba & Granada
Selected departures up to October 2011
Andalucia is one of the most beautiful corners of Europe, where the excesses of modern life do not seem to have taken root and travellers are welcomed as honoured guests. Immortalised by the writings of Ernest Hemingway and beloved by Orson Welles, it is the Spain of Carmen, Figaro and Flamenco. Rich with the legacies of the Moors and Romans, its charm and serenity will captivate you. Fully escorted price includes: Return flights to Malaga from London Gatwick, Birmingham, Cardiff, East Midlands, Leeds/Bradford, Luton, Manchester or Southampton Six nights bed and breakfast at excellent quality three and four-star hotels, staying in Seville, Granada and Mijas Experience unspoiled Andalucia, perhaps the most Spanish province in the country Guided tour of Seville Guided tour of the stunning Alhambra Palace in Granada Visit to Cordoba home to the Mezquita - one of the finest mosques ever built Visit to Ronda - one of the most spectacularly situated cities in Spain Services of an experienced tour manager
Dubrovnik, the Dalmatian Coast and Montenegro

Selected departures up to October 2011
Croatia is one of Europes best-kept secrets. Ruled by the Romans, Byzantines, Venetians and the Hapsburgs, all have left their legacies. This matchless blend of history, Mediterranean ambience, with truly stunning natural beauty, refreshingly free from tasteless development, is again on the discerning travellers map.
Fully escorted price includes: Return flights to Dubrovnik or Split from London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Birmingham, East Midlands, Leeds/Bradford, Edinburgh or Manchester Seven nights three and four-star, half-board hotel accommodation Tour of Dubrovnik, Pearl of the Adriatic Visit to Krka National Park and its stunning waterfalls Visit to Mostar, setting of the famous bridge Tour to Montenegro, one of the most beautiful countries of the Mediterranean Visit to Split and tour of the Emperor Diocletians monumental palace, one of the greatest Roman structures in eastern Europe Visit to medieval Trogir Services of an experienced tour manager
Eight day s half-boar d from only 779pp
In association with
For a free brochure please call
01283 523431
or to book please visit www.engriviera.co.uk
Holidays organised by Riviera Travel, ABTA V4744 ATOL 3430 protected, a company independent of Archant Ltd. Holidays are offered subject to availability. Prices based on per person sharing a twin room, single rooms available at a supplement. Travel insurance not included but strongly recommended. For additional information please contact Riviera Travel, New Manor, 328 Wetmore Road, Burton upon Trent, Staffs DE14 1SP.
BOOKS
Library leaves
Weve a great mix of topics to entice you this month, with our selection including design, plants, bees and garden management
DESIGN GARDEN: RANDLE SIDDELEY

(Frances Lincoln, 50) Carrying a hefty price even for a hardback, I am still trying to work out who this book is aimed at; is it a coffee-table classic or bound for the studio bookshelf? On first impression, one gets the feeling it might be a tad indulgent, created as a kind of catalogue glorifying the wonderful career of Randle Siddeley in a look-at-me-arent-Imarvellous kind of way. And isn't he marvellous? With an enviable client list and successful career spanning 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 eighthectare 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 -40C 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 ones nerves: the tone. The book is edited by design journalist 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; feng-shui. There is even a valuable chapter on garden lighting written by lighting wizard Sally Storey. The book includes some of Randles 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
116
The English Garden
BOOKS IMAGE/KELLY WEECH MAIN IMAGE, FROM GARDEN/MARIANNE MAJERUS
This is a wonderful account of some fantastic projects and how Randle has provided design solutions to address various situations
Other books out this month
TERRARIUM CRAFT
(Timber Press, 9.99)
THE RESILIENT GARDENER

(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.
Weve had Kirsty Allsop knitting,
PHLOX
(Timber Press, 35) Subtitled A Natural History and Gardeners 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.
THE GARDENERS YEAR MADE EASY

(Which?, 10.99) A month-by-month guide to gardening, absolutely bursting with information on flowers, fruit, veg, pests, projects and more.
sewing, printing, metalworking and such, and Im 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.
REFERENCE THE BEE GARDEN

(Spring Hill, 16.99) My parents cottage garden on a sunny spring day seems an ideal place to read Maureen Littles book, which promises to explain how to create or adapt a garden to attract and nurture bees. Ive 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 mornings 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 books 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 gardenloving friends and, of course, family. Cinead McTernan, deputy editor
We plan to spend retirement creating wide borders and intricate planting... Then we get old and its hard to manage ADVICE GARDENING FOR A 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 its 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. Its more than a story - its 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. Id 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 its a relief to find a book that tackles this very real issue head on. Definitely a book that youll pass around gardening friends. Tamsin Westhorpe, editor
FOR GREAT OFFERS ON THESE BOOKS AND FREE UK DELIVERY, VISIT OUR NEW BOOKSHOP AT WWW.EFCBOOKSHOP .COM/TEG OR TEL: +44 (0)1872 562327
Railtrail Tours
CORNWALL & EDEN EXPLORER 4
days
Railtrail Tours
HIGHLAND RAIL VOYAGER
days
325
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 DEPARTURES: APRIL OCTOBER
Fares from
315
Roam the glorious Highlands on a Great railway journey of the world to Kyle of Lochalsh, and the stunning scenic line to The Far North.
Fares from
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
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.
Railtrail Tours over 30 years of exploring beautiful Britain, taking clients on the best railway holidays ever.
www.railtrail.co.uk
Tel: 01538 382323
www.railtrail.co.uk
Tel: 01538 382323
...a breath of fresh air
The UKs premier waterfront destination Miles of sea views, centuries of history Fascinating museums, famous historic ships, inspiring cathedrals and entertaining attractions
Call for your free visitor guide ref: HM11
+44 (0)23 9288 3545

www.visitportsmouth.co.uk
shopping
dining
history
relaxing
BOOKS
n exclamation-laden message came from a writer friend the other day, full of excitement at seeing her new book Tea and Tea Drinking not just on the shelves at a big bookshop, but on a large, dressed display to promote it. This was up on a par with her being interviewed on Womens Hour on Radio 4 - an expression of success and recognition, every writers dream. Of course, these high points come at the end of incredible slog, the truth of all those pithy phrases about the craft being 99% something awful to do with sweating, and 1% your own creative ability - and yet many of us still yearn to write that one book they say is in all of us, and bask in that glory that must, we believe, beat the usual humdrum triumphs like weeding a border, meeting a deadline or fixing the washing machine. Perhaps the book could be about weeding a border, meeting deadlines or fixing machines - they say to write what you know. Though I highly doubt Ms Rowling was a Quidditch champion when she started out. She was, however, rejected by publishers countless times, just like other famous authors such as Rudyard Kipling (Im sorry Mr. Kipling, but you just dont know how to use the English language) and George Orwell (It is impossible to sell animal stories in the USA), as well as Stephen King, John Grisham and Judy Blume. Robert Persigs Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance was allegedly turned down 121 times. 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 paid a visit to Anne Wareham recently as her book, The Bad Tempered Gardener, was being sent out to newspapers and magazines. Creator of the gardens at Veddw House in Wales, she considers herself on the fringe of the garden media world. Her book tells the story of the making of her garden (above) and her attitudes to all sorts of things from Alchemilla mollis and show gardens to working in TV Rather . than writing chapters in an ongoing story, Anne
of earth & ink

Getting published
WORDS STEPHANIE MAHON
For several days after my first book was published, I carried it about in my pocket and took surreptitious peeps at it to make sure the ink had not faded. J.M. Barrie
chose to structure the book as a series of short pieces on these different topics, making it perfect for dipping in and out of as the reader wishes. It is very hard sitting waiting for reviews, she admits. Its feeling quite oppressive at the moment. It takes so long to get published - 18 months from when I handed in the manuscript. I use Twitter, and Ive got used to an instant response when I put something up online. Anne, a self-proclaimed troublemaker, isnt sure what to expect, but is happy to have fulfilled the reasons for creating the book. I wanted the freedom to write freely, she explains. Theres the sort of thing you are expected to write for magazines and newspapers about gardens, and Id done it, and I was fed up with it, so I decided to say what I wanted to say. This is her first book, but Anne is no stranger to reviews and criticism, through her garden, and wishes more of us would consider the two art forms in the same way. Ive invited people to be critical of this garden from the start, and as a result weve changed things and had heartbreaking times. You put your heart and soul just as much into making a garden as you do into writing a book, putting yourself out there to be ravaged or ignored. The difference isnt big, but we dont put gardens in that category. People who go to concerts and galleries dont visit gardens with the same sort of seriousness. She lauds the land of blogging for beginning to change this attitude, though says she is not interested in having her own blog, and is instead thinking about perhaps writing another book, this time an honest look at plants. And so, nervous of what is to come, but with her banner held high, Anne storms off into the future to pursue her goal of giving gardening, well, a bit more of an edge. The Bad Tempered Gardener, published by Frances Lincoln (16.99), is out now.
I L L U S T R AT I O N / J O H N C A M P B E L L M A I N I M A G E / T H E V E D D W - C H A R L E S H AW E S
The English Garden
119
GARDEN
In the JULY issue
THE ENGLISH
THE FULL PACKAGE

Everything you need for the perfect English summer
WITH 5 FANTASTIC FLOWERFUL GARDENS
G Sarah Raven on attracting
native beneficial insects G Growing and cooking summer fruit G Companion planting inspiration G Plants for a prairie-style border G Toby Buckland on coastal plants G Shopping ideas for green-fingered kids
PLUS FREE* Perennials Collection for every

reader - Seasonal tips from a National Trust Head Gardener - cutting scissors on trial
JULIA STANLEY
On sale 15 June 2011

Sold in selected Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and WH Smith
*just pay postage
ADVERTORIAL
1 2
GARDEN WILDLIFE
Attract a range of wildlife to your garden but keep pesky pests at bay with our top selection of bird and bee friendly products
HERITAGE GARDEN TRADERS
SOLID OAK BIRD FEEDING TABLE Feed the birds with this beautiful bird feeding table and stand. It is made from solid oak timber which is FSC certified. There are 4 separate sections which come out so that you can easily fill with different seeds with pegs around the sides to hang fat balls or other treats. This is a very heavy and sturdy item so will last for years. You will be amazed how many birds will visit your garden when you install this wonderful bird feeding table. 150.00 + 4.99 P&P visit www.heritagegardentraders.co.uk or contact us at info@heritagegardentraders.co.uk or call Rebecca on 07832138704
NATURESCAPE
NATIVE BRITISH WILDFLOWERS Naturescape understands that the best way to attract nature into a garden is by introducing native species of plants, shrubs and trees. Growing wildflowers gives an opportunity to get closer to, and enjoy wildlife in its natural surroundings. The wild flower farm extends to over 40 acres and is open to the public to stroll amongst and enjoy the large areas of wildflowers and the wildlife it attracts. Home-baked refreshments are available, but visitors are welcome to bring a picnic. email info@naturescape.co.uk or sales@naturescape.co.uk Tel: 01949 860592 Fax: 01949 869047
CHAPELWOOD
FEED THE BIRDS THIS SUMMER WITH CHAPELWOOD. ChapelWood is one company that recognises the importance of feeding the birds all year round, which is why the company has developed the most comprehensive wild bird care range on the market. Henry Corbett, ChapelWoods brand manager, said: Summer marks a particularly busy time for our wild birds, with many using up to 10 times more energy than in winter! From breeding to moulting, our wild birds require a significant amount of energy. Our range of energy boosting, nutritionally balanced foods has been designed to provide them with much needed nourishment throughout the summer months. Visit: www.chapelwoodwildlife.com or Telephone: 01905 791984
SLUG RINGS
THE MODERN ANSWER TO SAFE PLANT PROTECTION Made in England from solid copper and elegantly designed to blend in to any garden, Slug Rings are a highly effective slug and snail barrier, a safe and wildlife friendly alternative to slug pellets and sprays. They are guaranteed 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 and are the modern answer to safe plant protection. Tel: 01225 851524 Visit: www.slugrings.co.uk
ADVERTORIAL
Summer gardens to enjoy

The best UK gardens to visit right now
THE GARDEN SHOW AT STANSTED PARK
Rowlands Castle, Hampshire PO9 6DX. 10th-12th June

Specialist plantsmen and designers invite enthusiasts to share their vision of beautiful gardens and homes and replant their future! A wide range of gardening products, sculpture, art, gifts, country food, wines and complementary therapies in one accessible location. With recycling workshops, Plant Doctor, Medicine Garden, much to entertain the children and a chance to explore Stansteds stunning parklands, get lost in its new maze 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.
NEWBY HALL
To pre-book contact Chichester Tickets on 01243 813595 or chichestertickets.co.uk Tel: 01243 586323 www.thegardenshowonline.com
Newby Hall, Ripon North Yorkshire, HG4 5AE Tel: 01423 322583 opt 3 email: info@newbyhall.com web: www.newbyhall.com
Newby Hall's 25 acres of award winning gardens include superb double herbaceous borders, flanked by smaller compartmented gardens. A national collection of Cornus (dogwood) is held at Newby and 2011 sees the launch of a new free publication, to guide visitors through this stunning range of shrubs and small trees. Many of the rare and beautiful plants found in the gardens are on sale at the plant stall. For further details, tickets and events visit our new website www.newbyhall.com
OPENING TIMES: 1st April 25th September 2011, Tue Sun and bank holidays, every day in July /August.
WADDESDON MANOR GARDENS
Waddesdon, Nr. Aylesbury Buckinghamshire HP18 0JH. Tel: 01296 653226 Email: waddesdonmanor@nationaltrust.org.uk www.waddesdon.org.uk
This National Trust property has one of the finest Victorian gardens in Britain to be enjoyed any time of the year. Its main features include a parterre, seasonal displays, intricate carpet bedding, fountains, statuary, parkland, contemporary sculpture, a woodland playground and an aviary housing many exotic birds. Guided walks take place daily from April to September. There is also a restaurant, cafe, shops and plant centre. Something for everyone.
Thirty
ABBOTSBURY SUBTROPICAL GARDENS
Bullers Way, Abbotsbury, Dorset DT3 4LA, Tel: 01305 871387 Web: www.abbotsburygardens.co.uk
These Grade one listed gardens boast collections of exotic plants and trees from all over the world. Many of these were first introductions to this country.
Carole Drake
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)
OPEN Wednesday-Sunday and Bank Holiday mondays 10.00-5.00. The Manor is open on the same days from 12.00-4.00. For admission charges phone 01296 653226 or visit www.waddesdon.org.uk
BROCHURE DIRECTORY
To receive a brochure this month from any of the listed companies please complete and return the coupon to the stated address or email brochurerequest@theenglishgarden.co.uk with your requests.
1. PADDOCK FENCING Enclose all your livestock including cattle, horses, deer and sheep. With an all steel construction this fencing is easy to fix in place. End posts/corner posts extra. Bowtop Gates to match fencing available. Price list available on request. French Drove Farm, French Drove, Thorney, Peterborough, PE6 0QP T: 01733 270580 W: www.paddockfencing.com
2. KIRKLEES DEVELOPMENTS Prestigious 6 burner stainless steel Gas barbecue with flush fitting side burner. Supplied with warming rack, hose and propane reg and overnight cover. Cupboard underneath for cooks tools and accessories. Part of the exclusive range of catering size barbecues and hog roasters designed to make you the envy of your friends and a star chef. Ask for brochure. Tel: 01484 401134 Email: keith@kdev.co.uk www.kdev.co.uk
3. MOHICAN WIND HARPS is a builder/designer of outdoor metal harp sculptures that sing in the breeze! Our harps are for residential or commercial applications, we will also do special designs to meet customer specs. For shipping to UK add $70. See our video on YouTube.
4. Q LAWNS Q Lawns specialise in growing top quality, hardwearing turf for gardens of all shapes and sizes. Come to Q Lawns for advice on creating and maintaining a beautiful lawn and for sensible prices.
5. WIGGLY WIGGLERS We're not just worms! - Wiggly Wigglers has 2000 plus products to Make the Good Life Easy... From composting kits, through to goat socks... from mushroom logs to Ecover and British Birdseed, not exactly a farm shop, not quite a garden centre, we are most definitely.... Wiggly! 01981 500391 www.wigglywigglers.co.uk wiggly@wigglywigglers.co.uk
001-419-368-3415 www.mohicanwindharps.com dan@mohicanwindharps.com
01842 828266 www.qlawns.co.uk
6. ARTIZANO Artizano provide a stunning range of Italian, hand-painted stone tables. Each one is individually crafted to each customers requirements and is signed by the artist who painted it. Beautiful in appearance, the tables are also practical. Suitable for use both indoors and outside, they are non-porous, easy to clean and both frost and heat resistant. 01732 822822 www.artizano.co.uk e-mail: info@artizano.co.uk
PLEASE MENTION
To order up to four of the featured brochures, please indicate the panel numbers 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: brochurerequest@theenglishgarden.co.uk
7. BETH RUSSELL NEEDLEPOINT A charming needlepoint kit featuring William Morris famous quotation about interior design. Its one of over 100 printed kits for cushions, rugs and hangings in Beth Russells new brochure.
the english garden

when responding to
Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms...................Forename.............................................................. Surname............................................................................................................. Address.............................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................... .....................................................................Postcode....................................... Date of Birth..................................................Tel................................................ Email..................................................................................................................

T+Cs: 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.
+44 (0) 20 7798 8151 www.bethrussellneedlepoint.com info@BethRussellNeedlepoint.com
advertisements
For more information visit us at www.theenglishgarden.co.uk
THE DIRECTORY
ACCESSORIES
01873 840 297
Support where its needed.

To advertise contact Emily Bevan tel: +44 (0) 1242 216081 email: emily.bevan@archant.co.uk
The new Plant Girdles offer all round support for flower, plant and vegetable growing. Create stunning border displays. Natural rusted or olive drab to blend in. Solid steel to last.
As shown at RHS Chelsea Flower Show
BLINDS & CURTAINS

For a complimentary brochure call now on
0800 975 5757

ARTS AND CRAFTS
Or visit www.appealshading.com
Quote ref: EG
A CERAMIC MODEL OF YOUR HOME

Call me or visit my website Richard A. Rogers
RAR Ceramics Tel: 01777 703711

Email: rarceramics@btopenworld.com Web: www.rarceramics.co.uk
CONSERVATORY BLINDS
PLEASE MENTION
the english garden

Recycling your magazine means that it could come back as a newspaper within 7 days.
when responding to advertisements

The English Garden
THE DIRECTORY
COURSES GREENHOUSES
ye gu ar 25 ar fra an m te e e
SEE YOUR GARDEN DESIGN CAREER BLOOM

Established, accredited, and highly regarded, KLC School of Design offers: Professional qualications Help nding employment Practical, friendly and inspiring training Flexible study options available
dovetail greenhouses
We design and build to suit your requirements
TO FIND OUT MORE, CALL 020 7376 3377 OR VISIT WWW.KLC.CO.UK
Tel: 0121 311 2900
Dovetail Greenhouses Bonehill Farm,Tamworth Staffs B78 3HP All types of glazing options available. www.dovetailgreenhouses.co.uk
GARDEN DESIGN
Recycling your magazine means that it could come back as a newspaper within 7 days.
HEDGING AND TOPIARY
To advertise contact Emily Bevan tel: +44 (0) 1242 216081 emily.bevan@ archant.co.uk
The English Garden
HOPES GROVE NURSERIES

THE HEDGING PLANT SPECIALISTS
Our full colour brochure is FREE on request and includes:
HEDGING, TOPIARY, SHRUBS, CONIFERS, FRUIT TREES AND BUSHES, RHODODENDRONS, GROUND COVER PLANTS AND ROSES VISITORS WELCOME BY APPOINTMENT
HOPES GROVE NURSERIES, SMALLHYTHE ROAD, TENTERDEN, KENT, TN30 7LT Tel: 01580 765600 Fax: 01580 766894
Email: sales@hopesgrovenurseries.co.uk 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
THE DIRECTORY
GARDEN STONEWORK
PONDS
HIGH QUALITY GARDEN STONEWORK
AQUAPLANCTON
No. 1 Gravesend Road, Strood, Rochester, Kent ME2 3PH email: info@kentbalusters.co.uk
Tel: 01634 711617 - Fax: 01634 714644
www.kentbalusters.co.uk
RAISED BEDS
TIMBER RAISED BEDS
NURSERIES
TOURS
YORKSHIRE GARDEN TOURS
FOR PARTIES OF 8+ TAILOR MADE SCHEDULES
Beautiful plants, order online. Beautiful plants ,order online Grown in peat free compost Grown in peat free compost and sturdy biodegradable pots. and sturdy biodegradable pots E: Withleigh@aol.com www.withleighnurseries.co.uk T: 01884 253351 T: 01884 253351
E: Withleigh@aol.com www.withleighnurseries.co.uk
4 NGS Gardens on the doorstep, many other private and public gardens within easy reach. Accommodation in refurbished Nordham Lodgings, North Cave. Beautiful Wolds country - streamside walks and wildlife. Near to Beverley, York and Hull Contact: Louise Martin
01430 422266
louisem200@hotmail.co.uk
10% OFF QUOTE

ELSA45
free 116 page catalogue
PLEASE MENTION
Do you have a garden pond? Is it as clear as mud? Is it murky, muddy, slimy, smelly, choked with algae or weed and a chore to clean out? If you have a pump, are you forever cleaning or changing the filter?
call 0845 402 5300

harrodhorticultural.com
AQUAPLANCTON could be just what youre looking for
PET SERVICES
THE ENGLISH GARDEN
VOTED PRODUCT OF THE YEAR 2009

Used successfully with fish all the time. Safe for ducks, plants, pets, all forms of waterlife, U.V. and biological filters. AQUAPLANCTON has cleared greenwater, sludge and BLANKETWEED for hundreds of happy pond owners. It could do the same for you
For free brochure and price list telephone 01298 214003 anytime or send the approx. surface area of your pond to:
PLANTS
POTS & ORNAMENTS
WHEn
RESPONdING TO
AQUAPLANCTON River Lodge Bishops Lane BUXTON Derbyshire SK17 6UN www.aquaplancton.com
Name ................................................ Address ............................................ .......................................................... .......................................................... Postcode .......................................... Phone................................................ Pond surface sq ft
ADVERTISeMENTS
PERHILL PLANTS
Worcester Road, Great Witley, Worcestershire, WR6 6JT tel:01299 896329 email:perhillp@btconnect.com
AUTHORS
synopses and sample chapters welcome, please send to: Austin and Macauley Publishers
CGC - 33 - 01, 25 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5LQ
PUBLISHERS
Does your pond have?
Specialist growers of rarer more unusual perennials.

Online shop @ www.perhillplants.co.uk Mail order catalogue available.(six 2nd class stamps please). Open most weekdays, 9am-5pm (Closed weekends)
0207 0388212 / e d i t o r s @ a u s t i n m a c a u l e y. c o m w w w. a u s t i n m a c a u l e y. c o m
All genres welcome
Algae Full Sun Green water Sludge Clogged filters Blanketweed Murky water Odour Koi carp Ducks
Please tick
EG
The English Garden
THE DIRECTORY
WEB SERVICES
Every day more gardeners are turning to the natural way of growing - ORGANICALLY
PLACES TO STAY
DELIGHTFUL COTTAGE Discounted prices for English Garden readers through June 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 and Glebe 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
GARDEN LOVERS BREAK
On the edge of the Cotswolds we are Englands oldest hotel built in 1220. Standing next to Malmesburys 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 for two 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
6x is 100% Natural Fertiliser. The Best Thing on Earth!

roger@groworganic.org www.6-x.co.uk 01458 272202
If you have difficulties in locating 6x within your local garden centre, please visit the products page on our website for mail order details
ROSES
Happy Birthday
For Every SPECIAL OCCASION

Tel: 01939 210380 OVER 1000 Varieties to Choose From
Special Anniversary
www.countrygardenroses.co.uk
The Directory of Garden Designers www.gardendesign-uk.com
Park Road, Grange over Sands LA11 7HQ Tel: +44 (0) 15395 33026. www.clarehousehotel.co.uk We 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'
CLARE HOUSE
MISCELLANEOUS
CLIMATISED COATINGS
ELIMINATES HOUSE PAINTING
www.gardenlines.co.uk
Lawnmowers, Hedgecutters, Strimmers, Garden Furniture
Climatised coatings are a superb range of external wall coatings that are tough, flexible, durable and weatherproof
jo thin e
COMPOST ALL
COOKED AND UNCOOKED
KITCHEN WASTE INCLUDING MEAT AND FISH
SmartSoil Ltd
Tel: 01639 701888 Web: www.smartsoil.co.uk
WILDLIFE
Bird
Care
life Wild e den & Gar Catalogu 2011
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
Next Day Delivery
FREE
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
PLEASE MENTION
THE ENGLISH GARDEN

WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS
The English Garden For more information visit us at www.theenglishgarden.co.uk
SPECIAL OFFER TO READERS WHILST STOCKS LAST!

BUY 10 LAVANDULA FOR 10.00 THAT'S JUST 1.00 PER PLANT!
Visit www.hayloftplants.co.uk/EG0511
Lavandula Melissa Lilac Height & spread 60cm (24") Lavandula Blue Ice Height & spread 60cm (24") Lavandula Hidcote Height 60cm (24) Spread 75cm (30)
Lavandula Eidelweiss Height 75cm (30) Spread 60cm (24)
Lavandula augustifolia Munstead Height 45cm (18) Spread 75cm (30)
HIDCOTE WHICH HOLDS AN A.G.M IS PERFECT FOR HEDGING AND CAN BE PURCHASED SEPARATELY
ATTRACTS BUTTERFLIES, FLOWER ALL SUMMER LONG, HARDY, RABBIT PROOF AND EASY TO GROW
Lavender has been grown for centuries for its fragrance and healing properties. Create romantic walkways and edge borders that release perfume as you brush past. They flower throughout the summer and will attract hovering butterflies into the garden. The flowers can be dried to make lasting posies and arrangements and the foliage remains green over the winter. Withstands coastal conditions. Hidcote is ideal for hedging and each plant should be planted 30-40cm (12-16) apart.
EG0511
Name................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. Address............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ..............................................................................................................................................PostCode............................................................................ Email...................................................................................................................................Tel........................................................................................ Please send me ITEM CODE 10 PLANTS (two of each pictured) YPLAVMTO10-EG0511 10 HIDCOTE PLANTS YPLAVHTO10-EG0511 POST & PACKING (UK) PER COLLECTION I enclose CHEQUE/PO MADE PAYABLE TO HAYLOFT PLANTS LTD or please debit my Mastercard/ Visa /Switch account number
PRICE
QTY TOTAL
ORDER NOW FOR DELIVERY IN 28 DAYS
10.00 10.00 2.50

TOTAL DUE
ON-LINE: WWW.HAYLOFT-PLANTS.CO.UK/EG0511
TELEPHONE 0844 335 1088

Quote Code EG0511 or fill in the coupon
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 recommend you pot on for 34 weeks for excellent results. Growing instructions provided.
Card Expiry Date
Switch Issue No.
Start Date
C.S.V.
Please enter the last 3 digits of your security code (C.S.V.) this can be found on the reverse of your credit/debit card on the signature panel
Signature ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................
21 DAY REPLACEMENT OR REFUND GUARANTEE
Send to: Hayloft Plants, Freepost NAT4144, Pershore WR10 3BR
HAYLOFT PLANTS, MANOR FARM, PENSHAM, PERSHORE, WORCESTERSHIRE WR10 3HB TEL: 01386 554440 FAX: 01386 553833
GUEST SPEAKER
Award-winning garden designer Tom Stuart-Smith considers whether an idea or concept is the guiding principle in the creation of great gardens
Designer Tom StuartSmith has won RHS Chelsea Flower Shows coveted Best in Show Award twice.
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
Alexander Pope called The Genius of the Place; concept and design seen as one and the same thing. Or, in other instances, there may be an explicit metaphor, but its well buried in the design, and it isnt essential to grasp this in order to experience the garden. There is a tendency among garden designers to think that there must be a signposted concept for a garden; otherwise you cease to be a creative designer, and the garden descends into being a pink mush of roses
results in tiresome, show-off buildings that dont fulfil basic requirements because they are so busy being eyecatching. The same principle applies with gardens. First of all, they must be places that refresh the spirit, and this is much more difficult to realise if a designers concept is so pervasive and instructive that you constantly feel bossed around, told where to go, what to look at, and even what to feel. My belief is that gardens remain one of the great bastions of
PORTRAIT/ANDREW LAWSON LEAD SHOT/ROUSHAM HOUSE & GARDEN -.WWW.ROUSHAM.ORG
few years ago, I went on a trip with my family to see a contemporary Scottish garden: Charles Jencks and Maggie Keswicks Garden of Cosmic Speculation at Portrack House. It was a long-overdue visit, and I had been feeling for some time that it was an embarrassing omission in my education. Before going, I read quite a bit about the garden and had been to a talk by Jencks on the detailed thinking behind the design, so I thought I knew what to expect. I was wrong. I had anticipated not liking it, but my reaction was the complete opposite. I had thought that all that cosmic speculation would be so persistent and bossy that the whole thing would be like a tiresome lecture that I would not understand. But the garden was overpoweringly sublime. There were moments when the metaphor all got a bit literal, but for the most part, it was a transporting experience of curves and waves. This all came back to me today when I was asked by a garden design student if, in my work, the concept came first or the design. I answered, after a long pause, that they generally come together - if there is a concept at all. Much of the time I am led by what
and frilly knickers. But this is just like thinking that a building must have a punchy and expressive design; a shard or a sail, so that it can be iconic and stand out from the crowd. Occasionally, this sort of thing does sort of work. The Guggenheim in Bilbao, for instance, is an astounding sculpture - but it is not a great art gallery. More often this attitude
the liberal arts and, for the most part, the experience should not be excluding. If a garden is conceived around a conceptual framework, it shouldnt be, as it were, an entry ticket to the garden. It should be possible to make gardens that have a strong conceptual framework and yet also allow an alternative view. We can learn a lot from the wonderful garden at Rousham in Oxfordshire (above). Here, there are a number of overlapping and complex narratives, but they remain partly submerged and obscure. Many visitors might miss them altogether, but it doesnt matter, as a great deal of the meaning of the place filters in subliminally as you wander at will, discovering things for yourself, inventing your own stories, finding your own route and wondering where the place gets its unique essential magic from. It is a little ironic that this wonderful garden is often cited as a favourite by many garden designers, especially those who concentrate on concept, and fail to follow Roushams most fundamental lesson: show, dont tell.
The National Trust dont 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
APPROVED BY THE
H A RT L E Y B O TA N I C
NOTHING ELSE IS A HARTLEY
Exclusively Endorsed by the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Established Over 70 Years Handmade in Greenfield, England
For our CURRENT OFFERS call or click 0800 783 8083 www.hartley-botanic.co.uk eg@hartleybotanic.co.uk
See the New Hartley Grange at
THE CHELSEA F LO W E R S H O W
Stand MA6

The English Garden 201106

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

The English Garden 201106

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

WIN GARDEN MUSEUM MEMBERSHIP WORTH 500!

FOR EVERY READER

JUNE 2011 J UNE

FOR EVERYONE WHO LOVES BEAUTIFUL GARDENS

Full of seasonal f lowers

MOWERS, PONDS & MORE...

THE ENGLISH GARDEN AWARDS 2011

Tamsin Westhorpe, Editor

The Husqvarna Rider Range

The ride of your life.

visit husqvarna.com/uk for details

TAMING THE WILD

Splash Armchairs & Low Table, hand-crafted in oak

Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations

The English Garden 5

HAMPSHIRE Renewed vigour An historic water garden

BERKSHIRE Quiet corners Who wouldnt be charmed by

HEREFORDSHIRE Hilltop haven A windswept plot is

LEICESTERSHIRE A real classic Theres nothing bijou

DESIGN GUIDE Mix and match Helen Dillon takes us on a

HISTORIC FEATURES Try the knot Knot gardens arent just

A GARDEN REBORN Some like it hot The summers come

The edible garden

Offers, competitions & events

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

HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW

Exclusive Preview Evening

Monday 4 July 2011 5.30pm10.30pm RHS Members: 50pp* Public: 55pp

Summers best kept secret

0845 3700 128

rhs.org.uk/hamptoncourtpreview Summers glorious garden party

Get the buzz

Perovskia Blue Spire

Echinacea purpurea Achillea millefolium Lilac Beauty

The English Garden

news G updates G events G trends G gossip G news G updates G events

BAG SOME LAVENDER

ACROSS THE BORDER

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

A DAY TO SHOW OFF

10 The English Garden

trends G gossip G news G updates G events G trends G gossip G news

SCULPTURE AND PLANTS

The life aquatic

The English Garden

SPECIALISM The topiary, lawns

delicate pale blue flowers, Clematis Perle

profusely and is ideal for light soils.

14 The English Garden

Turn over for gardeners diary

16 The English Garden

See us at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Stand PW44

The Old Manor House Garden, Capel Manor

The Potting Shed

Opening hours: Weekdays 9.00am 5.00pm, Saturday 9.00am 1.00pm

with Damian Mitchell

IN THE GARDEN THIS MONTH

SENSATIONAL SWEET PEAS

LOOKING AFTER LAWNS

18 The English Garden

Quality * without VAT

CERTIFICATE NUMBER BSYS-006

BUILDING SYSTEMS SCHEME