Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2017 i Gardens Illustrated Magazine

A small garden is typical of many a town or city house. The best of them can work as well for weekend lunches or gatherings of family friends as they do for daily escape. Often, we view our gardens as much from the house as we do from within the garden itself, so they have to work hard. In this issue, we share five small gardens with good ideas to take away. Simplicity of materials, strong design and a careful, if minimal, planting palette are some of the recurring themes. Festina Lente, which translates from Latin as ‘make haste slowly’, is a nursery in the Netherlands that encourages picking flowers when you visit. Specialising in plants that are unusual, deliciously fragrant, late flowering or rare, you are as likely to…

hat do you do when you want to make better use of a basement without losing too much of your garden? The common solution is to dig down, shifting the retaining wall of the garden backwards slightly to create a bigger light well. But when that retaining wall would be 2.5m high, and when the ground floor of your flat is another metre higher still, clearly, a more creative solution is called for. This was the scenario facing architectturned-leatherworker Michael Guérisse at his central Brussels apartment. “It’s so rare to have a garden in this part of Brussels and we really wanted to make the most of it,” he says. It’s small, just 7.5m x 5.5m, and given the dramatic changes in level, Michael kept his expectations in check. “I…

In brief What Evergreen or deciduous perennials with strap-like leaves and umbels of trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of blue or white carried above the leaves on smooth stems. Origins Southern Africa, although some have become naturalised in countries as varied as Australia, UK, Mexico and Ethiopia. Season All bloom from mid to late summer, most producing attractive seedheads. Size Height can vary from around 30cm to more than a metre. Clump-forming to a maximum of 30cm. Conditions Moist, well-drained soil in a site that gets sun for most of the day. I rarely encountered agapanthus in my early gardening life. I remember one magnificent plant in a cottage garden in Cornwall. It was drenched in sunlight behind a blue palisade gate and against a white cottage wall. Deep-blue spherical flower…

1 Alonsoa meridionalis ‘Apricot’ A late-flowering annual with delicate flowers and colour. “It’s a shame it doesn’t flower earlier, as so few people see it,” says Esther. 60cm. USDA 9a-11. 2 Peucedanum verticillare “This grows so strong you can park your bike against it,” laughs Esther. Sometimes flowers in its second or third year, then dies. 2m. USDA 5a-9a. 3 Agastache nepetoides ‘Green Candles’ A short-lived perennial that’s great for winter structure. “It’s a good colour and seems to fit in anywhere,” says Esther. 1.5m. 4 Hibiscus cannabinus A tall, relatively unknown annual smothered in flowers from late July ownwards. “It’s a big hit in the cutting garden,” says Esther, “but the blooms fade quickly.” 1.8m. USDA 9a-11. 5 Gaillardia x grandiflora ‘Burgunder’ This short-lived perennial flowers from late April…

SIMONE VAN HENINGEN Since there is only so much she can do with her small balcony in The Hague, Simone loves visiting gardens up and down the Netherlands and abroad. She particularly enjoys writing about the beauty that can be achieved in small gardens, such as that of Bernadette den Bieman on page 38. “Bernadette has succeeded in designing a garden that looks good all year, and is extremely practical.” ROBERT MABIC Photographer Robert is always thankful when the light in the gardens he shoots is perfect, but he’s even more grateful to the owners who put so much work into creating the lovely gardens in the first place. This issue he photographs two very different gardens on pages 54 and 80. “I enjoyed meeting both Lianne and Joke –…

Rosa Open Arms (= ‘Chewpixcel’) I have this miniature climbing rose draped over a grey-green juniper, and it provides a continuous show from early summer well into autumn. The soft pink, semi-double flowers, which are scented, shatter after they have finished blooming so they do not sully the show, nor will they need deadheading. It is important to keep the balance between the climber and the host plant, so I give the rose a light prune in winter and remove a third of the oldest growth. This, along with a slug of muck around the roots in spring, will help to maintain vigour. AGM*. Height 2m. Origin Garden origin. Conditions Any soil that is not saturated; full sun. Hardiness RHS H6, USDA 6a-10b. Season Summer to autumn. Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora…

As we have reached the height of summer, my theme this month is heat. The flickering light of a campfire is one of my favourite holiday sights and I love cooking food on an open fire. It doesn’t have to be a complicated hearth, a simple circle of stones and a fire of foraged branches can be as effective as the most high-tech barbecue. I have various contraptions I use to cook outdoors, including an iron skillet and a double-sided grill with a long handle to make flipping fish and chicken easy. To make life simple, marinade your meat the night before you go and pack everything into a cool box. A slowly steaming pan of sticky rice on the side will help mop up the juices. A cob of…

What Small suburban garden. Where Oss, the Netherlands. Soil Sandy. Size 7 x 15m. Aspect Southeast facing. Special features A garden that uses strong geometrical lines for hedging and hard landscaping, which have been softened by planting. Raised rill. Pleached tree hedges. Emphasis on creating sight lines and privacy. Designed by Owner Bernadette den Bieman (bernadettedenbieman.nl).…

What Small city garden. Where West London. Size 5 x 8m. Soil London clay with added bonemeal and annual mulch. Aspect South facing, but shade from surrounding buildings. Special features A tight space that has been given an airy feel using a strong, contemporary geometric design, with fresh planting and a multi-stemmed tree. A clearly defined space that links upper level with basement and extension. Designed by Owner Hélène De Witte (helenedewitte.com).…

What Courtyard garden. Where Wingham, near Canterbury, Kent. Soil Well-worked rich loam. Size 10 x 20m. Aspect West facing. Special features Central pond surrounded by raised and flat beds inspired by Provençal maquis planting. Designed by Owner Sophie de Bouvier de Cachard. Sophie’s shop Branching Out (branchingoutwingham.co.uk) is open by appointment.…

1 Always get a survey. Even a garden that appeares to be flat, can have level changes of a metre or more. 2 Work with what’s there. Sometimes clients want to change everything, but I recommend working with what you’ve got. It can help with creating the character and atmosphere of the garden. 3 Tricky sites often have tricky access, so be sure to consider this when planning the garden. Although we knew we would be able to bring the multi-stemmed amelanchier tree we were using in this garden through a window in the apartment, it was still quite a challenge and took three people to manoeuvre it into place. 4 Think carefully about your materials. In a small garden, I wouldn’t advise using too many different materials. I like…

“There’s no such thing as a born writer. It took time to find my voice and learn the craft of it” Ursula Buchan is a writer in the mould of Vita Sackville-West and Christopher Lloyd. Like her predecessors, she is known for her personal and witty gardening columns. Like them she blends horticultural know-how and fluency with the pen. And like them too, she has created a wonderful garden. “Profusion within structure,” she says, apologising for its unruliness – the expression, coincidentally, recalling the gardening styles of both Christo and Vita. Vita wrote for the Observer for 15 years. Christo shared his wit with Guardian readers for 17 years. Ursula has outdone them both: her prize-winning monthly column for The Spectator lasted a staggering 26 years. With well over 300…

1 Allium senescens Late flowering for an allium, from May to August. Not spectacular, but very easy on sandy soil and loved by a host of bees and butterflies. Prefers full sun. 15cm. AGM*. RHS H6, USDA 4a-8b† . 2 Lobelia x speciosa ‘Vedrariensis’ A tall, majestic perennial that will need some support. Its purple flowers look fabulous against a background of bright-yellow rudbeckias, although it is best grown in damp borders. 90cm. RHS H5, USDA 4b-9b. 3 Dahlia ‘Sebastian’ A stunning dahlia, with ball-shaped flower heads and petals that fade in a fascinating way from almost orange at the centre to a coral-pink at the tips. 40cm. 4 Echinacea purpurea ‘Rubinstern’ An old cultivar, but one of the most reliable by far. Classic shape of flower. Keeps itself going…

1 Scented seat The bench must serve more than one purpose. In this garden by Stella Caws, it is not just a place to perch and watch the bees teem all over the lavender but a perfect focal point for the end of a path. In time it will be shaded by the parasol leaves of the fig and the world will be a much better place. 2 Ahead of the curve The first time I sat on a Gaze Burvill bench I found it so comforting to both buttocks and spirit that I have sought them out ever since. Made of cleverly steamed oak they are as solid and dependable as chunky-cut marmalade on a wet morning. This one is on one of its RHS Chelsea Flower Show stands.…

NO DIG ORGANIC HOME & GARDEN by Charles Dowding and Stephanie Hafferty Permanent Publications, £19.95 ISBN 978-1856233019 Charles Dowding is slowly changing the orthodoxy around growing edible crops. His adoption and promotion of the no-dig method is steadily gaining a devoted following because it is simple, logical and it provides good results with minimal work. For the uninitiated: no dig involves disturbing the soil as little as possible, and improving it by laying on thick mulches of organic matter, which are worked into the soil over time by the actions of earthworms. The gardener plants directly into the mulch, and never digs the soil. With a few tweaks it is a method for conquering new ground, killing off weeds, and improving existing beds. Dowding’s new book with Stephanie Hafferty explains…

1 LOIRE VALLEY GARDENS EUROPEAN GARDEN Possibly the best-known potager in the world, Villandry is a stunning start of your tour of the beautiful and inspiring Loire Valley gardens: Experience the Loire Valley through its gardens, food and wine, staying within a private estate surrounded by a thoughtfully designed garden in the heart of the valley of the French Kings. Address Moulin de Maulne, 37330 Lublé, Loire valley, France Tel +33 (0)615503690 Web loire-valley-gardens.com 2 CHISWICK HOUSE AND GARDENS TRUST Explore sweeping vistas, fragrant formal gardens and a woodland wilderness at the home of the English Landscape movement. Open 7am to dusk every day. Visit the stunning 18th-century neo-Palladian villa Friday-Wednesday throughout summer. Discover more on a tailored group tour with knowledgeable guides. Address Chiswick House, Burlington Lane, London W4…

1. Bespoke Plant Supports Ltd Exclusive 5% discount code: GARDEN. Handmade plant supports sold direct to the public. 6mm mild steel supports from £1.50. Various sizes of curved supports and plant loop stakes. bespokeplantsupports.co.uk  | 511 Durham Road NE9 5EY 2. Belightful Design Do you like butterflies? Make the most of your garden or patio with this award-winning Belightful Butterfly Oasis. Designed for feeding butterflies, made of eco-friendly, recyclable material. belightfuldesign.com | +358 44 2401 3. Architectural Heritage Inspired by period design, Architectural Heritage proudly presents its 2017 garden catalogue, featuring a classic collection of planters, seating, sundials and fountains. architectural-heritage.co.uk  | 01386 584414 4. Red Lilly Mobile, battery-powered lanterns that you can move from inside to the outdoor table are a great idea to add illumination to your garden. redlilly.co.uk…

• Glowing cosmos for late summer splendour • A dynamic and naturalistic planting mix in a Scottish garden • Adding a pool or pond to your garden • Bringing back the tradition of liquorice growing to the UK ON SALE 17 AUGUST Save money when you subscribe to the digital edition – see page 30. Also in selected Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Tesco stores, as well as WHSmith, and all good magazine retailers.…

Earliest gardening memory When I was about eight years old I had my own garden ‘patch’ in my parents’ garden. I raised some annuals from seed and spent a summer feeling very pleased with my new border. Horticultural hero As a teenager I would read books by plantsmen such as Alan Bloom; the enthusiasm for plants was captivating. Favourite garden Hidcote Manor – the Arts and Crafts garden with its individual rooms is a fascinating design. Worthwhile tip for every gardener Remember gardens are mini eco systems – give the whole of nature a chance to work before reaching for any chemicals. Most valuable training I have had a lot of training along the way but I feel the best advice has always come from the older, more experienced gardeners.…

1 First think about what the garden will look like in winter. You want a fair proportion of strong evergreen elements, through which you can weave some seasonal interest. 2 Don’t forget your vertical surfaces. When you don’t have much ground, walls give you extra space for plants, and blur the boundaries, which makes the garden seem bigger than it really is. 3 In a small garden it’s important to think big. Beware the temptation to sprinkle beds with lots of different plants. Really generous groups of your chosen plants will have far more impact. 4 Don’t be afraid to use really tall plants. Your garden will automatically look larger if you can’t see it all at once. A lot of my clients have a hard time believing me when…

1 Master the art of distraction A strong statement, such as a raised rill, a piece of sculpture or a tall specimen tree draws your eye away from surrounding buildings. 2 Surround your garden with neat boundaries – whether fences, brick walls or hedging – to create both privacy and a feeling of intimacy. Keeping them neat, with low planting beneath, increases your space at ground level. 3 Think vertically. Bernadette’s pleached trees form a hedge on stilts that provides privacy without taking up room at ground level. Planting away from the boundary makes pruning easier and creates an added sense of depth. 4 Shade sails are a practical way to create extra shade – and privacy – and, unlike a cumbersome umbrella, won’t clutter up ground or storage space.…

1 In a small garden hard landscaping provides you with continuous structure. “It should be hard and bold,” says Hélène. “The planting is partly there for structure, but partly to soften the hard landscaping. But if you can only choose one plant, make it a tree.” 2 Remember your hard landscape is there all the time. While you can always play around with the planting, hard landscaping forms a constant backdrop and is both more difficult and more costly to change. “Keep it simple when choosing materials,” advises Hélène. “Use a maximum of three different types. And when you make your choice, make a bold statement.” 3 You need unity not uniformity. Hélène has used a lot of wood for her house’s interior and carried this through to the garden…

1 Cram the garden with plants. It may seem counter-intuitive, but if you’re mean, the space will look smaller. Use lots of large plants too and play with scale. 2 Install several paths that lead to hidden vistas, to statuary and surprises, so there’s a sense of discovery and delight. 3 Simplify your colour palette, both in plants and garden accessories. Green is obviously the predominant colour here, with grey, white and stone. 4 Structure is important, but basic topiary shapes don’t change throughout the year so always have something flowering to remind you of the season. 5 Avoid keeping too many plants in small pots. In some courtyards pots may be the only option, and they can add colour, focus and interest. But most plants prefer to be in…

 I write this article with a heavy heart. If I write a glowing piece there is a distinct possibility that you lot will be moved to visit and buy stuff. That would mean that there was less left for me so the temptation is to say “Move along there, nothing to see.” But that, sadly, would not only be impolite but selfish and I remember what my mother told me about sharing my toys. So may I introduce to you one of the absolute gems of Oxfordshire: Worton Organic Gardens, an unbelievably productive (and extraordinarily beautiful) garden surrounding a shop groaning with goodies and a practically perfect little café. This is the purlieu of David and Anneke Blake both hailing from families steeped in the soil, all be it…

• Enjoy an evening with plantsman and garden designer Roger Platts at his seven-acre private garden and nursery near Edenbridge in Kent. Roger will give a talk on the Principles of Garden Design followed by a tour of his garden and exclusive access to the nursery in aid of Perennial, the charity dedicated to helping people who work in horticulture. 8 August, 6-8.30pm, £55.perennial.org.uk • Understand more about the garden design process and gain confidence in creating your own designs with this one-day Introduction to Garden Design course. 19 August, 10am-4pm, £95. The Cotswold Gardening School, Gossington Hall, Gossington, GL2 7DN. Tel 01453 899018, cotswoldgardeningschool.co.uk • Pre-booking is essential for the first NGS opening of Wudston House in Wedhampton, Wiltshire, where formal gardens have been developed around the house since…

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MAKING FOR HOME: A TALE OF THE SCOTTISH BORDERS by Alan Tait Pimpernell Press, £30 ISBN 978-1910258835 A meditation on the nature of home and how landscapes continually change and evolve. HOW NOT TO KILL YOUR PLANTS by Nik Southern Hodder & Stoughton, £16.99 ISBN 978-1473651128 A fun, informative guide to keeping your house plants alive. OXFORD BOTANIC GARDEN & ARBORETUM: A BRIEF HISTORY by Stephen A Harris Bodleian Library, £14.99 ISBN 978-1851244652 The story of the oldest surviving botanic garden in Britain. SPON: A GUIDE TO SPOON CARVING AND THE NEW WOOD CULTURE by Barn The Spoon Virgin Books, £20 ISBN 978-0753545973 Skills, tools and techniques used in spoon carving. THE CHINESE KITCHEN GARDEN by Wendy Kiang-Spray Timber Press, £14.99 ISBN 978-1604696776 Learn to grow typical Asian vegetables and…

1. KEN MUIR We at Ken Muir pride ourselves on providing the highest quality fruit trees, soft fruits, canes and vines. One of our key aims is to share our knowledge in this area and help everybody to feel comfortable growing their own fruit. kenmuir.co.uk  | 01255 830181 2. HARE SPRING COTTAGE PLANTS National Collection Holder of Camassia. Order Camassia bulbs now for planting this autumn. Hardy plants grown in North Yorkshire. harespringcottageplants.co.uk 3. THORNCROFT CLEMATIS NURSERY With over 400 cultivars of clematis and other climbers, we grow high-quality plants, offer expert advice and an award-winning mail-order service. thorncroftclematis.co.uk  | 01953 850407 4. BOTANY PLANTS East Northdown Nursery. Kent CT9 3TS and Mucklestone Nurseries, Staffordshire TF9 4FA. 3,000 different trees, shrubs and perennials. RHS plantfinder codes SEND and MMuc. botanyplants.co.uk…

Happiness is no right, but an elusive privilege; it cannot be commoditised or traded or demanded. If you chase it, it will run The garden is a lure for happiness. For long years I was happy here, without thinking much about why, or even what happiness consisted of. Then I turned my back on it: for all sorts of practical reasons I had no choice, though I knew, when I went, that a golden age was over. In mitigation, the one condition of going was that this garden would be kept, untenanted, to return to as often as possible. The visits, though full of joy, were not happy. You cannot be happy in the presence of something you have betrayed. So now I am craving this garden’s forgiveness, hoping that…