Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2018 i Gardens Illustrated Magazine

Award-winning architecture creates its own challenge for the garden that surrounds it. It needs to anchor the building in the landscape but still reflect the modernity of the house’s design. The garden at Sussex House, designed by Andy Sturgeon, proves that it is possible to do both. A contemporary glass and timber house with strong angular lines is reflected in blocky planting where the bold shapes of Echinops ritro ‘Veitch’s Blue’, Helenium ‘Moorheim Beauty’ and Acanthus mollis jostle for space, paired with rectangular blocks of short, clipped grass. An expanse of wildflower meadow links it to the South Downs beyond. It’s a modern house with a modern garden and a definite sense of location. In Northamptonshire, designer James Alexander-Sinclair takes a playful approach to place. Amelanchiers, hazels, dogwoods and a…

GILLENIA TRIFOLIATA ‘PINK PROFUSION’ This beautiful garden plant was discovered in the wild in 1987 by the plantsman Paul James in Virginia, USA. It was introduced to the wider plant-growing world in 2002 by the American botanical garden the Mt Cuba Center in Delaware. It pops up in late spring with fragile-looking, purple shoots, which quickly grow into tall, branching, burgundy-purple stems that have purple green leaves and a wealth of butterfly-like, soft-pink flowers. In autumn, the leaves turn to orange and yellow. It’s sometimes known as Indian physic as it was once used by Native Americans as a laxative. Height 70cm. Origin USA. Conditions Moist but well-drained soil; full sun to part shade. Hardiness RHS H7, USDA 4a-8b† . Season of interest Spring to summer. GERANIUM NODOSUM ‘WHITELEAF’ This…

First plant love As a child I loved moss, so much so that I asked my dad to bring a bag of it back from a trip to the Yorkshire Dales. I grew up on a 1970s-built suburban estate in Grimsby; an entirely moss-less place, so for me, moss was the stuff of camping trips to the countryside with family, and walks in woodlands with Gran. Horticultural heroes From a cut-flower growing perspective, Sarah Raven and Erin Benzakein have been an incredible source of inspiration and knowledge. As has the Flowers from the Farm network; there are some extremely knowledgeable and determined flower folk working throughout Britain who inspire me daily. Favourite garden Little Sparta, which was created by the late Ian Hamilton Finlay at his home in the Scottish…

1 Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ ‘Hidcote’ lavender is planted alongside paths to release its fragrance as you brush past; it also attracts pollinators. 50cm. AGM*. RHS H5, USDA 5a-8b† . 2 Acanthus mollis The architectural flower spikes provide contrasting colour and shape among lower-growing companions. 1.5m. RHS H6, USDA 7a-10b. 3 Cistus x purpureus The foliage releases a resinous scent and the tissue-paper-like flowers provide splashes of colour. 1m. AGM. RHS H4. 4 Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’ A perfect addition to the sunniest borders where it intermingles with shrubs and grasses, producing a succession of copper-red daisies throughout the summer. 1m. AGM. RHS H7, USDA 3a-8b. 5 Leucanthemum vulgare The wildflower meadows feature a changing tapestry of flowers, including swathes of ox-eye daisies. RHS H7, USDA 3a-8b. 1m. 6 Phlomis russeliana Known…

1 Paeonia lactiflora ‘Bowl of Cream’ Every petal of the smooth, scented, creamy-white, double flowers, curves inwards, forming a bowl-like centre. Flowers from early mid season to late season. 80cm. RHS H6† . 2 Paeonia lactiflora ‘Pink Cameo’ Lavender-pink petals with a central boss of baby pink petalioids. A prolific flowerer and very fragrant. 1m. RHS H7. 3 Paeonia lactiflora ‘Pillow Talk’ The beautiful, scented, powder puff flowers of soft, pure pink are freely produced on strong stems boasting lush, dark-green leaves. Mid-season. 80cm. 4 Paeonia lactiflora ‘Karl Rosenfield’ Has fragrant, bright-magenta double blooms and a boss of golden stamens that become more prominent as the blooms mature. 80cm. RHS H6. 5 Paeonia lactiflora ‘Florence Ellis’ The pure-white flowers, notched petals and cream petaloids of this lightly scented cultivar make…

“People often consider slopes to be a problem in a garden,” says James, “but try to view them as an interesting challenge instead. A flat garden is quite dull, whereas a gradient adds individuality and character.” Here are his top tips to consider: • Terracing – cutting into a hill to make flat areas that you can join by steps is the most common solution to disguise a slope, though planting also works well. You can get away with quite an angle, around 45 degrees, without the soil falling down to the bottom. • If you’re going to have just grass on a slope, make sure it’s not too steep. Either you’ll never get the mower up the hill, or it will take you down it at high speed. •…

You need strong legs to find the roof terrace of the florist Charlie McCormick and his husband, interior designer Ben Pentreath. Climb four flights of the handsome Bloomsbury town house – a brief pause to admire the ‘flower room’, blooms languishing in the butler’s sink – then it’s another set of stairs before a sun-drenched table comes into view. It’s not easy keeping plants in pots alive at the best of times. But when you throw in that Charlie and Ben split their time between here and a parsonage in Dorset with its own acre of garden, in which Charlie grows dahlias and tulips for sale, it’s harder than most. “From August, we’re either in Dorset or away.” An automatic watering system seemed a good solution until it burst, prompting…

1 Geranium psilostemon A large but delicate geranium with wiry stems and shocking-magenta flowers. It is best planted among grasses and other plants that can support its lax flower stalks. 1.2m. AGM*. RHS H7, USDA 5a-7b† . 2 Euphorbia schillingii The long-lasting, lime-green flowers of this plant beautifully complement a blue and magenta colour palette. It has delicate foliage with a white rib and stems that turn red in the autumn, making it perfect for multi-seasonal interest. 1m. AGM. RHS H5. 3 Knautia macedonica The flowers are the colour of ripe cherries and become luminescent in the morning sunlight. It is prone to powdery mildew so is best planted among herbaceous plants to disguise this inevitable occurrence. 80cm. RHS H7, USDA 5a-9b. 4 Borago officinalis This useful, pretty herb should…

Look at things you can reshape. The berberis in the borders at Ladham House was a big, wild shrub, but we tamed it into a lovely structural dome. Leave at least a couple of metres within which to plant, otherwise it will be difficult to accommodate enough plants of different heights to make an impact. Improve the soil with organic matter and mulches, taking care not to disturb tree roots. Plant in bigger rather than small groups. Don’t be scared to have taller plants near the front of the border as they can create a veil to look through and soften what is behind. Look at the foliage of existing shrubs and see what will harmonise with it. For example, I placed dark-red Rosa ‘Charles de Mills’ in front of…

Unless you garden on a very small – very crowded – balcony, you will undoubtedly find yourself in possession of a garden path. We all have them: they lead us to and from doors, washing lines and compost heaps. They give us hard surfaces in wet weather and grassy paths along which we can wander barefoot on hot June afternoons. Without them, we would be crashing through shrubberies and tripping over things. In essence, garden paths fall into two categories: the practical and the diverting. The practical paths are the ones that take you where you want to go in the shortest time possible. For example, when you return home tired and laden down with children/shopping/ the cares of the world, you really need the shortest distance between you and…

QUIET PATTERN by Abigail Edwards Clearview Books, £20 ISBN 978-1908337450 A beautiful book that explores the history of interior designs that are closely linked with nature, and the work of contemporary artists. SKYMEADOW: NOTES FROM AN ENGLISH GARDENER by Charlie Hart Constable, £16.99 ISBN 978-1472128775 A heart-warming memoir celebrating the healing powers of gardening and the beauty of nature. THE SUSSEX TRUG: FORM, FUNCTION AND CRAFT by Sarah Page The Truggery, in association with Otherwise, £20 ISBN 978-1999922207 Learn about the history of the much-loved Sussex trug and the lives of its makers. BOTANICAL BRAIN BALMS: MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR MEMORY, MOOD AND MIND by Nicolette and Elaine Perry Filbert Press, £14.99 ISBN 978-0993389283 A guide to the plants that may help you remember where you left your keys. PEONIES &…

1 BLARNEY CASTLE Visit the prehistoric Fern Garden, our deadly Poison Garden, and our magical Rock Close. Stroll by the lake, riverside and woodlands or through the dazzling arboretums and herbaceous borders in all their summer splendour. But don’t forget to kiss the famous Blarney Stone! Café and shops on site. Blarney, Cork, Ireland | blarneycastle.ie  | +353 21 438 5252 2 HEVER CASTLE & GARDENS Discover glorious award-winning gardens at the 13th-century castle, best known as the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. Hever in Bloom (26 June – 1 July) showcases the glorious gardens with free guided tours led by the gardening team and floral displays in the castle. Hever, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 7NG | hevercastle.co.uk  | 01732 865224 3 HISTORY & HERITAGE AT SHUTTLEWORTH…

RACHEL WARNE Rachel photographed the garden of designers del Buono Gazerwitz, page 80. “It’s the pure delight of designers in sharing their personal gardens with you that makes shooting particularly special.” JONNY BRUCE Jonny visited Alain Dor’s garden, page 72. “Building development can threaten the tranquillity of an established garden – adapting his garden to a changing landscape is Alain’s great success.” ALEX MITCHELL Alex climbed the ladder to look round Charlie McCormick’s rooftop garden, page 66. “I loved Charlie’s laid-back approach and enthusiasm for colour. Just don’t look down.”…

CLOTH OF MANY COLOURS Kaffe Fassett was the first living textile artist to have a one-man exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum. His quilts and needlepoint soft furnishings are the result of an obsession with colour and a lifelong love of flowers, a subject he discusses in depth in his book, Bold Blooms (Abrams Books, 2016). You can see Fassett’s work this month at the Victoria Art Gallery in Bath, where he will be joined by mosaicist Candace Bahouth for a joint exhibition, A Celebration of Flowers , which runs until 2 September. victoriagal.org.uk WILD CARD During the summer, the historic meadows at Great Dixter House and Gardens in East Sussex are a showcase for native wildflowers such as Queen Anne’s lace (Anthriscus sylvestris) and the spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza…

There are many flower-rich meadows of great note in the former Soviet bloc. Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet republic in central Asia, stands out as a plantsman’s paradise. A country around half the size of Germany, it has around 3,900 native species. In late June, early July, the nurseryman and plant specialist Brian Kabbes runs botanical tours to this virtually unexplored Asian country that borders China’s Xinjiang province. We went in 2012 and I have never seen such a rich abundance of flora. Fields of foxtail lilies, Linum olgae, and many, many more – too many to mention; you can sometimes find more than 100 species in a single square metre. It is a truly amazing sight. You can find details of Brian’s tour for June 2019 at kabbes.nl For more…

The name Claire Austin is synonymous with herbaceous plants. Her nursery in mid Wales is often the first stop for many plant lovers looking for hardy perennials. Among the specialist plant collections that she offers is one of her personal passions: peonies – and there are plenty to be found both in her nursery and her garden. “My father [the rose specialist David Austin] started a peony collection in the early 1980s,” says Claire. “When he abandoned them in favour of roses, I took over.” Two acres of Claire’s five-acre nursery are given over to peonies where she grows more than 100 different species and cultivars. “I usually stick with my favourites, such as ‘Dinner Plate’, ‘Elsa Sass’ and ‘Sarah Bernhardt’,” she says. “But it varies from year to year.…

Like many small urban spaces, Charlie and Ben’s roof garden is planted entirely in pots and has to withstand long periods without watering. This is how they help the plants thrive: Use large containers – particularly for trees and climbers – so the compost dries out slowly. Reclaimed water tanks around 60cm each way, and dolly tubs are deep enough to retain moisture for long periods. Water tanks are also slightly narrower at the top, which reduces evaporation. Choose drought-tolerant plants. Verbena bonariensis, agapanthus, lavender, nepeta, sedums, pelargoniums, nasturtiums, foxgloves and nicotiana all cope well with the infrequent watering. Use a good peat-free, multi-purpose compost – such as New Horizons – and, if you are going away, a ‘dollop’ of liquid seaweed feed on your return to give the plants…

LAYERS A combination of different hedge heights and clipped forms of various deciduous and evergreen shrubs results in a subtle yet complex backdrop of shimmering green. By blending moments of straight regularity with flowing curves, Alain has created a green frame that is both restful and dynamic. HIGHLIGHTS A restricted and harmonious colour palette of blues, pinks, purples and whites used in isolated groups helps accentuate the greenness. Climbers, such as roses and wisteria, also bring a moment of colour, drawing the eye up to the soft greens of the trees that surround the garden. NATURAL MATERIALS Stone and wood develop their own green patina of moss and lichen, which also provides the comfortable sense of an old garden. The wooden supports for climbers and wattle edging in the potager…

Tommaso and Paul describe their country garden as a work in progress. “It is important to think about your garden as a whole from very early on – how you will use it and where you want to go with it. Having a plan helps you avoid making big mistakes,” says Tommaso. “But once you have that in place, it doesn’t matter how long you take to complete it. And don’t feel too married to your drawings. Be prepared to adapt. Things grow in sunny places that in time become shady. Plants grow too large for the space available. You must always be prepared to reconsider. Some trees and shrubs are important for structure, but these mature slowly. You also need more ephemeral plants to get a garden started. These…

A contemporary take on a botanic garden by Italian architectural practice Piuarch formed a striking illustration of the links between natural and artificial spaces during Milan Design Week. The installation, entitled agrAir, filled part of Milan’s Piazza Castello and featured herbs and grasses growing beneath a forest of prism-shaped balloons made out of a soft, recyclable material. Acrylic glass rods supported climbers, linking the natural forms at ground level with the man-made billowing upper level. piuarch.it…

MOVEABLE FEAST Raised Balcony Bed on Wheels, galvanised steel, £168, Manufactum, 0800 096 0938, manufactum.co.uk DOUBLE UP Greens Duo Flowerpot (set of two), £524, Maiori, 020 7692 4001, madeindesign.co.uk RECYCLED Green Basics Grow Table XXL, £32.29, Elho, +31 (0)13 515 7800, elho.com CLASSIC Grigio Rectangular Planter in grey, £99, Houseology Collection, 0330 363 0330, houseology.com ANGULAR Superior Wooden Raised Bed Table, from £199, Harrod Horticultural, 0333 400 1500, harrodhorticultural.com ADJUSTABLE Planter on Foldable Stand, £54.99, Fallen Fruits, 01584 873377, fallenfruits.co.uk for stockists CONTEMPORARY Flowerbox Rectangular, £480, Cane-Line, 020 7590 0030, skandium.com SIMPLE AND STYLISH Latchmere Raised Planter, £120, Garden Trading, 01993 845559, gardentrading.co.uk COLOUR POP Basket High Planter in chili, £385, Fermob, 020 8878 1994, barbed.co.uk…

No herbaceous border is complete without hardy geraniums. Their informal grace is the perfect complement to more showy plants and their wayward habit will soften the most hard-edged of designs. It’s possible to have geraniums in flower in the garden from May to November and being mostly disease and pest free, geraniums are no-fuss plants and ideal for the low-maintenance garden. OFFER Make your choice of plant collection as shown on the right. Plants will be supplied in 1.5 litre pots with detailed care instructions. Prices include postage and packaging. HOW TO ORDER • By phone 01502 478258, quoting the code for the collection you would like. • Online at woottensplants.com. Click on the Special Offers tab to find these options. • By post please include details of the collection…

1. OLD COURT NURSERIES Plan your 2018 autumn displays now. Choose from more than 420 varieties of Michaelmas daisy, order online or request a mail-order catalogue. Delivery in May. autumnasters.co.uk  | 01684 540416 2. RV ROGER LTD Traditional third-generation nursery, growing a huge range of heritage roses, fruit trees and hardy nursery stock in the Vale of Pickering, North Yorkshire. Multiple RHS Gold Medal awards. Containerised roses available now. rvroger.co.uk  | 01751 472226 3. ORNAMENTAL TREES Family run business specialising in ornamental trees, fruit trees and large shrubs. Over 550 varieties to choose from, offered in various sizes from young plants to mature specimen trees up to 6 metres. ornamental-trees.co.uk  | 01943 660870 4. WEASDALE NURSERIES LTD Hardy trees and shrubs from hardy beginnings at an elevation of 260m above…

JAMES BASSON James lives in the South of France where he runs Scape Design with his wife Helen, specialising in low-maintenance and dry gardens. He is a fervent advocate for creating sustainable landscapes. The winner of four Chelsea Gold medals, he was awarded Best in Show in 2017. FERGUS GARRETT Fergus was appointed head gardener at Great Dixter by Christopher Lloyd in 1993. He is passionate about passing on his knowledge through student and volunteer programmes at Dixter and through worldwide lectures. He was awarded an RHS Associate of Honour in 2008. ANNA PAVORD Anna’s books include her bestseller The Tulip and most recently Landskipping. For 30 years she was The Independent’s gardening correspondent. In 2000 the RHS awarded her the Veitch Memorial Medal. She lives and gardens in Dorset.…

1 Gardening Scotland Show gardens, music, floral art and cookery demonstrations are just a few of the highlights of Scotland’s Gardening Festival. 1-3 June, 10am-5pm. £17 per day. Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh EH28 8NB. Tel 0131 333 0965, gardeningscotland.com 2 Workshop from Sussex Garden School Discover how to make a low-maintenance but beautiful garden with designer Juliet Sargeant. The workshop will cover suitable plant choices and gardening tips. 7 June, 10.30am-2pm. £65. Sussex Prairie Gardens, Morlands Farm, Wheatsheaf Road, near Henfield, West Sussex BN5 9AT. Tel 01273 300587, sussexgardenschool.com 3 BBC Gardeners’ World Live Among the gardens at this year’s show are Owen Morgan’s family garden for sponsor Tesco, comprising a raised pond, Mediterranean-inspired border, play area, wildlife area and outdoor dining space, and the Solutions Garden (shown right)…

My childhood holidays were spent on the slender peninsula of Cornwall where you are never far from the sea. A chunky flower press came on holiday too. For years a favourite possession, it was also my hobby. I recall precious time spent exploring hedge banks, beaches and cliff tops, filling the flower press and learning about coastal flora. I’m still fascinated by the UK’s dramatic and complex perimeter of constantly shifting natural features and by the sheer variety of plants growing in the mild climes of the South West. The main habitats are heathlands and sea cliffs, but I’ve found flowery meadows too. Inspiration These fragile areas of native flora are now few and far between. More than 80 per cent of lowland heath in the UK has disappeared in…

Plant between late October and mid February, in full sun or part shade, in soil that is never waterlogged. The leaf buds should be no more than 2.5cm below the soil surface and the planting hole wide enough to accommodate the roots comfortably. Support taller cultivars when the stems are around 15cm high Feed every three years in spring, with bonemeal or general fertiliser. Organic matter scorches the emerging buds in spring, so mulch as far away from the central crown as possible. Remove old leaves to discourage diseases. Peony wilt is worse during damp weather. If it becomes a problem, dispose of infected parts away from the garden or spray with fungicide. Peonies do not mind being moved – especially if they are not divided. Divide plants when they…

1 Astrantia ‘Superstar’ Living up to its name, this is tall, long-flowering and happy in pretty much any situation. It even looks good in death. 45cm. USDA 4a-7b† . 2 Euphorbia griffithii ‘Fireglow’ James seldom uses this because it tends to run away, but it flowers early and is good for a damp corner, giving a nice pop of orange to this garden just as Cornus ‘Midwinter Fire’ starts to look less exciting. 1m. RHS H7. 3 Geranium ‘Ann Folkard’ Good for climbing over and crawling through things. Works well with peonies and ornamental poppies, which look dreadful when they go over. 60cm. AGM*. RHS H7, USDA 5a-8b. 4 Knautia macedonica Good colour, good for bees and good with grasses. Can be prone to mildew, but cutting it back will…

What A genus of about 25 species of herbaceous perennials. Also known as false indigo. Origins North America, particularly in the American Midwest. Season Spring. Size They range in height from around 30cm to 1.2m. Conditions The perfect conditions are a well-drained soil in full sun. Hardiness Baptisia are hardy throughout the UK. Most of those featured here have a RHS hardiness rating of H7 (colder than -20ºC), and are suitable for gardens in USDA zones 3a to 9b. *Holds an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. † Hardiness ratings given where available.…

There is a generation of Englishmen who, however laudable their achievements and how widely known, consider it quite unseemly to speak of them. One such is the plantsman John Hillier, born in 1935, the eldest son of the legendary Sir Harold Hillier, and clearly the inheritor of the family’s plantaholic gene. The story of the Hillier empire dates back to 1864 when journeyman gardener Edwin Hillier opened a florist’s shop and small nursery in Winchester. He was succeeded by his son, Edwin Lawrence, who became a noted expert on conifers, and holder of the RHS’s highest award, the Victoria Medal of Honour. His son Harold was similarly honoured for his encyclopedic knowledge of woody plants. The arboretum he created, now in the care of Hampshire County Council and open to…

PEOPLE THINK THEY KNOW OUR STYLE, BUT AS A DESIGNER YOU SHOULD RESPOND TO YOUR SURROUNDINGS Suffolk is a pretty county, full of winding lanes, undulating fields and houses painted in pastel shades. Beside every other front gate stands a table with a handwritten note, an honesty box and a selection of homegrown produce for sale. It feels a very long way from London, and quite a long way from the 21st century. It is most definitely not the sort of place you would expect Tommaso del Buono and Paul Gazerwitz, famed designers of sleek modernist gardens, to choose as their weekend bolthole.“It is wonderful to have found somewhere so set apart from our Monday to Friday lives,” says Tommaso. It was Paul who first came across the house. “It…

SHADES OF GREEN: MY LIFE AS THE NATIONAL TRUST’S HEAD OF GARDENS by John Sales Unicorn, £25 ISBN 978-1911604181 Historic garden conservation is about setting up and guiding cycles of growth, development and decay: some for 100 days; others for 100 years. Reviewer Ambra Edwards is an author and garden historian. You can understand why so many head gardeners think so highly of John Sales, former head of gardens at the National Trust. The admiration is mutual. It is rarely the genius of a single individual that makes a great garden, he writes, ‘but the pursuit of a unique ideal persistently sought and perfected.’ He is unstinting in his praise for the talented head gardeners with whom he has worked, just as he pulls no punches in excoriating the forces…

ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE Inspired by period design, we are proud to present our carefully curated 2018 garden ornament catalogue. The catalogue features a classic collection of seating, sundials and water features, alongside an extension to our garden planter and Quercus robur oak furniture range. 01386 584414 architectural-heritage.co.uk ED BROOKS FURNITURE Bespoke outdoor wooden furniture and gates designed and handcrafted in Dorset that are made from sustainably sourced English hardwoods, such as oak and chestnut. All the furniture is uniquely designed to encompass the organic nature of the timber, its surroundings and your requirements. 01297 20182 edbrooks.com BEE BEAUTIFUL Ultra Bee Health offers wellbeing and beauty products made with propolis and honey. 100% natural, the All in One Honey Balm is uniquely formulated with active honey, beeswax and bee propolis, and offers…

• A garden open to the elements in the Lake District • A clifftop hideaway in Cornwall • A coastal garden on the shingle at Dungeness • Texture and topiary in a Devon garden, designed by Arne Maynard • A rosarian’s private collection ON SALE 21 JUNE 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.…