Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2018 i Gardens Illustrated Magazine

In this issue of Gardens Illustrated we take the temperature of England’s gardens, with an eye to outstanding design and considered plantsmanship. From classic to city to coastal, what is the state of the nation from a horticultural point of view? The garden at Prospect Cottage, Dungeness, is the former home of the late filmmaker Derek Jarman, and it has become something of a cultural icon, planted directly into the shingle and with views as far as the eye can see. A few minutes walk away, garden designer Emily Erlam has designed a garden that similarly celebrates the otherworldliness of the Romney Marsh landscape. In the crook of a house and influenced by Emily’s love of colour, almost everything planted there also grows wild in some form on the beach…

Taking Beth Chatto’s own approach to planting as a starting point, this international gathering of speakers will talk about how, through their own work, they are trying to re-imagine their approach to both the design and practice of ecological gardening, and further advance and expand gardeners’ plant palettes. Beth Chatto and her husband Andrew began their garden in Elmstead Market, Essex, in 1960. Combining Andrew’s research of natural plant communities and Beth’s passion for gardening, they transformed land declared unfit for agriculture into an oasis of green and gravel. Over several decades, Beth developed and refined her ecologically inspired combinations of dry, damp and shade-loving plants both in the garden and for sale in her nursery. Her many books over the years have focused on specific growing areas, often considered…

1 Great Stag Hunt The magnificent stag beetle is under threat and is already extinct in many parts of the UK. Wildlife charity People’s Trust for Endangered Species is asking the public to take part in its Great Stag Hunt and record sightings of stag beetles on six summer evenings. To find out how to take part, visit ptes.org/gsh 2 Celebrating Art in the Garden Discover 23 new sculptures from contemporary artists, including Sara Ingleby McKenzie whose Up Town Girl is shown right. The exhibition is held in a Wiltshire garden – newly designed by del Buono Gazerwitz – that features a spiral maze and wildflower meadow. 22 June – 8 July, 11am-6pm. £5. Urchfront Manor, Wiltshire SN10 4RF. friendsofthegarden.org.uk 3 Historic Gardens Weekend Six period gardens belonging to The…

I had never experienced the joy of rolling a honey-drenched rosebud around in my mouth until I breakfasted in Barhal, a mountain village in the Kaçkar region of northeastern Turkey. The rosebud honey was served with butter, thick slabs of rough bread and a glass of local black tea. Turkey is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of flora – this in turn sustaining the bees and attracting beautiful butterflies. Beekeeping provides a good livelihood, and the competition for the best honey is intense. Most people here are of Georgian and Armenian descent, their lofty medieval stone churches and ruined forts demark the steep forested countryside. The Pontic Alps border the Black Sea and extend into Georgia. Kaçkar National Park lies at its heart, but you…

1 Verbascum blattaria f. albiflorum This beautiful white-flowered moth mullein is a light, airy biennial that will happily self-sow on lighter soils, and looks great woven through perennial plantings. 1.8m. RHS H6† . 2 Papaver rhoeas The corn poppy is a wonderful opportunist that will find its way from the border into paving and gravel paths – best grown on poor soils to keep it stocky and upright. 75cm. RHS H7, USDA 3a-10b. 3 Ammi majus Can be grown as either an annual or biennial. Sown in late summer, it will make huge mounds of white, lacy flowers atop bushy, branching plants. 90cm. AGM*. RHS H6. 4 Lathyrus odoratus Royal Navy Blue A good, dark-purple-blue sweet pea from the Royal series, which has larger flowers and more blooms than the…

This bronze urn, which once stood in the Parc de Bagatelle in Paris, is one of several given to Vita in 1932 by her mother, and deserves to be the display’s main star. I’ve filled it with a single plant, Glandularia ‘Sissinghurst’, but surrounded it with complementary plants allowed to self-seed. No gardener could ever plant with the grace with which plants group themselves and it’s often more useful to get the atmosphere of a container right rather than a prescribed planting plan. How to achieve the look Despite the flamboyance of the bronze vase, I didn’t want it to make a grand announcement, but rather provide an unpretentious and generous welcome. Just as I love seeing fallen petals beneath a flower arrangement, I wanted the same feeling here. To…

What A genus of vibrant and dramatic cormous perennials, best treated as annuals or short-lived perennials. The most widely grown and available are the Grandifloras, comprising of a variety of heights, colours and tones, which make up the bulk of the plants featured here. Also known as sword lily or sword flag. Origins Gladiolus occur all over Africa, Europe and Asia, but the hybrids featured here are mostly of the species found on South African rocky slopes, marshland and seasonally dry grassland. Season Mid to late summer. You can stagger flowering if planting is periodic from May. Expect flowers between 80 and 100 days after planting. Size Large Grandifloras can reach 2m in height, dwarf cultivars achieve around 1.5m. Conditions Gladiolus rapidly grow over a relatively short time…

The day I visit Dr Elizabeth Perks and her Rosarian Library in Somerset is a wet one. As I pull up the drive, I spot her at the window. The outline of her frame blurred by the rain. Inside, she guides me to take a seat in the living room. The fire is lit and the warm glow picks up lines of gilded book spines and ornate frames. As she makes tea, I take in the room. There are roses everywhere. This is her winter rose garden. A collection of books, paintings, fabrics, ceramics and other rose memorabilia lovingly displayed throughout her house. The books started it all and Dr Perks has around 550 individual titles in total. She collects books dedicated solely to the rose and has scoured various…

WILD MOCKTAILS AND HEALTHY COCKTAILS by Lottie Muir Cico Books, £16.99 ISBN 978-1782494430 More wonderfully wild and flavoursome concoctions from Lottie Muir’s pop-up bar, The Midnight Apothecary. BOTANICAL INKS by Babs Behan Quadrille, £16.99 ISBN 978-1787131569 Learn how to make inks and dyes suitable for textiles, paper and canvas, using plants, garden produce and recycled food and plant waste. EDIBLE MUSHROOMS by Geoff Dann Green Books, £24.99 ISBN 978-0857843975 A fully illustrated guide to more than 300 species of mushroom with helpful tips on how to stay safe while foraging for mushrooms. NURTURE by Carole Bamford Square Peg, £35 ISBN 978-1910931721 Nutritional, seasonal recipes and ideas for a more mindful way of life from Daylesford Organic’s founder Carole Bamford. THE ART OF HERBS FOR HEALTH by Rebecca Sullivan Kyle Books,…

1. BLUECHILLI WORKS Bespoke and unique, these tables have two integral ice buckets and make an ideal centrepiece for your garden patio or home. Made from reclaimed wood and scaffold boards. bluechilli.works | @BlueChilliWorks 2. GLAZEBROOK & CO Glazebrook & Co’s Stainless Steel Fiddle pattern with dishwasher safe Cream Handle Knives, set of six for £350. For more information and to see the pattern visit the website or call the number below. glazebrook.com | 020 7731 7135 3. WILD STOVES Specialists in wood-fuelled pizza ovens, cooking stoves, wood burners and bushcraft gear. From lightweight backpacking stoves to sturdy rocket stoves ... all fuelled by nature! wildstoves.co.uk | 01308 426499 4. ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE Inspired by period design, our carefully curated 2018 garden ornament catalogue features a collection of seating, sundials and water features,…

1 WOOLBEDING GARDENS Visit the Vegetable Garden for fragrant lavender and sweet peas that blend with striking vegetables and fruit then explore the 100-year-old hornbeam tunnel for a secluded experience beside the babbling of the river Rother. Open Thursdays and Fridays, booking is essential to visit this hidden gem. nationaltrust.org.uk/woolbeding-gardens | 0344 249 1895 2 WATERPERRY GARDENS With the herbaceous border in full summer colour with delphiniums, heleniums and asters beginning to bloom, July is a wonderful time to visit the gardens. The beautiful setting of the outdoor amphitheatre provides a wonderful and varied programme of events – a must for theatre and music lovers. Near Wheatley, Oxon OX33 1LA | waterperrygardens.co.uk  | 01844 339226 3 THE BISHOP’S PALACE & GARDENS Over 14 acres of spectacular RHS partner gardens,…

TOM PETHERICK Tom visits a clifftop garden in Cornwall, page 70. “I loved visiting Duncan Scott who has created a beautiful garden with a very special feeling on the wild north coast of Cornwall.” ULA MARIA RHS Young Designer of the Year Ula begins a new design series, page 94. “It can be easy to over-design a garden and I wanted to showcase the power of simplicity in this first feature.” TOM BROWN Head gardener Tom profiles 12 of the best new gladioli, page 62. “Gladioli are tremendous fun to use for unadulterated colour and drama – great for both cutting and mixed plantings.”…

There is an impressive line-up of speakers for this month’s 25th anniversary Garden Weekend at Parham House & Gardens in West Sussex. Among those speaking are designer Tom Stuart-Smith, plantswoman Derry Watkins, historian and designer Todd Longstaffe-Gowan and head gardener Benjamin Pope. Ambra Edwards, author of the recent book Head Gardeners , will host what promises to be a fascinating discussion between four head gardeners: Fergus Garret from Great Dixter, Troy Scott Smith from Sissinghurst, Sarah Wain from West Dean and Parham’s Tom Brown. The weekend will also offer the opportunity to buy quality plants from specialist nurseries. 7-8 July, 10.30am-5pm. Tickets cost £11 per day. parhaminsussex.co.uk…

PENSTEMON DIGITALIS ‘JOKE’ This selection from Penstemon digitalis ‘Huskers Red’ was introduced by Hans Kramer at De Hessenhof nursery, and is named after the wife of one of his teachers. The lilac flowers stand out well against its black-red stems and dark, red-purple leaves. Penstemons are stable, hardy plants for the middle of a border, and this one not only flowers for a long time it produces decorative seedheads in autumn. It looks beautiful grown between the blue-green leaves and purple peaks of the switch grass Panicum virgatum ‘Heiliger Hain’, and is a perfect match for Amsonia hubrichtii, which turns a beautiful yellow in autumn. Height 1m. Origin North America. Conditions Well-drained soil; full sun. Hardiness RHS H7† . Season of interest Summer. SALVIA OMEIANA ‘CRÛG THUNDERCLOUD’ The combination of…

Earliest gardening memory Planting a conker next to the Wendy house where my sister and I kept our first chickens. It never really did that well but I always loved seeing how much it had grown. Who has inspired your career? Mark Jackson – my best mate’s dad, old footy coach and head gardener at Newby Hall all rolled into one. Absolute inspiration. If ever I’ve got a problem to solve he’s always on the other end of the phone. Horticultural heroes Three mighty head gardeners: Alan North [Audley End], Mark Jackson [Newby Hall] and Fergus Garrett [Great Dixter]. They have all inspired me to become a head gardener and have been very influential in my career and gardening philosophy. Three worthwhile tips Remember why you love to garden; healthy…

Pots are generally placed in prominent places, so whatever you choose to plant in them needs to look good. This means changing the display regularly through the season, which inevitably means you should have multiple pots with things ‘coming on’, in readiness to bring out into the spotlight when they are about to perform. With this pot I deliberately chose plants that continue to look good for weeks, if not months on end with very little effort. How to achieve the look In general I find displays containing either a single plant, such as with the Glandularia on the previous page, or a combination of three plants usually work best. In this arrangement I chose three mutually compatible plants that work in harmony with each other, both in terms of…

EVERYONE WANTED A LAWN, ROSES, THE WHOLE ENGLISH IDYLL. IT WAS A CONSTANT BATTLE WITH CRUSHED DREAMS When James Basson’s Maltese quarry garden was named Best in Show at Chelsea last year, public opinion was divided. Some argued that a glorified hole in the ground had no place at the greatest flower show on earth, while others saw it as a sublime expression of the late, great Beth Chatto’s maxim of ‘right plant, right place’. For James, who lives in the south of France, it was a natural expression of all he holds dear in garden making. “There is no beauty in forcing a plant to grow somewhere it doesn’t want to be,” he says. “We were fortunate to get permission to show some real rarities that have not been…

• J Parker Dutch Bulbs 14 Hadfield Street, Manchester M16 9FG. Tel 0161 848 1100 jparkers.co.uk • Kelways Plants Ltd Picts Hill, Langport, Somerset TA10 9EZ. Tel 01458 250521, kelways.co.uk • Parham House & Gardens Pulborough, West Sussex RH20 4HS. Tel 01903 742021, parhaminsussex.co.uk • P de Jager & Sons Church Farm, Ulcombe, Maidstone, Kent ME17 1DN. Tel 01622 840229, dejager.co.uk • Pheasant Acre 3 Pheasant Walk, Pen-y-fai, Bridgend CF31 4DU. Tel 01656 664086 pheasantacreplants.co.uk • Sarah Raven 1 Woodstock Court, Blenheim Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 4AN. Tel 0345 092 0283, sarahraven.com…

The Makers of Heavenly Roses by Jack Harkness (1985) Interesting biographies of many of the great rosarians of recent years. I found this book so readable; Jack Harkness brought the amazing characters to life for me. The Rose by Jennifer Potter (2010) My book for the desert island. An extremely comprehensive book about roses covering everything other than rose cultivation – art, literature, history, medicine, fragrance – it has it all in tremendous detail. Roses and Rose Gardens by Walter P Wright (1911) A comprehensive book about roses and rose growing. I particularly like this book and have included it here because of the beautiful prints of paintings by Beatrice Parsons that have been glued inside. Methuen Handbook of Roses by Eigel Kaier (1965) Wide ranging in its information, including…

1 Astrantia major Gill Richardson Group This slowly spreading perennial prefers cool summers, and is frequently self-seeding. 70cm. RHS H7, USDA 4a-7b† . 2 Filipendula rubra ‘Venusta’ A tall and wind-resistant, self-seeding perennial that is valued for its candy-floss flower heads. 1.8m. AGM*. RHS H7, USDA 3a-8b. 3 Gillenia trifoliata Bushy shaped, long-lived perennial with a good winter presence. 1m. AGM. RHS H7, USDA 4a-8b. 4 Actaea rubra White flowers in spring are followed by shiny berries. Needs light shade and cool conditions. 50cm. RHS H7. 5 Cercis canadensis A small tree with startling pink flowers and leaves that are best appreciated when back-lit. Important to plant young. 9m. RHS H5, USDA 4a-8b. 6 Eryngium x zabelii ‘Jos Eijking’ Long lived and slowly clump-forming. Best in full sun. 70cm. RHS…

Have you ever witnessed the magic of the bluebell sea in the woods awakening after the winter? The blissful combination of a blue flower carpet covering the woodland floor, and the freshly sprouting leaves of the trees falls nothing short of enchanting. When I was walking in the West Woods near Marlborough at the beginning of May, I thought to myself, how simple yet powerful the spectacle created with a single species of this elegant flower. That is nature showing us all the power of simplicity. Simplicity is pure, elegant and timeless. As Leonardo da Vinci once said: ‘Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication’. It denotes clarity and honesty of the design. It doesn’t leave any space for unnecessary additives or clutter to distract the eye, but just enough interest to…

Date 21-22 September Venue Teatro Sociale, Bergamo, Italy Cost €150. Full details of the conference and all events can be found at imaestridelpaesaggio.it/2018/index.html Special offer The first 20 Gardens Illustrated readers to sign up for the conference will receive a 30% discount* on the conference ticket price. Insert the code imdp2018-gardens-30 in the conference enrolment section when registering for your place. * Offer may not be combined with any other promotion and excludes previous conference attendees.…

• Vaccinium corymbosum Blueberries are expensive to buy in shops, yet easy to grow and once established, will crop reliably for years. As well as being suitable for growing in the open ground (in an acid soil), they are perfect for growing in containers (using ericaceous compost). Their pretty, white, bell-shaped spring flowers, succulent summer fruits and brilliant autumn foliage, make them exceptionally good patio plants. Blueberries are self-fertile but it is best to plant two different cultivars to improve pollination. • Vitis vinifera Grape vines have been grown in Britain since Roman times. They are very hardy plants that require only a little space and can be planted along a south-facing wall or fence, or trained over an arch or pergola. With modern cultivars, it is now possible to…

GARDENATURE The Full Round Tree Seat is a really stunning bench, designed for use around a tree providing a comfortable and shaded area to relax in any garden or woodland setting. Beautiful sleek and rounded lines with gently bevelled edges showcasing the elegant Grade A teak grain. 01255 514451 gardenature.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 Paraben free and only using natural plant-based and bee products, Ultra Bee Health’s 100% natural Anti-Ageing balm offers long lasting moisturising combined with the regenerating powers of honey, propolis,…

1. OLD COURT NURSERIES Come and enjoy the 1.5 acre plantsman’s garden and then pick from more than 420 varieties of Michaelmas daisy and other late season herbaceous plants to keep the colour alive in your own patch this autumn. 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…

Save money when you subscribe to the digital edition – see page 32. Also in selected Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Tesco stores, as well as WHSmith, and all good magazine retailers. GARDENS ILLUSTRATED AUGUST ISSUE • Small gardens special: ideas to make the most of your garden, whatever the size • Contemporary planting ideas for colour maximalists • A public building that feels like a garden designed by Lodewijk Baljon • Designer Emily Erlam’s Norfolk garden…

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.…

De Carishof is a lovely garden in Limburg, the southernmost province of the Netherlands. First built in 1640, the farmhouse at its centre has undergone many changes over the years, the most significant being the addition of a traditional, Limburg double Dutch gable in 1777. The garden itself is divided into several parts by hedges and both its layout and planting are quite formal close to the house gradually becoming more naturalistic as you move closer to the garden’s edges. The flower borders, which are mainly concentrated around the house, are almost completely planted with perennials in a subtle colour palette of mostly white, pink and blue. Towards the boundaries you will also find fruit trees and bushes as well as grape vines. Retersbekerweg 1, 6343 PK Klimmen, the Netherlands.…

Long before Vita and Harold bought Sissinghurst in 1930, the Elizabethan manor house had been used as the local workhouse, and Vita and Harold rescued several ‘coppers’ from its 19th-century laundry to reflect their interest in the house’s history and the lives of its previous residents. In total they placed three coppers in the garden one in the Lower Courtyard, one in the Phlox Garden and this one that stands at the centre of the Cottage Garden. How to achieve the look Old laundry pots and dolly tubs are relatively easy to source from flea markets and reclamation yards and will develop a similar patina to this ‘copper’ albeit on a smaller scale. You’ll need to drill four to five drainage holes with a sharp 8-10mm bit and cover with…

MODERN FINISH Ethimo Knit Two Seater Sofa in teak, £2,400, Houseology, 0330 256 7354, houseology.com NATURAL APPEAL Tine K Bamboo Sofa, £840, Idyll Home, 01270 812717, idyllhome.co.uk RIVIERA CHIC Chesapeake Three-Seater Settee, £1,980, Barlow Tyrie, 01376 557600, teak.com TRADITIONAL RATTAN Harrington 3 Seater Sofa, £1,150, Neptune, 01793 427427, neptune.com CLASSIC LOOK Two Seater Armchair, £2,390, The Heveningham Collection, 01424 838483, heveningham.co.uk CURVE BALL Burwell Curved Sofa Ensemble, from £19,390, McKinnon and Harris, 020 7349 9085, mckinnonharris.com FOLD-DOWN ARMS Relax Acacia Wood Modular Garden Bench Seat, £314, Maisons du Monde, 0808 234 2172, maisonsdumonde.com ELEGANT DESIGN Splash Long Sofa and cushion, £8,490, Gaze Burvill, 01420 588444, gazeburvill.com BESPOKE FABRIC Grande Double Sofa, from £2,795, Oxley’s, 01386 840466, oxleys.com…

THE STORY OF THE ENGLISH GARDEN by Ambra Edwards National Trust Books, £25 ISBN 978-1911358251 One of the most useful general garden histories of England to have appeared thus far, especially on the pre-20th-century period. Reviewer Tim Richardson is a garden critic and regular columnist. It seems odd that there hasn’t been a modern illustrated history of the English garden before, and this compact and attractive book is intended to fill the gap. It is a highly readable synthesis of existing work on garden history in ten chapters, from the medieval period to a rather capacious ‘postwar’ era spanning the years 1945 to 2018. The book is extremely strong in its first six chapters, which covers the period up to around 1900. Particularly welcome is the way medieval, Tudor and…