Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2019 i Gardens Illustrated Magazine

There was a time when almost every town of importance in the north of England had its own Florists’ Society devoted to the cultivation of a single type of flower. Of the hundreds that once flourished, only the Wakefield and North of England Tulip Society now remains. The flowers grown by its members are no ordinary tulips. Known as English Florists’ tulips, they are beautifully complex; feathered and flamed, and each flower is as unique and different as a fingerprint. Once a tulip ‘breaks’ its patterning persists and in the petals of these flowers runs the bloodline of the first Florists’ tulips grown in 1877 by John Rea and John Evelyn. Tulip enthusiast Anna Pavord visits ahead of the Society’s 184th annual show. Many of us know about traditional methods…

SOPHISTICATED PALETTE High-end glasshouse manufacturer Alitex has launched a new paint collection inspired by plants, nature, natural materials and the Sussex landscape where the family firm is based. Designed to pair with Alitex’s glasshouse colours, the paints are available in 15 shades, including Wood Sage, Sussex Emerald and Passiflora. Each colour is available as exterior and interior eggshell, masonry, full gloss and chalky matt for interior use. Prices start at £25 for 1 litre, £47.50 for 2.5 litres and £85 for 5 litres. mandlpaints.com 3 FOR THE GARDEN… DOOR STOPS…

HELIOPHILA LONGIFOLIA This little blue flower first gorgeous came to attention when I became my head gardener at Parham. It was used throughout the glasshouse, erupting and cascading between the pelargoniums and heliotropes. I sow seed in February for a late spring display and again in July to give me a splash of colour in early autumn. Heliophilas can be used to add delicacy to summer containers, once the threat of frosts has passed in May or June. I’d suggest that you support the wiry stems with a few birch or hazel twigs. Height 50cm. Origin South Africa. Conditions Well-drained, fertile soil; full sun. Ideal for containers. Hardiness RHS H3† . Season Flowers in late spring from a February sowing, can be succession sown. LUNARIA ANNUA ‘CHEDGLOW’ I have always…

Earliest garden/gardening memory My mum worked on a fruit farm in Kent when I was small so my summers were spent running around the farm with all the other children and scoffing as much fruit as possible. I can also remember making patterns on the path in our front garden with some curvy marigold seeds. Was gardening your first choice of career? I have a degree in fashion and textiles and worked as a self-employed fabric designer, screen printing samples for the fashion industry. The industry was moving towards CAD and I knew I didn’t want a job at a computer. Then I was distracted by an advert for an organic gardening course and after about two weeks on the course I was hooked on horticulture. I’d found my ‘thing’.…

What Evergreen, semi-evergreen or deciduous herbaceous perennial members of the Boraginaceae family. Clump-forming or spreading to 30cm tall. The leaves vary from narrow and lance-shaped to heart-shaped, and the flowers are carried on short, usually unbranched, stems just above the foliage. Origins Pulmonarias are widely distributed in Europe and western Asia in mountains and moist, shady places. The genus is composed of 18 species but only eight are known in cultivation. Season Flowers appear at any time from late winter to mid spring, lasting in a few cases, until early summer. The ornamental leaves are a feature during the growing season or beyond in evergreen forms. Hardiness Most are hardy down to -40ºC, with some tolerating -45ºC. Most suffer at temperatures above 20ºC. *Holds an Award of Garden Merit from…

Most of us know about traditional methods of composting using a mixture of leafy greens and woody browns, turned regularly. Composting builds habitats for worms and other beasties and feeds the microbes that live in our soil as well as introducing new ones that break plant material into crumbly organic matter and help unlock and release stored nutrients. It also aids water retention and improves soil structure – the list goes on and on. It can be made in a multitude of ways, limited only by garden space. Composting also has a greater role to play by enabling us to reduce our landfill waste. Municipal waste has increased by three per cent every year since 1996. Sent to landfill, it releases methane, which contributes to global warming. Landfill is responsible…

Osterlen in Kyhl is a garden on the southeastern coast of Sweden on the Baltic Sea. It enjoys the very best of Sweden’s climate, although it can be windy due to its coastal location. And while many gardens take their cue from the wider landscape, Österlen is more than this. The garden is positioned between a closed, dark forest and the wide open sea, and designed ‘in the tracks of nature’. A small creek running through the alder forest that leads to the garden from the road creates the perfect biotope for Alnus glutinosa to thrive. The creek links the forest to the Baltic Sea, following the line of the garden and crossing one of the finest beaches in Sweden – the nature reserve of Sandhammaren – where white sand…

Gary Buckingham and Paul Navin’s small nursery, in the heart of the Taw Valley in Devon, is immaculate and well organised, not a weed-filled pot in sight. Such high standards also set the tone for the plants. “We search out plants that are rare, choice and unusual, mostly for shade, from China, Japan and America,” says Paul. This passion, allied with Gary’s instinctive eye for colour and selecting a good garden plant, ensures the nursery is always full of treasures. But there are other factors to be considered. “As well as being out of the ordinary, plants have to be extremely hardy. For much of the year the nursery, set within nine acres of meadowland, is in the shade of a hill. We don’t see the sun in December and…

NO ARMS Brommö Lounger, £39, IKEA, 020 3645 0000, ikea.com WIDE ARMS Fred in powder pink, €129, Lanterfant, +31 (0)88 6262 380, lanterfant.eu MANY COLOURS Luxembourg Low Armchair in cactus, £399, Fermob, 020 8878 1994, barbed.co.uk CONTEMPORARY Edge Highback Chair, £865, Cane-Line, 020 7590 0030, skandium.com CLASSIC Adirondack Armchair, £670, Barlow Tyrie, 020 7352 5656, chelseagardener.com MODERN UPDATE Karl Garden Chair in dark slate grey, £249.99, Lynton Garden, 0800 169 0423, wayfair.co.uk ON WHEELS New England Lounge Chair, €1,388 (price including wheels), Royal Botania, +32 (0)3 411 22 85, royalbotania.com FULLY RECYCLED Loll Adirondack Lounge Chair in leaf green, £575.99, Envirobuild, 020 8031 2637, envirobuild.com BUILT FOR COMFORT Bay Lounge Chair in seagull, £2,300, Gloster, 0345 605 2505, worm.co.uk…

1 WINKWORTH ARBORETUM Winkworth Arboretum’s woodland in late April is a haze of bluebells, creating a truly unforgettable display. For the best views, follow the Spring Walk and you’ll head right into the Bluebell Wood, where the most spectacular swathe of flowers awaits. nationaltrust.org.uk/winkworth-arboretum | 01483 208477 2 WAKEHURST Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex, home to over 500 acres of ornamental gardens, temperate woodlands and a nature reserve. Swathes of native bluebells carpet the woodlands from April with a rich blue hue and gentle perfume. kew.org/wakehurst | 01444 894066 3 THE NATIONAL TRUST’S CLIVEDEN ESTATE Visit Cliveden’s ancient woodland and be surrounded by a beautiful bluebell bounty within. Follow the bluebell walk to take you on a journey of cowslips, snowy wood anemones and dog violets, carefully maintained…

MAY ISSUE • Creative ideas for late spring pots • A sloping garden with dramatic views in California • Exuberant topiary planting around a Dorset farmhouse • Contemporary style in a windy seaside garden • Our preview of the gardens and trends to look out for at the 2019 RHS Chelsea Flower Show…

CHARLIE HOPKINSON Charlie, who has shot every Who’s Who portrait since 1993, photographs Nicola Spence, page 66. “Give me a gardener any day, they’re wonderful subjects.” MATTHEW BIGGS Matthew profiles the genus Pulmonaria for us, page 44. “What a pleasure to focus on pulmonarias for flower and foliage, one of the greatest joys of the garden in spring.” AARON BERTELSEN Great Dixter’s gardener cook, Aaron shows us how to get ahead with sowing seeds this spring, page 91. “Everyone can grow something to bring to the table” supper .…

Arundel Castle in West Sussex has been the seat of the Dukes of Norfolk for more than 400 years. In April and May its gardens are full of exceptionally abundant tulip displays. Swathes of bulbs are planted in their thousands to naturalise in grass, in borders and in large opulent containers. The gardens include a stumpery, herbaceous borders, rose garden, glasshouses and the Collector Earl’s Garden, designed by Isabel and Julian Bannerman. Arundel Castle, Arundel, West Sussex BN18 9AB. Tel 01903 88217, arundelcastle.org Cragside in the heart of Northumberland has truly unique gardens with stunning views. The estate has more than 30 miles of footpaths and lakeside walks, and is home to one of Europe’s largest rock gardens, which slopes down the valley to the Debdon Burn. Once home to…

When an established city garden is stripped out to allow for new underground rooms to be added to the house, there’s the chance to make something very different. But for garden designer Chris Moss, who worked closely with architect Sally Mackereth of Studio Mackereth on the renovation of this apartment on the ground floor and basement of what was once a Victorian artist’s studio in Chelsea, London, there were restrictions to consider before he could pick up a pencil. More than 70 per cent of the brick-walled plot has a maximum planting depth of 40cm that rather rules out large specimen trees. East facing, it is in the shade of the tall house from midday onwards; three of the existing trees had preservation orders and had to be retained; and…

The trees at Österlen are thinned by arborists but retain their natural habit. Opening the woodland canopy on the approach to the garden allows the wind to travel through it. Prior to this several of the larger trees were felled by storms. Pruning rejuvenates older trees and stimulates new growth. At Österlen Ulf worked with an arborist to reshape the established trees at the forest edge and in the beach forest. An open canopy also allows daylight to penetrate, creating the opportunity for a more diverse planting in the understorey.…

1 Disporum longistylum Greenish-yellow flowers appear in spring. Has black berries in autumn. Needs moisture-retentive, well-drained soil in full shade. 60cm x 30cm. 2 Primula ‘Millwood Double’ Tough yet beautiful. The first and best flush of flowers appears in May, then sporadically throughout the year. Best in shade but will tolerate some sunshine if the soil stays moist. 15cm x 15cm. 3 Polemonium ‘Lambrook Mauve’ With plenty of light, this flowers from mid April to June. Cut it back and it repeats. Likes well-drained soil. 45cm x 45cm. RHS H7† . 4 Omphalodes cappadocica ‘Starry Eyes’ White flowers, tinted pale blue, with a blue ‘star’ in the middle. A shade lover, it flowers in spring and again in autumn. 15cm x 15cm. RHS H5. 5 Anemone nemorosa ‘Vestal’ Gorgeous, with…

‘CHERRY’ INGRAM: THE ENGLISHMAN WHO SAVED JAPAN’S BLOSSOMS by Naoko Abe Chatto & Windus, £16.99 ISBN 978-1784742027 Part biography, part monogram, part cultural history of the turbulent relationship between Britain and Japan through the 20th century. Reviewer Jodie Jones is a garden writer. Japanese political journalist Naoko Abe came across the story of cherry-tree expert Collingwood ‘Cherry’ Ingram while researching a newspaper column. She became entranced by the story of an amateur enthusiast renowned among Western horticulturists as the man who saved many cultivars of Japanese cherry from extinction, while remaining virtually unknown in Japan. She paints a picture of a man born into privilege and eccentricity, who pursued his hobbies with passion. His first love was birdwatching, until he concluded that there were no great discoveries left to be…

SUNBATHE WITH STYLE AND SAVE £250 Chill in your garden with a set of two Panama sun loungers with matching ice box and comfy seat cushions. The all-weather resin construction is maintenance-free and comes with a 12-month warranty. Normally £499, now £249 To receive your £250 discount, quote GA2APRA at checkout (valid until 2 May 2019). 020 3772 8752 outandout.com ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE Working in association with the National Trust, The Sissinghurst Castle Garden Copper Planter, with its distinctive bulbous shape, pronounced rivets and verdigris patination, is a faithful copy of the original situated in the Cottage Garden at Sissinghurst Castle. A proportion of each planter sold will benefit the National Trust. 01386 584414 architectural-heritage.co.uk BACKDOORSHOES Step out in style! Lightweight, waterproof, durable outdoor garden clogs featuring unique prints. Sizes range…

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 Leonardslee Gardens Explore the collection of rare and endangered rhododendrons and azaleas amassed by Sir Edmund Loder at Leonardslee Gardens in West Sussex. The garden is reopening this month for the first time in almost a decade. Now under new ownership, it has been lovingly restored. From April 2019. £12.50. Leonardslee Gardens, Brighton Road, Lower Beeding, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 6PP. Tel 01403 220345, leonardsleegardens.co.uk 2 Henry Moore Drawings: The Art of Seeing Visit the former home of artist Henry Moore and enjoy an exhibition looking into the variety of ways he used drawing in his work, and how it was often the starting point for the sculptures, for which Moore was most famous. 3 April – 27 October, 11am-5pm. Henry Moore Studios & Gardens, Dane Tree House, Perry…

The Causses and Cévennes region of southern France was awarded UNESCO world heritage status in 2011 thanks to the tradition of agro-pastoralism that has shaped the countryside here for thousands of years. Causses is a southern French dialect word for the extensive elevated limestone plateaux that dominate the east of the region. The elevation here is around 1,000m on average. The gently undulating untamed landscape is dissected into named ‘Causse’ areas by the dramatic gorges of the rivers Tarn and Jonte. The porous ground and thin soils preclude intensive agriculture. Instead the pastoral tradition of open grazing creates a grassy steppe with few boundaries and many interesting flowers. The centre of this region is dominated by the high Cévennes National Park. Here the bedrock is granite and schist, the damper…

1 Gentiana acaulis Generally an easy plant to grow outside, this large-flowered gentian thrives in a sunny spot in Adrian’s scree garden throughout the year, with peak flowering in spring. 6cm. AGM*. RHS H5, USDA 3a-7b† . 2 Iris pumila hybrid Easy-to-grow dwarf bearded iris. Prefers a sunny scree. 10cm. 3 Glaucidium palmatum ‘Album’ A choice Japanese woodland perennial, with large, poppy-like, white flowers in spring. Happiest in moist, peaty conditions. 40cm. USDA 5a-9b. 4 Iris cristata Rapidly spreading, low-growing dwarf crested iris, ideal in woodland areas with some sun. Stemless, violet flowers have a conspicuous white patch with a narrow orange crest on each fall. 8cm. RHS H6. 5 Calanthe striata Known until recently as Calanthe sieboldii , this orchid is the only plant in this selection that Adrian…

If your picture of a typical botanist is of a man with a grubby cardigan and compost lodged under his fingernails, you are going to be sorely disappointed when you meet the UK’s chief plant health officer and deputy director for plant and bee health at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Nicola Spence carries her extremely long job title and distinguished career very lightly as she sparkles with eloquent enthusiasm for her job. The job in question is one of the most important in the country: it is she who spearheads the battle – and it is a battle – against the expanding repertoire of tree and plant diseases that are attacking our gardens, our landscapes and our countryside. She guides governments, nurtures scientists and advises the…

There was a time when almost every town of importance in the north of England had its own tulip society. In Ashton-under-Lyne, florists met at Mr Cock’s aptly named Botanical Tavern. Stockport tulip lovers congregated at the Golden Ball and Florist Hotel in Millgate. Tulip growers of Leeds met at Mr William Dobbing’s establishment, the Golden Cock Inn at Kirkgate. Members of the Halifax tulip society favoured the Shoulder of Mutton Inn. But of the hundreds of tulip societies that once flourished, only the Wakefield and North of England Tulip Society in Yorkshire now remains. On 11 May, the Society will be holding its 184th show in Horbury, on the outskirts of Wakefield. The blooms you’ll see there are no ordinary tulips. In the petals of the exquisite, rare tulips…

There is nothing I enjoy more than browsing the vegetable seed section at a good nursery. For me, it’s the grown-up equivalent of a trip to the sweet shop. The colours, the pictures – it’s all positively mouth-watering. Real life being what it is, though, I would say that 95 per cent of the seeds I keep in my old wooden wine box are purchased online. While it may lack the thrill of the real-world retail experience, online seed buying has made great strides in the past few years, with more specialist suppliers springing up all the time. Shopping online is an excellent way of supporting these smaller suppliers, and you are also more likely to find unusual and heritage varieties, as well as the open-pollinated varieties you will need…

Outdoor living is not only popular but essential if you want to make the most of your garden. To do it effectively, however, you need to plan for the life you have, not the life you wish you had. Be honest with yourself about what you want to get out of your garden and you are well on the way to making it happen. The first step is to zone your garden, regardless of how small it is. My own garden is tiny, just 8m x 8m, but I have a dedicated cooking area, table and chairs, a relaxation zone and somewhere for my daughters to play – all wrapped up in masses of plants. I think it looks great and the whole family loves spending time in it. SEGMENTED…

THE NEW PLANT PARENT by Darryl Cheng Abrams & Chronicle Books, £17.99 ISBN 978-1419732393 A book on the basics of growing houseplants from the creator of Instagram account@houseplantjournal. A TREE IN THE HOUSE by Annabelle Hickson Hardie Grant Books, £25 ISBN 978-1743793749 Learn how to tune in to the seasons and create beautiful floral arrangements using foraged plants and locally sourced materials. THE APPREHENSIVE GARDENER: MANAGING GARDEN PLANTS by Griselda Kerr Pimpernel Press, £16.99 ISBN 978-1910258231 A comprehensive, practical guide to growing and managing garden plants. WOOD & STEAM by Charlie Whinney, photographs by Andrew Montgomery Kyle Books, £20 ISBN 978-0857835109 An introduction to the craft of steam bending wood and DIY projects to try at home. THE FORAGED HOME by Joanna Maclennan and Oliver Maclennan Thames & Hudson, £24.95…

1. OLD COURT NURSERIES Choose plants from the National Collection of Michaelmas daisies and a great range of other late-season perennials. Mail order catalogue available. Visit the nursery and adjoining Picton Garden May–20 Oct. autumnasters.co.uk | 01684 540416 2. WYKEHAM MATURE PLANTS Specialist grower of large trees, specimen shrubs and instant hedging for immediate impact. Specialist in screening for privacy and security. Yorkshire grown – hardiness guaranteed! Advisory services and delivery available. wykehammatureplants.co.uk | 01723 862406 3. NORFOLK HERBS An established family-run, countryside nursery, growing and supplying naturally raised culinary, medicinal and aromatic herb plants. We pride ourselves on quality plants, advice and service. Online ordering available. norfolkherbs.co.uk | 01362 860812 4. QUERCUS GARDEN PLANTS A Scottish nursery and gardens, situated 850 feet above sea level. Old favourites and unusual plants, propagated and…

1 MORTON HALL GARDENS TULIP FESTIVAL, 4 – 6 MAY Tulip magic in borders, pots and cut-flower displays, with expertise from Bloms Bulbs. Enjoy a peaceful stroll through majestic woodland gardens with gentle spring displays, or take a walk through the parkland meadow where camassias and alliums stand out from a sea of wildflowers. Worcestershire B96 6SJ | 01386 791820 | mortonhallgardens.co.uk 2 BLUEBELL ARBORETUM & NURSERY Visit our tranquil nine-acre woodland garden full of unusual trees and shrubs, many of which have been planted for their superb spring flowers and foliage. Most of the plants on display in our gardens are available for sale from our adjoining plant nursery. We are an RHS Partner Garden. Ashby, South Derbyshire LE65 2TA | 01530 413700 | bluebellnursery.com 3…