Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2021 i Gardens Illustrated Magazine

In this early spring issue of Gardens Illustrated we ask five leading designers to choose their favourite plants to grow from seed. For most gardeners the pleasure of growing from seed is unbeatable. ‘Each time a speck of something that looks like dust turns earth into a haze of green the seed sower has conjured a tiny, private spring,’ writes contributor Mary Keen. Growing plants from seed offers experimentation on a limited budget, an opportunity to grow plants that are difficult to find and the chance to grow a favourite plant in number. Some plants, such as zinnias and poppies, are simply better when seed grown. Among others, Mary recommends, the specked-leafed chicory Cichorium intibus ‘Variegata di Castelfranco’, a winter salad to eat every day; designer Charlotte Harris chooses the…

Jimi Blake is the owner and enthusiastic gardener at Hunting Brook Gardens in Co Wicklow. The garden is renowned for its modern and inventive plantings, and Jimi’s plant choices always excite and delight. This is where you’ll start your tour and Jimi will talk you through his approach and seasonal highlights. The tour continues with Jimi taking you on to his sister June Blake’s small but painterly garden in Tinode, and then the garden of gardening doyenne Helen Dillon, who has recently transposed her ideas developed over several decades to a new and smaller space. You’ll also discover the beautifully meditative garden Patthana, and the varied garden of Ardán, impressively located on the hilly peninsula overlooking Dublin Bay. Visits to these and further unique and considered, private and award-winning gardens…

TULIPA BIFLORA I have fallen out of love with tulips to be honest, as they tend to die for me after the first year and many look diseased even in the first year. That said, some species tulips do well for me, such as this one (also known as Tulipa polychroma) with its multi-headed white flowers and yellow base to the petals. I adore the sweet scent from the flowers, which is a real bonus at this time of year. It thrives in a well-drained area of the garden in full sun. Height 10-15cm. Origin Central Asia, from Crimea to China. Conditions Well-drained soil; full sun. Hardiness RHS H5† . Season March to April. OLEARIA LACUNOSA This is an underused New Zealand native. I like the quirky, lance-like leaves, which…

1 Tulipa ‘Flaming Purissima’ A creamy-coloured base to the bowl-shaped flowers flushes to a rosy-pink at the top, with a rich raspberry tint inside. Strong stems are good for cut flowers. 35cm. RHS H6† . 2 Fritillaria meleagris Chequered maroon-and-pink, bell-shaped flowers dangle from fine stems. Prefers moist, rich soils where it will self-seed. 30cm. AGM*. RHS H5, USDA 3a-8b. 3 Tulipa ‘Fancy Frills’ Frothy, fringed tulip in white blending to rose-pink up the petals. 50cm. AGM. RHS H6. 4 Primula elatior Our native oxlip with a rosette of oblong leaves and a flower stem topped by a whorl of flowers in creamy yellow with a darker yellow eye. Prefers damper conditions. 30cm. AGM. RHS H6. 5 Amelanchier x lamarckii Small tree with slender, arching branches adorned with early white,…

1 Panicum ‘Frosted Explosion’ An airy firework of a grass that looks beautiful in sun or pearled with raindrops. Will self-seed, or sow seed indoors February-May. 45cm. RHS H4† . 2 Kniphofia ‘Bees’ Lemon’ This drought-resistant, easy-to-grow red-hot poker swaps zingy yellow for the red but is no less striking for that. Divide clumps in spring. 90cm. RHS H5. 3 Salvia x sylvestris ‘Dear Anja’ An upright salvia with dark stems and purple-blue flowers. Take softwood cuttings in April. 1m. RHS H7. 4 Gillenia trifoliata One of Stefano’s favourites, both for its delicate flowers and its sturdy winter skeleton. Sow seed indoors at any time. 40cm. AGM*. RHS H7, USDA 4a-8b. 5 Oenothera biennis A beautiful yet tough plant with a delicate scent. Its yellow blooms appear at dusk to…

1 RIVERSTONE LONDON HERB GARDENS Herb specialist Jekka McVicar has been commissioned to create herb-filled raised beds and areas where residents can take part in their own herb growing at two Riverstone retirement developments in London, one in Fulham, the other in Kensington. These herbs areas will connect with the landscaped gardens being designed by Andy Sturgeon as a series of interconnected green promenades linking the apartment buildings and the communal spaces, which will include areas for sitting and relaxing, a lawn for activities such as yoga, tai chi and croquet, and shelters for year-round use. riverstoneliving.com 2 LANDSCAPE INSTITUTE DESIGN COMPETITION Landscape architect Adam Greatrix from Gillespies’ Leeds studio and graphic designer Hilary Barber have won the Landscape Institute’s design competition for transforming the urban landscape. Back Down to…

Alice Pattullo Alice illustrates Aaron Bertlesen’s kitchen gardening column, page 30. “I enjoy getting a sneak preview of Aaron’s column, as it lets me know what veg to look forward to in the coming months.” Alison Jenkins Alison begins a new container-planting series, page 44. “I loved the creative challenge of putting together this series and it was such a delight working with Eva on the photo shoots.” John Grimshaw Yorkshire Arboretum director John looks at the wealth of garden-worthy scillas, page 50. “This reminded me just how delightful scillas are, and makes me want to order a few thousand for the arboretum.”…

So much of what I am interested in can be found in the profession of gardener First plant love I was always fascinated by frogs when I was young and there were always lots of ferns in the cool, damp, shady corners where the frogs were often found. Ferns were the first plants that I started to collect; it was all about creating habitat and I soon became more fond of ferns than frogs. Career inspiration My mum was a florist and keen gardener. She would take us to visit gardens all the time, and to a nursery once a week and let me buy a plant for my area of the garden. Career change I studied Fine Art, worked briefly as a photographer’s assistant, then went on to study…

1 Matteuccia struthiopteris This early fern produces upright funnels of delicate, spring-green fronds from creeping rhizomes. A good coloniser for the woodland garden and associates nicely with woodruff. It can scorch in summer if it becomes too dry. 1m. AGM*. RHS H5, USDA 3a-7b† . 2 Prunus ‘Fugenzo’ A beautiful Japanese cherry introduced into the UK around 1910 by plant hunter Ernest Wilson. It has long, thread-like pedicels that carry plump, pale-pink blossoms below the new bronzy foliage. 10m. AGM. RHS H6. 3 Juniperus recurva var. coxii Collected in Aranuchal Pradesh by Michael Wickenden from a ridgeline we scaled in 2007. It has pendent, string-like stems covered in sharp, scaly foliage held on (typically) multi-stemmed trees. It makes a wonderful weeping conifer. 25m. RHS H5, USDA 6a-9b. 4 Cedrus atlantica…

What Small, bulbous plants, usually with blue flowers and strap-shaped, glossy green leaves, now including the former genus Chionodoxa. Origins About 45 species from North Africa, through Iberia to the Caucasus, usually at higher elevations, although some occur at sea level. Season From February to May: in the wild they often emerge from melting snow. Size From 5-30cm, usually expanding in size as flowering progresses. Conditions Sun during the growing season; well-drained soil. Hardiness Mostly RHS H6, with a few Mediterranean species in RHS H4. Many are suitable for gardens in USDA hardiness zones 2a to 8b, with a few only suitable for zones 4a to 8b. *Holds an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. † Hardiness ratings given where available.…

Charlotte Harris 1 Anchusa azurea Hugo and I both love Anchusa and have used it at RHS Chelsea, in the Kitchen Garden at RHS Bridgewater, and I grow it at home. Flowering a splendidly vibrant blue, it is a long-lasting looker in the May to July borders, lovely as a cut flower and the petals are edible in salads and drinks. Easy to grow from seed. Look for cultivars ‘Dropmore’ (pictured) or ‘Loddon Royalist’. H 90cm, S 45cm. RHS H5, USDA 3a-8b† . 2 Panicum miliaceum ‘Violaceum’ This annual grass is a great performer, looking good from June through to October. Handsome, deep-purple tipped seedheads provide valuable nectar and pollen, and are also popular with small birds. Ideal for filling gaps in beds to give movement and colour. Also good…

1 Narcissus ‘Cassandra’ A pheasant’s eye type with white perianth (the petals or outer part of the flowerhead) and a cup-shaped corona (the trumpet-shaped inner part) with a glowing orange and red margin and green eye at the base. Richly fragranced. Mid to late season. 30-65cm. 2 Narcissus ‘Resolute’ A Nelsonii Group daffodil with outer perianth opening primrose yellow, slightly reflexed with a corona in a soft rich lemon shading, darkening to apricot at the rim. Introduced before 1903. Mid to late season. It’s a dwarf daffodil that grows to less than 30cm. 3 Narcissus ‘Sarchedon’ A large-flowered Poeticus type with an extremely broad-spreading outer perianth and a tightly frilled and disk-shaped corona. Named after an ancient King of Assyria. Pre 1910. Late season and standard size 30-65cm. 4 Narcissus…

Sieve making is a combination of everything I love – tools, wood and steam bending Not so long ago, sieve making was big business. Farmers needed sieves to sift grain; miners used riddles (a sieve with a coarser, handwoven mesh) to sort coal; bakers used them, and of course gardeners would have had several to hand for preparing seed trays, sifting compost or for ridding their soil of stones. Most of these demands still exist, but the skill of sieve and riddle making has all but died out, replaced, like so many things, by automated machinery or by low-quality, often plastic, replacements that might be cheap to buy once but are not made to last. This is anathema to Steve Overthrow, a former vintage-car mechanic and amateur woodturner with a…

FOR SMALL GARDENS Cobra HM381 Hand Push Cylinder Lawnmower, £49.99, Mowers Online, 01452 616169, mowers-online.co.uk LONG BATTERY LIFE Greenworks 48V Lawnmower with Two 24v 2Ah Batteries & Charger, £249.99, Robert Dyas, robertdyas.co.uk EASY TO CARRY Flymo Turbo Lite 400 Electric Hover Lawnmower, £119.99, Robert Dyas, robertdyas.co.uk CLASSIC STYLE Clipper 20, £1,249, Atco, 0800 669 6329, atco.co.uk FOR LONG GRASS Husqvarna Novocut 64 Manual Lawnmower, £139.99, Chelford Farm Supplies Ltd, 01625 861588, chelfordfarmsupplies.co.uk RIDE ON Mountfield 1330M, £1,899, Mountfield, 0800 669 6325, mountfieldlawnmowers.co.uk QUIET MOTOR RMS 235 Cordless Lawnmower, From £199, Stihl, shop.stihl.co.uk STRIPED FINISH Allett Buckingham 20H Petrol Cylinder Mower, from £4,049, Allett, 01889 271503, allett.co.uk A FINE CUT Makita PLM4817 140cc Petrol Mulching Lawnmower, £239.95, Fastfix, 0117 955 1616, fastfix.co.uk…

MY HOUSEPLANT CHANGED MY LIFE by David Domoney, £9.99, DK, ISBN 978-0241458518 Using scientific research, this book shows us how houseplants can improve our mental wellbeing through colour, scent, habit and nurturing needs. THE HEALING POWER OF FLOWERS by Claire Bowen and Eva Nemeth, £12.99, Ebury Press, ISBN 978-1529108132 Learn the traditional meanings and holistic benefits of blooms grouped by their purpose – for love, joy, luck, calm, consolation and celebration. FROM FIELD & FOREST: AN ARTIST’S YEAR IN PAINT AND PEN by Anna Koska, £14.99, Pavilion Books, ISBN 978-1911641766 A lyrical book in the style of a journal, celebrating the natural world and changing seasons with beautifully detailed illustrations. HEAD GARDENERS by Ambra Edwards, £20, Pimpernel Press, ISBN 978-1910258323 An updated edition of the 2017 award-winning book, featuring two…

• Contemporary structure is softened by nature in a modern meadow garden in the heart of Kent • A coastal garden in Devon that has become a sanctuary for butterflies, bees and other pollinating insects • An Australian nursery that is showcasing some of the most beautiful plants for sustainable gardens • How to create stunning displays using flower bricks • The best, spring-flowering euphorbias ON SALE 6 APRIL 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.…

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 programmes at Dixter and worldwide lectures. He was awarded an RHS Associate of Honour in 2008 and an RHS Victoria Medal of Honour in 2019. 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.…

Scrubs up well If you feel like sowing something a little different this month, why not try Suttons’ Luffa Seeds? The Luffa aegyptiaca is a fruit similar to the climbing courgette, but when left to mature on the vine, it turns into a luffa sponge, more commonly named a loofah. You can create your own eco-friendly pan scourer or bath luffa by allowing the fruit to turn dark yellow or brown, then submerging it in a bucket of water until the skin can be easily peeled away from the sponge-like texture inside. Give the sponge a few washes to remove any seeds or sap, and then it is ready to get scrubbing. The luffa fruit is also edible when young and tender (up to 15cm) and can be cooked and…

For me, the date that marks the official end of winter is 21 March. As it gets closer, I truly feel I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Of course, it does not spell an end to the bad weather but the days are now palpably longer and green shoots are springing up everywhere. Admittedly, many of them are weeds – but it is still growth, and after a long winter I am happy to see any sign of life. The hibernation for gardeners is well and truly over by now, too. If you took my advice last month to have a rest, you’ll be glad because March is one of the busiest months of the year. This is the time to sow seed,…

WOODLAND EDGE Woodlanders are often early flowerers, rushing to make the most of the available light before the tree canopies fill out and cast too much shade. I had planted up a wide selection of plants and bulbs in individual pots –many more than are shown here – earlier in the year so that I had lots of options for arranging them in different ways for the final arrangement. The plants themselves are quite demure so the shape and character of the pots became key to achieving the look I was after. How to achieve the look Container and composition For this selection of pale and delicate plants using a range of different containers works best. I like the way the metals have different tones of grey but are neutral…

Although Sharon Fisher is delighted to find herself at the helm of Gardeners’ World, she had no great masterplan behind her rise to the top of gardening television. “I have a significant birthday coming up and so I have been thinking a lot about how I got here, but the truth is it just wasn’t planned at all.” She grew up in Kings Heath, Birmingham (near to the park from where Gardeners’ World was broadcast in 1996) and studied Communication Studies at university. After graduating she took on a voluntary position answering phones on Good Morning with Anne and Nick at the BBC’s Pebble Mill Studios. A subsequent job as a researcher on the show led to her first piece of horticultural serendipity, working with Stefan Buczacki on his practical…

• Don’t make the mistake of pushing all your planting to the edges of your plot. For privacy and seclusion, bring the planting into the centre. • Think about tiers and layers of plants, so you look at and through different heights when seated or standing. Tall plants at the front of a border can help create a sense of depth. • Trellis is good for giving immediate privacy but always use it as a backdrop for planting; you don’t just want to be looking at your boundaries. • Trees are a must in a small garden – they offer seasonality, form, interest and privacy. Get as big a specimen as you can, and remember you can sit under them, as well as look at them. • Remember that seclusion…

GROW: PRUNING & TRAINING by Stephanie Mahon DK Publishing, £9.99 ISBN 978-0241458600 While there’s no replacement for experience, this book brilliantly tackles its subject, offering expert knowledge on how to make the right cut. Reviewer Benjamin William Pope is a head gardener and writer. Whenever I teach, a topic that students always question is that of pruning. Of course, there are the basic principles to follow, but these change depending on plant type, situation and desired outcome. The various options that present themselves often lead to confusion and in the classroom, there is never enough time to go through every scenario. Inevitably, the lesson will end with requests for book recommendations. In DK’s latest addition, Grow: Pruning and Training, author Stephanie Mahon tackles this subject perfectly. The book is split…

Derry Watkins is one of Britain’s best and most passionate nurserypeople. The Special Plants Nursery near Bath offers a carefully chosen selection of more unusual garden-worthy plants and there are always seasonal highlights to be discovered. Special Plants Nursery also an online shop that allows gardeners to browse a great range of seeds, many of which will have been collected by Derry herself. If you’ve been inspired by our favourites seeds to sow feature on page 66, here’s an opportunity to try your hand at growing some stunning plants yourself. Derry stocks a number of the seeds chosen by our designers meaning you can create your very own Gardens Illustrated designer favourites display – and once you’ve tried them, we hope they’ll become your favourites too. OFFER Gardens Illustrated readers…

The narrator of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca is not the only person who dreams of returning to a special part of Cornwall. Between Bodmin Moor and the Fowey Estuary in the southeast, Lostwithiel is the perfect grid reference for exploring this county of coastline walks, cultural ghosts and bountiful flora. History in every stone ‘Lostwithiel has more to show in a small space than any Cornish town,’ wrote Sir John Betjeman. Fore Street alone begins with the 14th-century Duchy Palace, and proceeds up a mainly Georgian slope, taking in John Webb pottery, interiors shop Alice in Scandiland and Watts Trading Organic Emporium. Liddicoats Butchers, next door, offers “the best pasties you will ever eat”, according to Alasdair Moore, of the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Crossing the medieval bridge, Lostwithiel Antiques…