Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2021 i Gardens Illustrated Magazine

Set within more than 50 acres of parkland, the walled garden at Belcombe Court is a little over one acre. On a steeply sloping site, in spring it is planted with rows of tulips. Selected primarily for cutting, the list of cultivars grown at Belcombe reads like a roll call of the most prized and sought-after tulips – from the square-petalled to the scented to the exquisitely f lashed. Anna Pavord visits to find new favourites. On page 56 Matt Collins, head gardener at the Garden Museum, visits a very modern meadow in a compact garden in Kent. Flower rich, the garden’s design is informed by a love of nature, wildlife and conservation, and has been inspired by visits to British nature reserves to see wildflowers and wildlife alike. Perennials,…

The tour starts with a visit to the internationally celebrated contemporary gardens of Tokachi Millennium Forest, designed by Dan Pearson and situated on Japan’s most northerly island, Hokkaido. You’ll learn about the spirit of nature and sense of place from head gardener and international speaker Midori Shintani, as well as enjoying a cultural workshop and foraged forest lunch prepared by the gardeners. We’ll also study the stunning autumn flora of the nearby mountains. Then we transfer to Honshu, Japan’s mainland, to delve into the traditional gardens, culture and the unforgettable architecture of Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto and Nara, where gardens will provoke thought and delight in equal measure. Meet with the gardeners of the Chion-in Temple who will demonstrate the fine art of niwaki pruning and offer advice on the tools…

Top tools If you’re looking to give your tool shed a bit of a spring clean, then look out for Fiskars new tool ranges, designed to make your life a lot easier. From strong scissors, made from recyclable materials, and lightweight and ergonomic pruners with precision-ground blades that stay sharper for longer, to a new collection of lightweight planting tools, such as the Xact Standing Bulb Planter, which takes the backache out of planting bulbs and saplings. fiskars.co.uk Full bloom Escape to Hever Castle this spring to enjoy its joyful celebration of tulips. Head gardener Neil Miller, a lover of bold, bright blooms, has combined more than 25,000 tulips, including Triumphs, Darwins, Rembrandts and Parrots, to create a stunning array of colours that are likely to be at their best…

Just as the plants you want are starting to put on growth, so too are those you don’t. Weeds will compete with young seedlings for water and nutrients so act now to get on top of them, before they have a chance to set seed and multiply. Now that the soil is getting warmer, begin direct sowing seeds such as parsnip, beetroot, cutting leaf celery (excellent for soups and stews) and herbs such as dill and parsley. Plant out chitted seed potatoes. Watch the forecast, and be ready to cover the soil with a layer of fleece if there is any danger of a frost. As new growth starts to appear on fruit trees and shrubs, give them a good feed. I use an organic fertiliser made from pelleted sheep…

1 Tulipa ‘Gavota’ A mid-season Triumph tulip that flowers in late April and early May. A strong, some might say harsh, combination of brownish red, edged with pale yellow. Inside, the flower is all yellow. 50cm. AGM*. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b† . 2 Tulipa ‘Cairo’ A Triumph tulip that is a lovely soft sandy brown, and which gets browner as it ages. Broad, squareish petals make a flat-topped flower. An exceptional tulip and scented as well. Flowers mid April to early May. 45cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b. 3 Tulipa ‘Ballade’ Has the sharply reflexed petals typical of Lily-Flowered tulips. They open into a wide, shallow flower, deep pink, edged with white. Inside, a surprising turquoise basal blotch on a white background. 55cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b. 4 Tulipa ‘Greenstar’ Imagine…

Richard Scott calls what he does creative conservation. “Some people think that’s an oxymoron,” he says. “It’s a mix of deep science and wonderful art, and it’s about what you can do with very low resources.” IF SEEING IS BELIEVING, YOU HAVE TO MAKE PEOPLE SEE WHAT’S POSSIBLE His work under the banner of the National Wildflower Centre comprises colourful and awe-inspiring sown wildflower meadows and swathes of cornfield annuals in urban settings. Each summer, they can be seen blooming all over the country, but particularly in the towns and cities of the “Northern Flower House” around Liverpool, where the organisation was formerly based. Richard grew up in Lincolnshire, where his parents encouraged a love of the natural world. “My mum used to take us to the country lanes and…

1 Wisteria floribunda f. multijuga An elegant wisteria with flower clusters up to 1m long. Train up a post or pergola so the long flowers have space to hang down; if trained against a wall they can become entangled. Robert grows it through sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides). 8m. RHS H6, USDA 4a-9b† . 2 Acer Orientalia (= ‘Minorient’) A large shrub or small tree, the deeply lobed leaves are golden orange, flushed red in spring, light yellow-green in summer and maroon in autumn. 4m. RHS H7, USDA 6a-9b. 3 Magnolia wilsonii The pure-white spring flowers, which are lightly nodding, make for easy viewing in May to June. and then are followed by cerise-coloured fruits with metallic orange seeds in late August and September. 8m. AGM*. RHS H6, USDA 6a-9b. 4…

MAY MORNING A joyful arrangement of cottage-garden plants and wildflowers that hopefully conveys the cheerfulness and energy of an early summer hay meadow. How to achieve the look Container and composition This simple but interesting ceramic flower bucket with tiny elfin handles is fun as it plays with proportion, the wide neck gives lots of scope for a large bunch. I placed a gently scrunched ball of chicken wire inside the bucket before I started to place the flowers. This helps to hold the slender stems in position and achieve the romantic, loose effect of a wispy diaphanous hay meadow. For contrast I’ve grouped it with a low ornate flower brick holding a single stem of a show-stopping fancy flower. The neutral colour of the peony enables the eye to…

RUSTIC STYLE Rusted Finish Lobster Pot, H 90cm x D 60cm, from £80, Artisan Plant Supports, 01538 753128, artisanplantsupports.co.uk DELICATE DESIGN Elegance Pea Frame, set of 3 panels, sage green, H 1m x W 45cm, £49, Agriframes, 0117 934 1790, agriframes.co.uk WRAP AROUND Wrap Around Plant Support, set of 3, rust, £30, Harrod Horticultural, 0333 400 6400, harrodhorticultural.com MODERN TWIST Rusted Spiral, set of 3, H 1.5m, £56.50, Leander, 01773 550495, leanderplantsupports.co.uk WALL SUPPORT Clematis Wall Support, H 1.5m x W 45cm x D 23cm, £155, Muntons, 01285 706511, muntons.net HERITAGE Grande George Belle, H 1m x D 80cm, £62, Plant Belles, 01363 84514, plantbelles.co.uk SIMPLE SHAPE Ball Topped Parallel Cone, H 1.27m x D 40cm, £42.78, Plant Supports, 01584 781578, plantsupports.co.uk FUNCTIONAL SCULPTURE Sculptural Obelisk, H 2.4m x D…

BOTANICAL SOAPS by Marta Tarallo, Quadrille Publishing, £15, ISBN 978-1787136687 Add a touch of green to your morning routine with this practical guide on how to help reduce your bathroom plastic and create a range of homemade beauty products. DEAR FRIEND AND GARDENER by Christopher Lloyd and Beth Chatto, Aurum Press, £9.99, ISBN 978-0711255807 This much anticipated re-release displays a wonderful collection of letters between the late greats Christopher Lloyd and Beth Chatto. MINISCAPES by Clea Cregan, Hardie Grant Books, £10, ISBN 978-1743796863 Clea Cregan offers 16 projects covering four biomes for all skill levels. A perfect guide if you’re limited on space but wish to expand your plant collection. PLANT by Gynelle Leon, Octopus Publishing Group, £15, ISBN 978-1784726744 This delightful book guides you through how to style and…

The new US President has been known to shed a tear over the state of Delaware – unsurprising to gardeners familiar with the Delaware Valley. Just around the corner from the Biden house in Greenville, the botanic garden at Mount Cuba gives an idea of what to expect: in this case, a vast public park dedicated to native plants and historic collections, on a formerly private estate. Join the dots between the state’s largest city Wilmington and Philadelphia in the neighbouring state of Pennsylvania by starting at Hagley, the house and garden (and gunpowder works) of an 18th-century French émigré whose family name – Du Pont – still resonates in international industry as well as in gardening circles. Château country Winterthur is another Du Pont estate, last in the hands…

Isabel Bannerman Isabel visits Mothecombe House in Devon, page 62. “A long-term seaside fantasy for me, Mothecombe is a Queen Anne stately set within walled pleasure gardens.” Matthew Biggs Matthew explores a very special nursery, page 78. “Bluebell Arboretum & Nursery is an inspirational treasure trove, filled with ‘woody’ plants it is the finest of its kind in Britain.” Claire Takacs Claire photographs the beautiful gardens of Australian nursery Lambley, page 84. “I love this garden, which is dedicated to beauty and the seeking of best-quality plants for a dry climate.”…

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…

METAPANAX DAVIDII This is a wonderful member of the Araliaceae family and a superior evergreen shrub. It is similar to Metapanax delavayi but has larger leaves and is more shrub like. I grow it on the slopes in the valley where it can be seen from all angles and pruned it to raise its canopy to make it more see through. The leaves are palmately divided and the f lowers are ivy-like green umbels in summer followed by small black fruit. I have propagated it by cuttings in pure sand from the new growth in summer. Height 2.5-3m. Origin China. Conditions Moist, humus-rich soil with good drainage; full sun to part shade. Hardiness RHS H4† . Season of interest Year round. ERYTHRONIUM ‘JOANNA’ The April plant fairs, when they return,…

At tht point something clicked, and I wanted to know a bit more Earliest garden memory When I was around 23, I remember coming back to visit my mother’s house and suddenly realising what an amazing garden it was. Even though I had grown up there, I had never appreciated it until then. At that point something clicked, and I wanted to know a bit more. Career inspiration I’d like to mention Rob Melville (currently design director at McLaren Automotive) with whom I did my degree and MA in Vehicle Design at the Royal College of Art, as we inspired each other along the way. This provided the foundation for my creative journey, which continues through gardening. Favourite landscape I love the English countryside and wild spaces. I’ve visited many…

Twisted hazel Traditionally, coppiced hazel has been widely used in both ornamental and vegetable gardens. It is especially useful for staking a wide range of herbaceous plants. Twisted basket structures are easy and quick to construct and can be built to any size to meet an individual plant’s requirements. Hazel is naturally twiggy and the multi-branched stems provide plenty of support for new growth to grow through. The posts can be pushed directly into the ground as hazel is unlikely to root. Although beautiful in their own right, the structures rapidly become engulfed in leaf and blend seamlessly into a border. How to make Staking herbaceous plants is easier in the spring when you can see the new growth appearing, but it’s imperative that you provide support before the plant…

David has been heavily influenced by Beth Chatto and James van Sweden, but with this garden he has very much found his own voice Plantsman David Glenn is a leading exponent of dry-climate gardening and has gardened in one place for nearly 30 years. On 40 acres, Lambley Nursery & Garden is set around the 19th-century farmhouse David shares with his artist wife Criss Canning in the hot and dry windswept plains of the central Victorian gold fields, where the Djadjawurrung people farmed for millennia before Europeans settled in Australia. Lambley’s complex of gardens, which includes dry-climate, flower, fruit and vegetable sections, is open all year round. The biggest challenge in making a garden here is the extremes of weather – nights in winter can drop to -6°C while in…

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 PLANTS by Jonathan Drori, Illustrations by Lucille Clerc Laurence King Publishing, £20 ISBN 978-1786272300 An enlightening introduction to the human relationship with 80 important plants, delivered in an entertaining and accessible manner. Reviewer Matthew Biggs is a Kew-trained gardener Everything ancient has an interesting ‘back story’ and when it comes to the relationship between plants and people, the story goes back millennia. This personal selection of 80 significant wild and cultivated plants from around the world explores that ongoing association. Some, such as nettles are familiar, others, such as kuki, or candlenut tree, are less so, but as the text hops between countries and skips between climates and cultures, the overall message is resoundingly clear: the past and future of plants and humankind are inextricably…

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.…

What Euphorbias can be annuals, perennials, shrubs or succulents. Grown for their spring interest from their new growth, stems and inflorescences; for their architectural value over several seasons, and for thier surreal, ‘other worldly’ appearance. Origins Their natural habitats range from Macaronesia to the Himalayas. Season Early spring to autumn. Those featured in this profile flower in late spring to early summer. Size Variable from stiffly upright to prostrate and spreading with a height of between 10cm to 2.5m and a similar spread. Conditions To be found from Mediterranean scrub to cool temperate woodland in acidic or alkaline soil. This should be reflected in cultivation; some prefer free-draining soil in hot sunshine while others flourish in moist or dry shade. Hardiness Depending on species, their hardiness varies from RHS H3…

1 Silene dioica A charming wild perennial with shocking pink flowers that complement and follow on from bluebells in woods but are lovely to let romp in beds and gravel. Easily grown from seed, they are spring flowering and scented at night. 80cm. USDA 5a-8b† . 2 Aquilegia vulgaris A much-loved cottage garden plant that is easy to start from seed and lovely to let naturalise in gravel or beds. It hangs its violet blue flowers on knee-high stems in late spring. 1m. RHS H7, USDA 3a-8b. 3 Allium hollandicum ‘Purple Sensation’ An allium popular with both gardeners and bees. Their densely packed umbels of deep violet, star-shaped flowers appear in early summer above strap-shaped grey-green leaves. 1m. AGM*. RHS H6, USDA 4a-9b. 4 Ajuga reptans A member of the…

Bluebell Arboretum & Nursery is a ‘go to’ location for anyone seeking choice trees and shrubs. Its huge collection includes more than 50 different ornamental cherries, 100 different magnolias, including several reliable yellows such as ‘Lois’ and ‘Daphne’, and all 14 RHS Award of Garden Merit wisterias, which twine through trees and shrubs or grow around stout posts. All can be found in the nursery’s nine-acre arboretum, which both provides propagation material and demonstrates to visitors how trees and shrubs can create structure and add changing colour through the seasons. Detailed educational labels can transform a ten-minute visit into hours. Even if you’re not looking to buy a tree, a spring visit to the garden won’t disappoint, unless you come expecting bluebells for those are one spring treat you won’t…

1 Agastache ‘Candy Pink’ Commonly known as giant hyssop, this showy and fragrant flower attracts butterflies and bees all summer and flowers right into autumn. 90cm. USDA 6a-9b† . 2 Salvia forsskaolii A native of woods near the Turkish Black Sea coast, it is one of the best plants for dry shade, flowering spring and early summer. 90cm. RHS H5. 3 Phlomis platystegia A rare and beautiful phlomis from the Judean Mountains in Israel, which flowers over a long period from spring into summer. Best in a well-drained spot in full sun, it is just hardy enough to get through most winters unscathed. 1.2m. 4 Zauschneria californica ‘Catalina’ Collected on Santa Catalina Island off the coast of Southern California, this upright perennial has tubular, orange-red flowers that are a food…