Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2021 i Gardens Illustrated Magazine

In this issue of Gardens Illustrated we focus on design and planting ideas for small gardens, including a colourful, useful space outside an architecturally designed house in Clapham, a serpentine garden inspired by an adjacent water reserve and a family garden in Kent using vernacular materials. Cool planting with a polish is the recurring theme. Further afield, on page 88, we visit the intriguing garden of a post-modern Californian house designed by West Coast movers and shakers Terremoto. The design of the garden includes native Californian trees and hints of the scrub and chaparral of the local landscape with the intention of drawing people and nature together. In the 1950s Vita Sackville-West wrote from Sissinghurst that ‘Everyone knows that the seeds of hardy annuals may be sown in August and…

Deeper connections Ask a group of garden designers to name their favourite garden, and there is one name you will hear time and time again: Rousham. Designed in the 18th century by William Kent, the Oxfordshire garden has changed little since Kent’s day, and remains hugely influential. For the past 25 years the artist Francis Hamel has lived in a cottage within its grounds and paints in a studio just a short walk from his front door. During lockdown he had the gardens largely to himself and turned the order to stay at home into an opportunity to capture their magical, empty beauty on canvas. His collection of paintings from that time, including The Statue of Apollo depicting Rousham’s famous Elm Walk in dappled light (above), will feature in a…

MONARDA ‘ON PARADE’ Monarda is a genus I trialled at Hunting Brook a few years ago. Monarda ‘On Parade’ was one of the winners of this trial and is still a superior perennial in my main border for late colour. This is a Canadian selection that bulks up quickly and thrives on my rich, heavy, clay soil. It has fuchsia-pink to magenta flowers, and the carmine-pink bracts under the flowers prolong its season of interest. Monardas often get mildew, generally because of drought, but this cultivar has always been mildew-resistant with me. I propagate it by division in spring. Height 1.2m. Origin Garden (species North America). Conditions Rich, heavy, clay soil that retains moisture; full sun. Hardiness RHS H4† . Season of interest July to September for flowers. ACTAEA CORDIFOLIA…

If you must go away, plan ahead. You are going to need help in the garden. And don’t forget, it’s not just about watering. Harvesting is equally important to keep plants productive and avoid food going to waste. Much better to have someone else enjoy it if you can’t eat it yourself. Leafy crops such as Swiss chard and kale will benefit from a thorough clean-up. Weed around them, and get rid of any yellowing or damaged leaves. This will help ensure good air circulation, making the crops less vulnerable to white fly and moulds. It also enables water to get closer to the stem and the roots, rather than being trapped and then running off the leaves into the surrounding soil. Early apples will be starting to ripen now.…

1 Selinum wallichianum A useful, late-flowering, hardy perennial that makes conical, white-spoked umbels above attractive mounds of soft, ferny foliage. The foliage is a striking foil for other flowers much earlier in the year. 1.4m. AGM*. RHS H6† . 2 Canna ‘Cleopatra’ This unusual canna usually produces bright-yellow blooms, but occasionally it has red stripes or even entirely sways towards red. It flowers all summer and has striking, green leaves with black marbling. 2m. RHS H3. 3 Dahlia ‘Fascination’ A dwarf, decorative-type dahlia that makes a healthy foil of dark-chocolate foliage against bright, magenta-pink, semi-double flowers. This shorter dahlia is excellent for bedding or at the front of the border. 1m. AGM. RHS H3. 4 Lythrum salicaria ‘Feuerkerze’ A classic, herbaceous perennial that makes sturdy clumps of tall stems bearing…

1 Eschscholzia californica ‘Apricot Chiffon’ (Thai Silk Series) Californian poppies thrive even in the poorest of soils, providing clouds of feathery, blue-grey foliage topped with masses of single and double flowers, tinged apricot-coral. Keep deadheading and it will flower until the first frosts. 50cm. AGM*. RHS H3† . 2 Crepis rubra This member of the daisy family looks like a beautiful, pink dandelion. Pale blooms on wiry stems are held above tight rosettes of grey-green leaves. It is drought-tolerant, and prefers full sun and good drainage. A great choice for gravel gardens. 30cm. RHS H6. 3 Nigella orientalis ‘Transformer’ A quirky, long-lasting, cut flower. Seedpods look equally as good dried. Wispy, fern-like foliage with tiny, yellow-green flowers that peel back to expose an elongated seedhead reminiscent of a jester’s hat.…

• In very small gardens it can sometimes be better to concentrate on a single view in order to have maximum impact from the house but in many cases, dividing a space into zones can help it seem larger, and helps ensure the space is used to its fullest, too. • Zoning can be achieved by dividing areas with trellis, flowerbeds, hedges or a small shrub, or by different surface treatments, for example lawn, gravel, hard landscaping, and so on. In urban gardens, I prefer to use the same landscaping materials throughout for consistency – I find it’s better to let the plants do the talking. • Try to place your different areas – for seating, dining or for raised beds or pots, for example – in different corners of…

CONVENIENT Wenko Folding Step Ladder, black, 3 tiers, £89.99, John Lewis, 0345 610 0359, johnlewis.com WOODEN Symple Stuff Wood Step Ladder, 3 treads, £99.99, Wayfair, 0800 169 0423, wayfair.co.uk SUPER-STYLISH Lucano 3 Step Ladder, black, £219, Metaphys, 0344 848 4000, conranshop.co.uk CLASSIC Timber Platform Step Ladder, 6 treads, £200.40, Ramsay Ladders, 01307 462255, ramsayladders.co.uk FIT FOR PURPOSE Wooden Orchard Ladder, 6 treads, £173.80, Hulley Heritage, 0114 272 1205, timberstepladders.co.uk STURDY Heavy-Duty Swingback Step Ladder, 6 treads, £85.20, Bigdug, 0800 088 6300, bigdug.co.uk PLATFORM STEP Hi-Step Adjustable Platform Ladder, from £395, Henchman, 0333 344 4229, henchman.co.uk EXTRA HEIGHT Niwaki Tripod Ladder Original, 10 treads, £339, Niwaki, 01747 445059, niwaki.com ADDED SUPPORT Charles Bentley 4 Tread Step Ladder with Handrail, £69.99, Robert Dyas, 0800 707 6677, robertdyas.co.uk…

The surprise of County Wicklow is that the mountainous landscape, reminiscent of Ireland’s celebrated southwest, is only an hour’s drive from South Dublin. Between heavyweight gardens near Dublin such as Powerscourt and Killruddery, and newer gardens of growing renown such as June Blake’s Garden (Tinode, West Wicklow) and her brother Jimi Blake’s Hunting Brook, are dozens of places steeped in atmosphere and plantsmanship. County Wicklow Charm and Anglo-Irish gentility can be found in quantity at Kilmacurragh, which features a ruined house, built by the Acton family in the 18th century, and an arboretum paired with the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin. Corke Lodge “is as close as it gets to Irish tropical,” says our trusted source Joseph Downing. The sublime gardens surround an 1820s Gothic villa, owned by architect-artist Alfred…

Lia Leendertz Lia visits Louise Dowding’s garden, page 50. “Louise’s garden has such a strong personality, and makes wonderful use of shades of green and of textures and shapes. It’s a real feast for the eyes.” Caitlin Atkinson Caitlin shoots an LA garden by design studio Terremoto, page 88. “The art of garden making embodied in Terremoto’s planned wildness, uncoiling from the post-modern house, is pure magic.” Britt Willoughby Dyer Britt photographs a beautifully tended Somerset garden, page 50. “A garden of two halves, cleverly combining formality and informality. A joy to observe and capture.”…

Newborn Harkness Roses has launched a new rose ‘The Lion’ to mark the 90th birthday of actress Virgina McKenna, and to recognise her work as a wildlife campaigner. Also known as the Born Free Rose, ‘The Lion’ is both a salute to McKenna’s 1969 film Born Free, and to the animal conservation charity she and her late husband, the actor Bill Travers, set up in its name, with £2.50 from each sale of ‘The Lion’ donated to the Born Free Foundation. The floribunda shrub rose has vibrant orange blooms in tones that evoke the skies of the Kenyan savannah and a strong perfume. Available now as a pot rose for £15.99, or from autumn as a bareroot rose for £13.99 from roses.co.uk A flair for floristry Constance Spry was one…

Be sure to check opening times and travel restrictions. Many garden visits will need to be pre-booked. Cluain na dTor Seaside Gardens and Nursery is situated in the wilds of Donegal in northwest Ireland. Seamus O’Donnell is the owner and one of the most knowledgeable plantspeople in the country with an incredible eye for a good plant. The garden is experimental and contains an eclectic mix of plants, including a wonderful tropical garden, and extensive meadows with perennials and shrubs (its name translates as meadow of the shrubs), but planted in a unique and very creative way. The nursery specialises in plants that thrive in coastal locations and are grown by Seamus himself. Ballyconnell, Falcarragh, Co Donegal, Ireland F92 H5W8. Tel +353 (0)87 626 7599, seasideplants.eu. My sister June Blake’s…

I’d love to start my own nursery so that I can run it peat, plastic and pesticide-free First plant love When I first moved to the UK from Australia I lived next to a river surrounded by nettles and after climbing through them so many times I developed an immunity to their sting. I always thought that was really cool. Horticultural hero As a female gardener who works alongside nature rather than trying to control it, Alys Fowler is a great role model. Favourite landscape and garden Great Dixter and its surrounding landscape. I completed my nursery traineeship at Great Dixter, and it was a dream come true to live and work there. From drinking coffee in the sunken garden to watching the sunset from the sheep field, every nook…

As a child, Dave Goulson was so drawn to insects that he once cooked several bees. He squirms at the memory. “I was in the garden after a summer storm and spotted these bedraggled bumblebees on a wet buddleja, so I rescued them.” Indoors he made them a bed of tissue and popped them on to a hotplate on the electric cooker and then, being eight years old, wandered off, only to be brought back to reality by the smell of smoke and the sound of his mother’s alarmed voice. “Maybe my career has been an attempt to make up for that moment,” he jokes. Happily his curiosity and empathy for the insect world has indeed led him to atone for his early sins. Fascinated by caterpillars and butterflies, he…

1 Borago officinalis ‘Alba’ Both the young leaves and white flowers of this fast-growing annual are edible, and bees love the nectar-rich flowers. Sow 1cm deep and at three to four weeks, thin to 25cm spacing. Deadhead after flowering to avoid an invasion of seedlings. 75cm. RHS H5. 2 Visnaga daucoides ‘Green Mist’ A great textural ‘filler’ with large flowerheads in versatile, lime-green/white tones. Good for cutting and attractive to pollinators. Just cover seeds lightly. Germination takes seven to 21 days. Thin to 20cm and consider twig supports as required. 1.2m. RHS H6. 3 Hordeum jubatum This eye-catching, early annual grass provides movement and texture. Feathery, silver seedheads are held on arching stems and tinge pink with age. Ideal for cutting and drying as well as providing a low-level foil…

• Meadow turf is a simple way to achieve a meadow, with ranges to suit most conditions. In this case Jenny opted for a shade-tolerant mix from Wildflower Turf that features some 41 species. • Prepare the ground by digging over the soil, removing any existing vegetation, stones or roots before raking the ground over to create a fine tilth. • Boost year-round interest by planting a succession of spring bulbs before laying the turf. • Water with care while the turf establishes. After a couple of weeks it will be drought-tolerant. Too much water will cause the grasses to dominate. • Cut back in late summer once the plants have shed their seed but before close trees drop their leaves. Take it down to 3-5cm, using a brushcutter. •…

THE FORAGER CHEF’S BOOK OF FLORA by Alan Bergo Chelsea Green Publishing Co, £27 ISBN 978-1603589482 Forager-chef Alan Bergo’s ‘root-to-seed’ approach to plants looks at edibles in a completely new way and opens up a whole new world of flavours. Reviewer Aaron Bertlesen is Great Dixter’s gardener-cook. As a gardener, I have spent a lot of my life on all fours weeding. Thanks to this fascinating book, I am looking forward to spending a little less time wielding trowel and hoe, and a little more enjoying the intriguing flavours of what the French call plantes spontanées. So much more appealing – and more accurate – than referring to them as ‘weeds’. Alan Bergo weaves together botany, cultural history and gastronomy in this guide to making the most not only of…

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.…

It came as quite a shock to the gardening community when in 2016 Helen Dillon announced she was leaving her wonderful garden of more than 40 years. Created with her husband, Val, at Sandford Road in Dublin, Ireland, that garden was as much a feast for the mind as for the eyes. Helen grew botanical treasures, such as glittering silver celmisias and the lovely woodland orchid Cypripedium reginae, with enviable ease. Good heritage varieties certainly earned their keep as well. Notable examples, such as the blistering-red Dahlia ‘Murdoch’ and a superb specimen of Kniphofia northiae with whirlpools of glaucous-green, aloe-like leaves could be found alongside calmer foliage, the perfect complement. There was something to appeal to everyone. Among the main focal points of the garden were the sumptuous, colour-themed borders.…

What A genus of bulbous plants belonging to the Alliaceae family that are grown for their pretty umbels of usually scented flowers, and for their long-flowering nature. Origins All are native to southern Africa with most found in the Cape area of South Africa. Season Flowering is from late spring and through the summer. Some forms flower continuously from May to October. Size Between 30cm and 50cm tall with a spread of about 30cm. Conditions Full sun and well-drained, rich soils that do not dry out in summer. Hardiness RHS H2-H3, USDA 7a-10b. *Holds an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. † Hardiness ratings given where available.…

#1 Top tips for growing hardy annuals “The key to sowing seed direct is to start with a clean seedbed, removing any competition the seedlings may face. I like to sow in blocks of short, straight drills as this makes it easier to tell what’s wanted and what isn’t. Sow thinly and be ruthless with thinning out; plants will be much healthier if they have adequate room to grow.” JENNY BARNES #2 Top tips for growing hardy annuals Sowing in late summer/autumn into warm soil gives hardy annuals a head start , but you need to ensure the soil is kept moist from pre-sowing to emergence. It is ideal to rake until the soil is crumbly and then sow after rainfall. If it’s dry, you should thoroughly irrigate the areas…

1 Oenothera lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterflies’ This hardy perennial can also be grown as an annual in the UK, being susceptible to the wet. A beautiful and graceful plant, it gets its name from its fluttering, white flowers. For the best results, sow in autumn and overwinter in a cold frame or with shelter from rain. 80cm. RHS H4, USDA 5a-9b. 2 Papaver somniferum single white-flowered Poppies are the divas of the June garden. Elegant and luxurious, they tower over many perennials. This icy, laundry-white form shines out across the garden. If you grow only one cultivar, the following year’s self-seeded plants should all be the same. 1.2m. RHS H5. 3 Nemophila menziesii ‘Penny Black’ Forms a low, creeping mound of svelte, black flowers outlined in white. It self-seeds but not…

• Don’t try to fit in too much. With any small garden there is the temptation to try to squeeze in too many functions, but if your key aim is relaxation, it’s even more important to keep things simple. • A green planting palette is always soothing, so when choosing your plants think first about overall leaf forms and textures and how the foliage will look together. You can add some seasonal highlights to the mix once you’re happy with the bigger picture. • Limit your palette. Don’t try to include too many different plants in a small garden; a few well-chosen specimens will have more impact. “I normally remove around half of my initial plant list,” admits Jamie. Apply the same principle to hard landscaping. “If you throw too…

This coastal area is often bombarded with winter winds of 90mph that scour glass, rust metals and rot wood, so outdoor materials must be chosen carefully if they are to last more than a season. • Although weather-beaten timber is highly fashionable, for wood to last it has to be hardwood. Ashwell Timber supplied the reclaimed tropical hardwood used in this design, sourced from derelict jetties, docks and lock gates, that can be reimagined as fencing, garden furniture and plant containers. • Jo Thompson has used DesignBoard composite decking, made of PVC and rice husk fibre on the stainless steel-framed, semi-circular deck for a low-maintenance and algae-proof alternative to timber decking. • The Purbeck stone paths have a textured finish to ensure that they are non-slip, long-lasting and will weather…

CONTEMPORARY GARDENS OF THE HAMPTONS by LaGuardia Design Group, Monacelli Press, £40 ISBN 978-1580935654 This monograph details some of the meticulous, quality, landscape design work of Laguardia Design Group in the Hamptons, USA. GROWING CONIFERS by John J Albers (photographs by David E Perry) New Society Publishers, £28.99 ISBN 978-0865719569 Full of stunning images, this detailed guide covers selection, growing needs, healthy soil requirements and the benefits of conifers. MICROGREENS GROWING GUIDE by Stefan Mager Aracaria Biodynamic Farm, £7.99 ISBN 978-780987166814 A comprehensive guide to growing your own organic microgreens at home, including detailed discussion of 28 microseeds and an eight-page, fold-out chart. THE JOY OF LIVING WITH PLANTS by Isabelle Palmer CICO Books, £9.99 ISBN 978-1800650275 A colourful book packed with over 60 inspiring and stylish projects to transform…