Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2021 i Gardens Illustrated Magazine

Although the days are darker and colder now, our gardens can still offer a multitude of pleasures. If we design and manage our plots with the whole year in mind, we’ll never be short of delights, even in December, when a dusting of hoar frost can bring a new beauty to skeletal seedheads, or low winter sun backlights tall grasses just so. In this issue, we delve into the season with some wonderful winter gardens. Created over many years by its dedicated owners, Hunworth Hall in Norfolk (page 38) is proof of how valuable a strong structure can be in the colder months, with its framework of clipped hedging and diverse topiary shapes. The Winter Garden at Wakehurst in West Sussex (page 70) provides interest of a different sort, with…

Biochar – a horticultural charcoal made in higher temperatures than regular charcoal – has long-term benefits for soil health and plant growth when added to your compost. Not only is its porous structure excellent at retaining water and nutrients, but it is also an effective way of storing carbon. Alongside selling packs of garden-ready biochar, new company Earthly Biochar is so keen to spread the word on biochar’s benefits that it is also selling a smokeless Biochar Kiln, which lets you make your own safely at home. Its innovative design ensures that wood smoke is directed to a combustion zone, leaving you with biochar that is almost pure carbon. Every burn in the 25-litre chamber produces ten litres of biochar within one hour. Handmade in Wales, the kiln costs £797…

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PITTOSPORUM DAPHNIPHYLLOIDES This is a superior evergreen shrub that I would love to see used more. From March until June it produces panicles of scented, yellow flowers, followed in summer by red fruits, which by winter turn black. If grown in a sheltered spot, the leathery leaves look healthy all year. I suggest pruning it to create a small evergreen tree as otherwise it has a scruffy habit. It survived the winter of 2010 when the temperatures got to -10°C. I propagate it by cuttings in summer, but it can also be propagated easily by seeds sown in spring when they are ripe. Height 2-5m. Origin China, Taiwan. Conditions Well-drained soil; full sun and sheltered from cold winds. Hardiness RHS H5. Season of interest Year round. PTERIS WALLICHIANA I got…

Soil improvement is the number one task this month. This is how I do it. First clear the soil, then spread a good 5cm layer of compost over the whole area. Dig a trench the depth and width of the blade of your spade, then dig a second trench next to it, this time transferring the clods into the first trench, flipping them over as you go so the compost is on the bottom. The worms will take the compost down into the soil, while the frost breaks up the clods on the surface. If you have any energy left after the digging, give areas of long grass a final cut and rake, and rejoice in the fact you won’t have to think about them again this winter. It will…

At first glance, Olga Prinku’s hooped artworks appear to be composed using traditional embroidery threads. On closer inspection it’s evident that most of the ‘stitches’ are in fact exquisite arrangements of dried and preserved flowers, foliage, berries and seedheads woven into a background of tulle (think ballet tutus and bridal veils). Looking closely and finding patterns in nature is one of the driving forces of Olga’s work. Having inadvertently invented her unique flowers-on-tulle technique several years ago – while making a festive wreath out of foraged flowers and an old garden riddle (sieve) – her craft has now expanded to include a range of beautiful designs. Olga loves the luxury of silk tulle as a background but often uses delicate but strong polyester, as the holes of its weave are…

• Barcham Trees Eye Hill Drove, Soham, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 5XF. Tel 01353 720748, barcham.co.uk • Bluebell Arboretum and Nursery Annwell Lane, Smisby, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Derbyshire LE65 2TA. Tel 01530 413700, bluebellnursery.com • Burncoose Nurseries Gwennap, Redruth, Cornwall TR16 6BJ. Tel 01209 860316, burncoose.co.uk • Frank P Matthews Berrington Court, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire WR15 8TH. Tel 01584 812800, frankpmatthews.com • Hillier Nurseries Ltd Ampfield House, Ampfield, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 9PA. Tel 01794 368733, hillier.co.uk • Majestic Trees Chequers Meadow, Chequers Hill, Flamstead, nr St Albans, Hertfordshire AL3 8ET. Tel 01582 843881, majestictrees.co.uk…

Roots of gunnera, iris and dock, oak bark, tansy, lichen, horsetail, gorse, bog myrtle and heather – all yield dyes of some sort In a garden on the untamed west coast of Scotland, where the weather can change in a trice, grows Rubia tinctorum, common madder, a plant native to the Mediterranean. “It’s quite a thing, growing madder in Scotland,” says Zoë Ritchie. “You need the weather for it. I’ve had my first crop, though.” Madder has been cultivated for centuries for the rich red dye that can be obtained from its roots. Zoë, a weaver, is waiting patiently to extract the crimson pigment from the roots of her madder plant. “It takes three years for the roots to establish for dyeing,” she says. Over the past ten years, Zoë…

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Carrier Company 01328 820699, carriercompany.co.uk Claverton Cloches 07521 467371, clavertoncloches.com The Cotswold Company 0333 200 1725, cotswoldco.com Crabtree & Evelyn crabtree-evelyn.co.uk Farrar & Tanner farrar-tanner.co.uk Fforest General Stores 01239 623633, fforest.bigcartel.com Gardenesque 0330 133 1469, gardenesque.com Gardenheir gardenheir.com Genus 020 3617 1166, genus.gs Horatio’s Garden shop.horatiosgarden.org.uk JamJar Edit 020 7358 5414, jamjaredit.co.uk John Lewis 03456 100367, johnlewis.com Mr Fox’s Garden 01803 612370, mrfoxsgarden.com Niwaki 01747 445059, niwaki.com Nordic House 01872 223220, nordichouse.co.uk Nordic Nest 020 3002 1196, nordicnest.com OYOY Living Design oyoylivingdesign.co.uk Petersham Nurseries 020 8940 5230, petershamnurseries.com Poddy & Black poddyandblack.com Rockett St George 01444 253391, rockettstgeorge.co.uk SixtySix thesixtysix.co Sophie Allport 01778 560256, sophieallport.com Sophie Conran 0333 240 1228, sophieconran.com Tam Mason 07764 576162, tammason.co.uk Toast 0333 400 5200, toa.st VonHaus vonhaus.com…

Alice Pattulo Alice enjoys the gardening insights she gets illustrating Aaron Bertelsen’s column, page 34. “I like the idea of sowing winter lettuce seeds to keep the fresh greens coming in the colder months.” Tony Kirkham Tony picks the best trees for pollinating insects, page 52. “We’re quick to choose a tree for its ornamental attributes, but shouldn’t biodiversity and the needs of pollinating insects factor too?” Alys Fowler Alys interviews Garden Organic’s head of horticulture, page 68. “Chris’s CV reads like no other. It’s truly an adventure fuelled by a very serious love of plants and dedication to reading the job pages.”…

If you’re thinking about refreshing your garden next year, then the chance to take a peek around some of the inspirational gardens that open for the National Garden Scheme is a great source of ideas – and proceeds from garden visits help support nursing and health charities. The 2022 edition of the NGS Garden Visitor’s Handbook is out now, with more than 3,500 gardens listed county by county, including many private gardens not usually open to the public. It costs £14.99, but Gardens Illustrated readers can order a copy for £11.99 by entering the code GI22 at ngs.org.uk…

If a plant from Jimi’s unusual selections this year has caught your eye, here are some of the nurseries from which he has sourced his own plants. All offer mail order. A few years ago my sister June and I had the pleasure of visiting the nursery Far Reaches Farm in Washington State, USA, while we were lecturing in that part of the world. It’s run by Sue Milliken and Kelly Dodson, who through their Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy are dedicated to conserving rare and endangered plants. I will never forget walking through the shade tunnels, which were packed to the rafters with choice woodlanders, such as the largest, most spectacular podopyllums I have ever seen. Far Reaches Farm, 1818 Hastings Avenue, Port Townsend, WA 98368, USA. Tel +1 360…

No matter what type of soil you have, it always helps to add a load of muck First plant love Growing pumpkins from seed and watching them grow as big as they will get. I still love doing it now. Who has inspired your career the most? My Nan; from an early age, I’ve always helped her in her garden. When I was very young she let me be hands on, from sowing seed and planting out to finally harvesting my produce. Favourite landscape and garden My Nan’s seven-acre wildflower meadow on her organic farm. It has been carefully managed for the past 30 years. I love the colours, the textures and benefits to wildlife and nature. Three most worthwhile tips for every gardener No matter what type of soil…

1 Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Orange Peel’ Deciduous shrub with a vase-shaped habit and good autumn colour, having scented orange flowers on naked a during winter. 3m x 3m. RHS H5, USDA 5a-8b† . 2 Cornus sericea ‘Bud’s Yellow’ A striking shrub with yellowish-green stems, becoming brighter in winter after leaf fall. Intense colour on youngest growth following hard pruning. 2.5m x 2m. RHS H7, USDA 3a-7b. 3 Buxus sempervirens Small, oval, evergreen leaves on this dense shrub, which is often used for topiary and hedging. Responds well to clipping and pruning. 60cm x 50cm. RHS H6, USDA 5a-8b. 4 Erica x darleyensis f. albiflora ‘Silberschmelze’ A tough, evergreen shrub with needle-like foliage and small, scented, white flowers that appear throughout winter. 40cm x 80cm. RHS H5. 5 Daphne bholua var.…

HERBARIUM by Barbara M Thiers, Timber Press, £24, ISBN 978-1604699302 Data collection informs and steers the course of humanity, but few of us have considered the origins of plant- and fungi-based data. This book shines a light on global herbaria… framed within the expansion of colonial trade. Thiers has scoured academic libraries and museums for a cornucopia of photographs, maps, artists’ renderings and specimen sheets that enrich and enliven the meaty text. A gem of a book for plant geeks, conservationists or anyone interested in natural history. Reviewer Hannah Gardner is a horticulturist and garden writer. GREAT DIXTER: THEN & NOW by Fergus Garrett, photographs by Christopher Lloyd and Carol Casselden, Pimpernel Press, £12.99, ISBN 978-1910258897 The book combines early black-and-white pictures – Nathaniel Lloyd standing in the bare bones…

Havana in December is the opposite of dark and cold, and for those who are wary of festive commerce, the attractions of this graceful old city lie elsewhere. Instead, take a more leisurely pace and allow yourself to look and listen, as the seductive strains of rumba, samba and chachachá drift through the bustling streets and squares. Promenading If you happen to arrive at night, you may find that the roads into Havana are indeed dark but they aren’t quiet – and in town the streets of the city are lit up by bars and restaurants. The act of walking is a pleasure; get to know the busy thoroughfares of the old town, Habana Vieja. Stalwart pre-revolutionary hotels give a sense of faded glamour, seen in the piano bar at…

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.…

Shortlisted for Plant of the Year at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Salvia nemorosa Caradonna Pink Inspiration (=‘Tuitsalv’) is an interesting pink form of the ever-popular S. nemorosa ‘Caradonna’. Promising to be as versatile as its best-selling cousin, it flowers repeatedly throughout the summer and the dark-pink flowers contrast dramatically with its towering, deep-purple stems. Very effective when planted in groups, it’s loved by pollinating insects and enjoys a sunny position. Available from Suttons, with prices starting at £11.99 for a 9cm pot. suttons.co.uk…

What Deciduous and evergreen, hardy, small to medium-sized trees or large shrubs with ornamental flowering and fruiting attributes. Origins Northern hemisphere, from temperate North America to temperate Asia. Season Flowering at different times throughout the year, across all four seasons. Size Up to 25 metres high. Conditions A fertile, moist but free-draining acid or alkaline soil in a sheltered position in the garden with full sun or dappled shade. Hardiness Depending on genus, these trees have a hardiness rating of RHS H5-H7, and are suitable for gardens in USDA zones 2a to 9b. *Holds an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. † Hardiness ratings given where available.…

Chris Collins likes answering job adverts, particularly if they have a hint of the extraordinary about them; those where your roommates are chimps, for example, or your workplace is a Royal church. Few people can claim to have so varied or unconventional a CV. It’s driven in part by a sense of adventure, but Chris’s passion for his subject is so infectious and exuberant, it’s easy to see how he’s traversed the globe for his love of plants. It all started back in 1984, in his home town of Brighton, where as a teenager he got an apprenticeship with the famous Brighton Parks. “I got to work with a lot of old boys, really good gardeners, who gave me a good standing,” he says. It was there where he saw…

13 Cyclamen coum A summer-dormant, bulbous perennial with attractive round leaves that appear through winter and spring, alongside glowing pink and white flowers. 10cm x 10cm. AGM. RHS H5. 14 Salix alba ‘Hutchinson’s Yellow Bark’ A deciduous tree often coppiced or stooled to promote young growth. After leaf fall, new stems glow an intense yellow. 10m x 5m. RHS H6. 15 Helleborus x hybridus ‘Red Lady’ Semi-evergreen, leathery palmate leaves throughout the year with nodding, cupped burgundy flowers from late winter into early spring. 40cm x 40cm. RHS H7, USDA 4a-9b. 16 Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Little Bunny’ Smaller in stature than the straight species, this perennial, clump-forming grass has fluffy seedheads that endure the worst of the winter weather. 60cm x 60cm. RHS H3, USDA 5a-9b. 17 Hamamelis mollis A winter-flowering…

1 Stipa gigantea Although this amazingly easy, non-spreading grass can reach over two metres in flower, its evergreen foliage reaches only 60cm. 2.5m. AGM*. RHS H4, USDA 6a-9b† . 2 Echinops ritro A drought-tolerant perennial that offers attractive seedheads, and early thistle-like foliage. Can sometimes self-seed. 90cm. AGM. RHS H7, USDA 3a-8b. 3 Tulbaghia violacea Society garlic offers attractive, slowly spreading clumps of linear foliage and a long summer flowering season. 60cm. AGM. RHS H3, USDA 7a-10b. 4 Myrtus communis subsp. tarentina Often kept clipped and used as a substitute for box in hotter and drier climates, this Mediterranean shrub has attractively aromatic foliage. 1.5m. AGM. RHS H4, USDA 8a-10b. 5 Pistacia lentiscus One of the best native shrubs, used by many new Spanish designers. Easily kept small through pruning,…