Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2022 i Gardens Illustrated Magazine

By the time you read this our gardens will hopefully have been refreshed by a reasonable amount of the right sort of rain and our water butts replenished. Our countryside and rivers will be reviving to a more familiar, now oh-so precious green landscape. More and more ‘new-style’ gardens have been appearing in our pages - those with drought-tolerant planting, with bioswales to cope with flooding, with an aesthetic that responds more to the wider landscape rather than fighting it - but it often takes an event, such as the recent drought and really seeing the effects first hand, to properly shift our thinking. Hopefully, we are all keen to play our part and much of this comes down to the willingness to change and to trying to do things…

Plant Heritage has named a rare and graceful pink peony with an exquisite perfume as Threatened Plant of the Year 2022. Paeonia lactiflora 'Gleam of Light’ was first recorded in Kelway's Nursery catalogue in 1954, but hasn't been commercially available for more than five years. The only known plant in the UK is cared for by Roz Cooper as part of Plant Heritage's Plant Guardian scheme, but she has recently provided plant material to fellow enthusiast Caroline Stone who is building what she hopes will become a National Plant Collection of herbaceous peonies bred by Kelway Nurseries, plantheritage.org.uk…

Be sure to check opening times. Some garden visits may need to be pre-booked. The fascinating project that is Sussex Prairie Garden first opened to the public in 2009, after Paul and Pauline McBride returned to their family farm following years working as garden designers in Luxembourg. Having planned and created gardens in Europe, they wanted to plant their own dream garden. The initial planting established 35,000 plants over an eight-acre site. The work required for this first stage was massive but luckily the couple had the support of 40 friends and family who got stuck in to help. The majority of these plants were large groupings of herbaceous perennials in stunning combinations, within enormous beds based on the shape of a spiralling nautilus shell. Between the beds are broad…

IN BRIEF Name Admington Hall. What A garden of rooms surrounding a part Jacobean, part Georgian country house. Where Warwickshire. Soil Warwickshire clay and a high water table. Sire Five acres of intensively managed garden in ten acres of grounds. Climate Strong southwesterly prevailing winds, cold in winter, but with some shelter. Hardiness zone USDA 8. If any one aspect of Antonia Davies’ garden were to sum up her gardening approach, it would be her borders. Wide and generous, they tower and bulge with plants, overlapping and complementing each other, cheek by jowl, deeply unrestrained. “I have made lots of mistakes,” she admits cheerfully, “and you can tell straight away that this isn't the garden of a professional. Nothing was really planned, though there are themes to each area and…

PLANT PROFILE What Genus of around 91 species of cormous plants in the iris (Iridaceae) family. Most are found almost entirely in South Africa, with just four species found outside southern African. H. coccinea is the most commonly grown and familiar under its old name of Schizostylis. Origins Southern and central Africa Season Spring for winter-growing Western Cape species; summer/autumn for Hesperantha coccinea and other Eastern Cape species. Size 45-80cm tall, spreading to 50-60cm inafewyearsingoodsoil. Conditions Prefer moist, fertile soil in full sun. Some shelter can prevent them being rocked over in strong winds. Hardiness Most have an RHS hardiness rating of H4, but may prove more hardy in sheltered sites, and are suitable for gardens in USDAzones7a to9b. *Holds an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.…

Carien van Boxtel is a landscape and garden designer based in the Netherlands. She has created several large bulb displays for the annual bulb festival at Keukenhof for Dutch bulb Company JUB Holland and has also created a bulb meadow in her own garden in Zaltbommel. A brief overview of the planting scheme I designed this bulb meadow scheme to be planted into grassy public spaces in the Utrecht area. It looks good from February to mid May. It is naturalistic and ephemeral in style and uses many native choices as well as plants that in the Netherlands we call stinzen: spring flowers, mostly bulbs, introduced many years ago that grow semi-wild in some historic landscape gardens. The popularity of stinzen is rising among garden designers as they are beautiful…

Anemone coronaria ‘Mister Fokker' 5 bulbs The colour blue performs an extremely important job in the way it makes a garden seem to recede. And with this beautiful anemone you get a wonderful smudge of violet blue to grey sidling off and away into the distance. It bears large, cup-shaped, violet-blue flowers that have black centres. The flowers float above attractive, finely toothed, mid-green foliage. Soak the tubers overnight before planting. Flowers March - Aprii. 25cm × 20cm. RHS H5, USDA 7a-10b†. Narcissus 'Blushing Lady’ 5 bulbs The daintiness of this daffodil makes it an absolute essential for me when I'm designing bulb meadows. Small enough to have a hint of wildness, it naturalises fabulously. March - April. 30cm × 10cm. RHS H6, USDA 4a-8b. Narcissus ‘British Gamble’ 3 bulbs…

CHASING PLANTS: JOURNEYS WITH A BOTANIST THROUGH RAINFORESTS, SWAMPS AND MOUNTAINS Kew Publishing, £25 ISBN 978-1842467640 An engaging tale of adventures in pursuit of rare and unusual plants in faraway places, complemented by beautiful images. Reviewer Matthew Biggs is a plant expert and garden writer. Dr Chris Thorogood, the deputy director and head of science at the University of Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum is a talented artist, scientist and storyteller. And his raison d'être is plants. From the early pages, it is obvious that this self-confessed plant addict gets his kicks from seeking out the weird, rare and unusual around the globe, (particularly parasitic or carnivorous), regardless of location or risk. These expanded jottings from his diaries tell of botanical surveys, scientific research or conservation projects on behalf of…

Stephanie Donaldson Stephanie visits Tillingham Winery, page 40. “An inspiring example of how a seemingly hostile environment can support planting that thrives on no water.” Rachel Warne Rachel photographs a London garden, page 76. “What struck me about this garden was the way that Miria Harris has linked the Victorian house with its modern extension; it doesn't jar, it flows.” Tom Eaglestone Tom is one of three leading designers who suggests ideas for planting a spring meadow with bulbs, page 80. “Planting a bulb meadow is such an exciting and rewarding thing to do.” CONTRIBUTING EDITORS James Basson James lives in the South of France where he runs Scape Design, a practice specialising in low-maintenance and dry gardens. He is a fervent advocate for creating sustainable landscapes. The winner of…

It is increasingly important to cultivate plants in diverse garden ecosytems, similar to how they have grown for millennia Earliest gardening memory Taking it upon myself to propagate Carexpendula, the pendulous sedge, around the family garden. It's a fairly pernicious weed but was none-the-less a clear favourite of my four-year-old self, with its architectural seedheads, glossy evergreen foliage, and child-appealing scale. Is gardening a career change? I am not a career changer as such. However I feel so little is done in schools to promote careers in horticulture that to make it your career you're almost expected to have an epiphanic moment - which I had to reach mostly by myself, but still with more assistance than most. Most valuable training The Diploma at RHS Garden, Wisley provided me with…

IN BRIEF Name Tillingham Winery. What Minimal maintenance, gravel garden in a former farmyard. Where East Sussex. Size Approximately half an acre. Soil Heavily compacted Wealden clay. Climate Dry summers, and wet and windy winters. Hardiness zone USDA8. The Sussex Weald is a timeless undulating landscape with hidden corners where narrow roads overhung with trees wind through ancient woodland. Tucked away in one of these corners and reached via the evocatively named Starvecrow Lane, Tillingham Winery is a biodynamically managed vineyai'd and winery with a restaurant and rooms incorporated into the old and new farmyard buildings. A grid pattern of gravel beds echoes the surrounding vineyai'd and features naturalistic planting of perennials and grasses that soften the uncompromisingly agricultural appearance of the farmyard. Ben Walgate, the man behind this enterprise, moved to Tillingham as its tenant…

IN BRIEF Name Rose Cottage. What A contemporary perennial garden that sits alongside the nursery Pelham Plants. Where East Sussex. Size One-and-a-half acre garden within a two-and-a-half acre site. Soil Heavy worked, improved Wealden clay; slightly acidic. Climate Temperate Maritime. Hardiness zone USDA 9. The garden feels exciting yet also relaxing, as curved hedges dramatically slice through the site, forming layers of shelter as well as discovery Tucked away down a small country lane in the Weald of East Sussex sits a charming cottage. Woodland wraps around its eastern side giving it the feeling of seclusion that drew owners Paul Seaborne and his husband Glenn when they first saw the property 15 years ago. “We instantly fell in love with the place, and peace it offered,” says Paul. What it…

Eranthis hyemalis Cilicica Group 10 bulbs I always start at the end of winter with this delicate flower. Its cheerful, bright-yellow flowers are attractive to early flying pollinators. Flowers February March. 10cm × 10cm. RHS H6†. Galanthus elwesii 10 bulbs A reliable, early flowering, large snowdrop. The flowers have two green spots on the inner petals. February - March. 20cm x 10cm AGM*. RHSH5, USDA4a-7b. Galanthus nivalis 15 bulbs The fragrant, common snowdrop, used to prolong interest. February - March. 20cm × 10cm AGM. RHS H5, USDA 3a-7b. Crocus tommasinianus ‘Barr's Purple’ 25 bulbs One of the earliest crocuses to flower. The flowers are lilac-purple with orange stamens. February - March. 10cm×5cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b. Crocus angustifolius 10 bulbs Bright-yellow flowers with burgundy feathering. Scented. February - March 10cm × 10cm AGM.RHS…

Tom Eaglestone is associate landscape designer at Arne Maynard Garden Design. He is a plant enthusiast with a passion for bulbs and a keen gardener. Here, he has created an entirely new planting scheme exclusively for Gardens Illustrated readers. A brief overview of the planting scheme For this bulb meadow, I have selected either species bulbs or those that are naturalistic in their appearance and will happily naturalise in grass over time. I have aimed for a jewel-like effect, bringing a much-needed splash of colour at a time of year when we are all craving it. I have also chosen bulbs that will stay relatively neat in habit, providing a carpeted display when fully naturalised. The fritillary is an absolute must-have and works so well with the narcissi and muscari…

THE PLANT LOVER'S BACKYARD FOREST GARDEN Permanent Publications, £16 ISBN 978-1856232876 Find out how to turn your space into an abundant, biodiverse, edible and beautiful forest garden, whatever its size. THE CONTAINER GARDENER Kyle Books, £20 ISBN 978-1914239601 A reissue of Tophill's 2017 book. Includes sustainable, edible container ideas, and 40 suggestions on pairing plants and pots. THIRTEEN WAYS TO SMELL A TREE Gaia Books, £12.99 ISBN 978-1856754880 Thirteen essays on our connection to trees, through the sense that is most aligned to our emotions and memories. YOUR GARDENING YEAR 2023 Dorling Kindersley, £15 ISBN 978-0744073683 An easy-to-use book to help you know what to do when in the garden. Includes crop planner, ten-minute jobs and a notes section for each month so you can record your garden's progress. THE…

DIG IN PLANTSPERSON'S FAVOURITES VERNONIA ARKANSANA ‘MAMMUTH’ This improved form of the Arkansas ironweed is a tough perennial with stiff, upright stems that are feathered with lance-shaped, grey-green leaves. It blooms in late summer offering clusters of fluffy, rosy-mauve flowers. These develop into fluffy, rust-coloured seedheads - hence its common name ironweed. These elegant stems look good throughout the winter and should be cut down at the beginning of spring. Works well with tall grasses such as Miscanthus sinensis that also keep good structure through winter. AGM*. Height and spread 2m × lm. Origin Garden (species east central USA). Conditions Rich and fertile soil; full sun or partial shade. Hardiness RHS H7, USDA 5a-8b†. Season of interest August - October. AUSTRODERIA RICHARDII Formerly in the genus Cortaderia, the toetoe is…

September can be a magical month for the gardener. The weather in the UK can still be hot, although the sun's intensity has gone, making things feel just that little more relaxed. After a busy spring and summer, I relish this slower pace, where rose flowers are left to form hip, and drying seedheads of angelica, monarda and veronicastrum mature to create interesting structure for the months to come. For now, I don't mind the borders looking a little chaotic and loose, as long as they hold some warm, rich colours that reflect the approach to autumn. Brassy yellow Helenium ‘El Dorado’ shouts loudly from the borders, while Crocosmia ‘Miss Scarlet’ and Bistorta amplexicaulis ‘Fat Domino’ are ablaze with rich scarlet flowers. A recent favourite and arrival to the garden…

LATE SUMMER WARMTH At Cottesbrooke, we don't use many red and orange plants in the garden, as they can be difficult to incorporate with the softer pastel shades that seem to dominate our borders. There are, however, a few plants that we've fallen in love with over the years and just had to have. As long as there is a unifying theme, in this case, the warm, autumnal colour palette, then grouping together a collection of pots is a great way of displaying a number of individual plants. How to achieve the look Container and composition To emphasise the autumnal feeling I've used only terracotta pots. That way I can use a selection of shapes and sizes and still create a cohesive overall aesthetic. The banana, Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii'. is…

Neil Lucas has always been a workaholic. As a young man in his twenties, he had a full-time landscaping job, working for the local health authority, alongside a second demanding job tending the grounds of his parents’ hotels in Devon. And he somehow still found time to take an interest in ornamental grasses - and to care for a national collection of Ceanothus. So when, in 1994, the family decided to buy Knoll Gardens in Dorset, Neil was undaunted by the Herculean prospect of turning a rather formal, flashy garden attraction, principally geared to serving cream teas to coach-parties, into an innovative, plant-focussed, naturalistic garden. He could see the bones were there: during the 1970s, passionate plantsman John May had transformed an empty carrot field into an exotic arboretum, furnishing…

Jo Thompson is one of the UK's top garden designers and plantswomen, winning multiple medals at RHS Chelsea Flower Show. She is passionate about bulbs and the colour effects they can create, and is the author of The Gardener's Palette (Timber Press, £35). A brief overview of the planting scheme This bulb meadow was created as part of the planting scheme for the Bell Inn in Ticehurst, East Sussex. It was designed to peak in April and May, with early interest provided by daffodils. The showstopper of the whole scheme is Fritillaria imperialis ‘Orange Beauty’ (crown imperial). Its dusty-orange bells create enormous flowerheads that hover above everything else. Anemone coronnria ‘Mister Fokker’ provides a haze of blue in the background. Blue plays in important role in the way it makes…

Iris 'George'5 bulbs In my opinion, the most beautiful of the reticulated iris. Often one of the first of the spring bulbs to flower. Flowers February March. 10-12cm × 10cm AGM* RHS H7. USDA 5a-9b†. Iris tuberosa 5 bulbs Commonly known as the snake's head iris, this beauty has a very detailed flower that demands to be inspected close up. It looks great when naturalised and works well early in the season alongside snowdrops. February - March. 20-30cm × 50cm RHS H5, USDA 5a-9b. Crocus ‘Pickwick’ 5 bulbs This large crocus naturalises slowerthan its cousin Crocus tommasinianus, so looks great mixed in clumps with the latter. A popular cultivar for good reason, with stripy petals that open each day for a wonderful display. February - March. 10-20cm × 3cm. RHS…

 IN BRIEF What Small eourtyard garden, bordered by buildings on three sides, that makes clever use of hard landscaping materials. Where Cambridge. Size 8m × 6m. Soil Imported topsoil from HortLoam. Climate Southeast-facing garden in one of the warmest and driest parts of the UK. Hardiness zone USDA 8. There's long been debate in landscape design teaching about whether it's easier to design a small space or a large garden. Larger gardens can be a challenge when trying to divide them into usable areas, considering borrowed views, or ensuring there is an element of planting consistency. However, in smaller gardens every detail counts; material considerations can be contentious; and there's no fudging any part of the build. It's a debate that no doubt will carry on for years to come,…

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organicbulbs.com* Flowering bulbs make an incredible injection to the garden as the first shoots of spring appear. As the designers for Best in Show at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show with their Rewilding Britain garden, Lulu and Adam from Urquhart & Hunt have selected this range of bulbs, perfect for naturalising and all nurtured to the highest Soil Association Certified organic standards. All will provide an early season feast of healthy nectar for foraging Insects. Whatever the size of your garden, these flowering bulbs will enrich your lawns, meadows, borders or pots. OFFER Order bulbs as individual varieties at the offer prices shown, or order as a whole Naturalising Meadow Collection at the exclusive offer price of £85 (RRP £105). Galanthus nivalis × 20 (Feb-Mar) OFFER PRICE £10.15 (RRP…