Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2016 i The English Garden

Annette Warren Annette is a freelance writer specialising in gardens and interiors and has her own blog, www.gardenvisitoruk.com. She explores an unusual spring meadow garden on page 30. Agnes Stevenson Agnes has a special interest in Scottish gardens. Her exposed garden in the Forth Valley has the Ochil Hills as its backdrop. She visits a city garden in Edinburgh on page 70. Val Bourne Val is a lifelong organic gardener who lives in the windswept Cotswolds. Plant mad, she grows flowers, fruit and vegetables at home and on her allotment. She extols the virtues of geums on page 95.…

Spring is in full flight now, the dawn chorus alive with the song of native and migrant birds. Here is how to aid garden birds this month. • Do your best to avoid disturbing nesting birds in trees, shrubs and hedges. • Top up bird feeders and put food out on low tables for ground-feeding birds. Don’t, however, put out chunky foods or whole nuts, such as peanuts, which could choke fledglings. • Keep the bird bath topped up. Bird baths need weekly cleaning to remove algae and droppings, and prevent birds catching diseases.…

‘RED WING’ Produced on long stems, this tulip is simply sumptuous, producing striking red blooms that have a pleasing satin glow. They positively gleam in full sun and their fringed tips add layers of texture to spring displays. ‘YELLOW SPIDER’ A flamboyant, lily-flowered form that adds an exotic twist to the garden in spring. Try pairing it with the striking blue flowers of grape hyacinths (Muscari) or sky blue forget-me-nots to create a carpet of flowers beneath. ‘HONEYMOON’ A group of these pure white, finely fringed flowers makes for an exquisite spring scene. The flowers provide a crisp contrast to brighter, brasher varieties. The lacy blooms warrant close inspection so try growing them in pots. ‘LASTING LOVE’ The edges of these deep purple, fluted blooms are rimmed with a subtler…

ALWAYS AN EVENT WHERE HORTICULTURE amazes and entertains, Chelsea Flower Show is perhaps the finest jewel in the gardening calendar’s crown. This year sees Bowden Hostas create the Great Pavilion’s largest exhibit, Chris Beardshaw unveil a garden that will have a permanent home on the roof of Great Ormond Street Hospital and Matthew Wilson recreates York Minster in a garden. Discover the story behind the prominent plants and features that everyone will be talking about once the show is in full swing.…

The sculptures in my Meningitis Now garden are pushing the boundaries of what is possible technically. They are based on 3D scanned images of five of the charity’s young ambassadors, which are being turned into dramatic cedar sculptures. An exact likeness will be cut out of a block of wood, constructed from hardwood ply sheets, from Silva Timber, laminated together. The figures will be finished by hand and then sealed to bring out the rich colours in each layer. The final sculpture depicting the oldest girl will be based on Lauren Booth, who is 16 years old. Meningitis left Lauren with brain damage, hearing loss in one ear and cerebral palsy which has created balance difficulties. Meningitis Now funded the purchase of bikes for her and she is now hoping…

I’m deeply honoured to be participating in this year’s show. I know the RHS receives many entries, so I am delighted they have allowed me to exhibit. I wanted to design something new for Chelsea this year, but doing so has presented its challenges. There will be a sculptural wood-panelled water wall in the garden I have designed. Wood is not the perfect material for water features because it absorbs moisture and changes shape. A feeling of tranquillity and attention to detail are paramount, however, so I am working with engineered wood that has been specially treated so it won’t warp or rot. I am always inspired by architectural statements that are bold and daring on buildings, and I wanted to bring this audacity to the garden, too. Pergolas are…

• Designer Carolyn Grohmann, Secret Gardens. Tel: 07796 457537; www.secretgardensdesign .co.uk; • Garden built by design and build company Water Gems Tel: 01313 17 8585; www.binnyplants.co.uk • Plants supplied co by Binny Plants throu . Tel : 01506 858931; www binnyplants . .com • Scorched oak bench by cabinet maker Michaela Huber. Tel : 01316 609534; www.michaela-huber.co.uk • Lily Bowl water feature from Urbis, outdoor accessory designers. Tel: 01759 373839; www.urbisdesign.co.uk • Garden lighting by Mark Dunion Outdoor Electrical. Tel: 07973 343844; www.mgdelectrical.co.uk • Stonemasonry by Jorge de Sousa. Tel: 07529 344520; http://jbgraphics. wix.com/jorgesite • Sandstone slabs and Cedec by CED. Tel: 01708 867237; www.ced.ltd.uk • Beehive compost bins supplied by Cheshire Wood. Tel: 01829 741437; www.cheshirewood.co.uk • Black table and chairs by Fermob. www.fermob.com…

Geums have dainty flowers, often held on long stems, and they come in fruit-sorbet colours that range from tangerine to bright-orange, from strawberry-pink to bright-red and from sunshine yellow to vanilla ice. Look carefully at the flowers and a resemblance to the rose will almost certainly be discerned – geums are one of the few herbaceous members of the rose family grown in gardens. There are 50 species in all, spread through the cooler parts of Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa and New Zealand. They tend to be found in friable soil, sometimes in meadows, sometimes on woodland edges and sometimes on cool alpine slopes. As a result, they are never happy in a hot spot, or in dry soil. They need cool feet or roots to produce good plants.…

A happy and thriving climber is a well-trained climber. And a well-trained climber is one that has a good home. Whether wooden pergola or metal arch, climbing plants need climbing frames that suit their quirks. There is a home for every sort of climber, whether it is a rampant ‘clinger’, a heavy-stemmed flopper or a stubborn, stiff-stemmed rose. Climbers add height, seclusion, shelter and scent to the garden. They help manage the transition from one garden room to another, blur boundaries and conceal eyesores. As well as providing the correct support for the plant, a climbing frame needs to have style and elegance, too. Some of the beauty of a climbing rose dripping with flowers will be lost, for instance, if it is growing up a ramshackle, paint-peeled, wonky wooden…

Could May be the most exciting month in the gardener’s calendar? Not only is it the freshest, greenest month with plants leaping into growth, lush new shoots and cushiony mounds of unspoilt foliage, but it is also the month when we celebrate horticulture at its very best, at the Chelsea Flower Show. Enjoy a sneak preview on page 57 and online at www.theenglishgarden.co.uk. The gardens at Chelsea are jaw-dropping, a feast for the eyes and spectacle for the senses, but stangely, rather than coming home full of envy, I always enjoy my own garden more after the show. It is far from fashionable, but it is reassuringly domestic compared to Chelsea’s studied perfection. We are the lucky ones – unlike the starry designers, we can create a garden that is…

RHS ROSEMOOR CHILLI FIESTA 7-8 May, Devon The Terrace Marquee will house over 30 chilli producers, with talks from growers and a themed garden trail. Adults £11. Children £5.50. Tel: 01805 624067; www.rhs.org.uk RHS HARLOW CARR RHODODENDRON SHOW 8–9 May, North Yorkshire The garden celebrates its rhododendron collection with a weekend of activities. Join a ranger-led walk and discover fine rhododendron specimens. Tickets £11. 11 am–4pm. Tel: 0207 821 3142; www.rhs.org.uk THE CHELSEA FRINGE 21 May–12 June, London Head to the Chelsea Fringe for an alternative gardening festival with a community focus. A broad range of horticultural-themed exhibits and features. For details, visit www.chelseafringe.com CHISWICK HOUSE, KITCHEN GARDEN OPEN DAY 22 May, London Enjoy plentiful displays of flowers and homegrown produce, with experts on hand to answer questions. Herbs and…

GRASS PARTERRE ‘Formal yet wild’ is the description that Angel gives her unusual grass parterre. Angel deliberately chose bulbs that would not grow taller than the meadow grass itself; the vision should be a chequerboard effect of planting combinations giving brushstrokes of colour across the meadow. SUMMER INTEREST The four Sunset borders around the obelisk are planted with multi-stemmed Prunus ‘Accolade’ which signal the start of spring. These are underplanted with perennials including Echinacea and Veronicastrum as well as Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’, Geranium ‘Patricia’ and deep red dahlias. SUNDIAL BEDS The sundial beds, although laid out in a formal pattern, are planted with informal species that overflow onto the lawn, ensuring a rural feel as they overlook the glorious view of the surrounding countryside. Later in summer, white spires of…

• It is amazing what will occur naturally – we had bronze fennel growing up around tulips, which wasn’t planned and looked lovely. A few of my favourite planting partners for tulips include wallflowers, dark-leaved heucheras and forget-me-nots. • Wallflowers are a classic companion for tulips, creating a froth of flowers that masks their stems, in a range of colours from fiery orange to red and purple. For underplanting, forget-me-nots give you a choice of blue, pink or white and are generally always flowering at the right time. • A great colour combination worth trying is orange tulips with dark-leaved heucheras. I use short orange tulips such as ‘Orange Princess’ that sit just above the dark leaves. I discovered it at home when I saw an orange Geum next to…

People will inevitably compare our display on the Monument site in the Great Pavilion to the Hillier displays that occupied that position for so many years. Our exhibit will be an interactive space that you can walk through. I came up with the idea for it so I’m prepared to take the plaudits and the brickbats in equal measure. We have two fern experts, two bamboo experts, and a plant collector on board with us. The theme is A Plant Collector’s Journey, so I thought we needed a vehicle as part of the display. I thought of using an Orient Express train carriage, so I rang up the train owners, Belmond, and they said they had been thinking of being at Chelsea for some time. The train carriage we’re using,…

Many Chelsea gardens feel prefabricated, being dismantled so soon after being built. This feels like a permanent garden because straight after the show closes it will be moved to a roof-top site at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), where it will be a refuge for parents and staff. It has been designed specifically for the hospital site and the show almost feels like a tangent to the primary purpose of the garden. Although the site at GOSH is larger than the show garden, all the material from the Chelsea garden will be carried over to the site where it will be supplemented with additional planting, terraces, hedges and screens. The roof it is moving to receives little natural light, so the challenge is to give the same delight and visual…

I would describe my garden this year as ‘contemporary Medieval’. I’ve taken inspiration from York Minster, starting with the east window, which is an amazing thing. I’ve been able to view the individual panels of the window from scaffolding and it is the most amazing piece of 600-year-old art. The replica of the window in the garden will be 3.3m high and 4.5m wide, then there is a secondary free-standing window, 2.3m high and 1.5m wide. Fitted with stained glass, both will constantly cast coloured light through the garden. The series of beds in the garden has been planted to replicate the colours of the stained glass. Silvers have been easy to replicate through plants with silver foliage and there will be plenty of bearded iris – their opulent flowers…

Design a roof garden for an apartment overlooking the Thames. It belongs to a young professional couple who want an outdoor space that is easy to maintain, looks good all year round and adds value to their property. The garden measures 4.5m wide by 8.5m long. It is accessed by sliding doors that run its entire width and has a 1.5m high glass barrier to enclose it. It has a water and electricity supply and is designed to bear substantial weight. THE DETAILS • Design an urban roof garden to meet the brief above. You should produce a drawing on A3 paper with colouring where appropriate. Make a copy of your drawing before submission. • Provide a 100-word supporting document explaining the design. • Include a 200-word personal statement explaining…

Agriframes’ new Somerset range features arches and supports for garden plants that have been designed in response to customer feedback received at the Chelsea Flower Show. Manufactured in solid steel, the Somerset range combines strength with elegant styling. A rust-resistant coating adds gentle sophistication to planting schemes. The range is supplied in dark olive green as standard but may be customised in a choice of colours, from classic black to sage-green or bluebell. WIN one of five Somerset King Obelisks to create the perfect garden centrepiece. Enter the competition at www.theenglishgarden. co.uk/offers/agriframes . THE SOMERSET RANGE FROM AGRIFRAMES • The Somerset Fine Arch makes an interesting throughway, or focal point at the end of a path, with or without climbing plants. W1.25m x H2m…

‘VAN ESELTINE’ This crab apple with beautiful double pink flowers and upright growth is a resilient tree that is resistant to most disease. It was bred in the USA in the 1930s and has stood the test of time. The tree displays different colours in spring. The blossom starts off almost crimson when it is in tight bud, but opens to pink flowers which fade to a paler shade of pink as they age. This variety makes a fairly small, upright growing tree compared to other crab apples, so it is ideal if space in the garden is limited. Of the 40 crab apples on show at Brogdale, this is a real stand out tree. ‘LISET’ Developed in The Hague, Netherlands, in the 1950s, this is a really striking tree…

Spring is the ideal time to start foraging if you haven’t done it before. The flavours are at their best and plants are more easily identified when the hedgerows are not yet fully grown. Nettles and dandelions are familiar to most gardeners. Use young nettle leaves as a spinach substitute, and think of dandelions as a bitter salad leaf, like chicory. Other weeds to try include sorrel, jack-by-the-hedge and goosegrass or cleavers. Among edible flowers, try primrose (Primula vulgaris) and scented elderflowers. IF UNSURE WHEN FORAGING, DO NOT CONSUME WILD FOODS WITHOUT CONSULTING A PROFESSIONAL. THE ENGLISH GARDEN ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITIY FOR MISIDENTIFICATION OF ANY PLANT.…

The new battery-operated RM4140V 16-inch Cordless Rear Roller Mower from Cobra will help you maintain a lawn without the fuss of topping up petrol or the worry of electric cables. The battery runs for 30 minutes before it needs charging, is easy to lift, and runs quietly, too. With a 41cm cutting width, this mower is perfect for small- to medium-sized lawns, while the rear roller creates bowling-green stripes for a professional finish. FEATURES • 16-inch cutting width • Lightweight 40V lithium ion battery • Runs for 30 minutes without needing to be charged • Compatible with other Cobra 40V lithium ion garden tools • Seven-stage single lever height adjustment from 20mm to 75mm • 50-litre grass collecting bag To view the full range of Cobra’s lawn mowers and powered…

How would you describe your book? Hopefully it is an inspiration for readers to try their hand at creating different types of naturalistic and naturalised plantings in all sizes of garden, supported by practical advice and step-by-step sequences showing how to go about it. Were there any myths that you wanted to debunk by writing the book? It is a myth that you need huge amounts of space to establish naturalistic plantings of any value to ourselves, wildlife or the environment. It can be as simple as letting the lawn grow a little longer in places, being less tidy and ensuring the plants we grow, both native and exotic, will support wildlife and reduce our dependence on pesticides. Science has proved it is the collective patchwork and diversity of habitats…

BLUEBELL ARBORETUM & NURSERY Specialists in hardy trees, shrubs and climbers including a huge selection of unusual and rare species and varieties. Expert advice is available from our helpful staff. The nursery is surrounded by a nine-acre woodland garden (RHS Partner Garden), and visitors are welcome all year round. Informative website & reliable mail order service if you would like plants delivered. Tel: 01530 413700 sales@bluebellnursery.com | www.bluebellnursery.com Annwell Lane, Smisby, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire LE65 2TA WOOTTENS PLANTS Established for 25 years, Woottens is a traditional nursery specialising in hardy perennials, with some of the largest collections of Irises & Primula auriculas in England. Woottens also specialises in Pelargoniums & Hemerocallis. Mail order and design services. Bearded Iris Open Fields Everyday from 28 May – 19 June Horticultural…

“Equally, you could take inspiration from the countryside around you, which in May is wreathed with white” The evenings are getting longer now. I find myself working outside well into the twilight. I can’t bear to come in. The sound of birdsong carries on the still air – blackbirds, a robin, a solitary thrush – the reverse of the dawn chorus. I work on until the first pale stars join a fingernail of moon above the house. This is the moment when white flowers come into their own. As the rest of the garden fades into dusk, white flowers begin to glow as if they are lit with an inner radiance. Vita Sackville-West’s white garden at Sissinghurst was perhaps the most influential part of one of the most influential gardens…

There are few things as pleasurable as gathering flowers from the garden to bring indoors. Happily, for gardeners with a plentiful supply of blooms, the larger, relaxed bouquets with a country mood currently in vogue may be emulated with some success. Watchwords are abundance and asymmetry, with florists such as Vic Brotherson, Jam Jar Flowers, Rebel Rebel and The Flower Appreciation Society offering inspiration. FLOWERS TO USE Traditional English flowers are very much part of the look. Think blousy peonies and lily of the valley, along with neat ranunculus, muscari (below), anemones, blossom of Viburnum opulus, and the earliest dreamy sweet peas. Meanwhile, vases need not be the cut glass saved for best; chipped ceramics, silver-plated sporting trophies, jam jars and old milk bottles hold appeal. PERFECT PEONIES Follow these…

Ingredients 100g raw young nettle leaves200g unsalted butter150g granulated sugar3 eggs2 tsp vanilla extractzest and juice of ½ lemon250g plain flour2 tsp baking powder½ tsp salt For the buttercream: 150g unsalted butter300g icing sugarZest and juice of ½ lemon Method 1. Preheat oven to 170°C and line two 18cm cake tins. 2. Using gloves, wash the nettle leaves and remove stems. Boil for 3-4 minutes to remove the sting. Refresh under cold water, drain and puree. 3. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, then the leaves, vanilla, lemon juice and zest. Sift and add the flour, baking powder and salt. 4. Spoon mixture into tins and bake for about 25 minutes. Leave to cool on a wire rack. 5. Cream the butter, then sift…

A CHANCE MEETING ON A TRAIN WAS THE starting point for an Italianate-style garden near Presteigne that remains true to the vision of its designer some 90 years after it was conceived. Architect Sir Bertram Clough Williams-Ellis was yet to find fame as the man responsible for creating Portmeirion when he encountered some of the Coates sisters of Broadheath House in 1925 – the same year he acquired the neglected wilderness on the north west coast of Wales that would become the site for his magical Mediterranean-style village. Nevertheless the women were suitably impressed by their fellow passenger and commissioned him to create a two-storey extension for their Georgian home and remodel their garden. The resulting design, which suggests some of the features found at Portmeirion, makes much of the…

• Do not be in a hurry to change things: live with the garden for a year or more to get a feel for the space and see what has already been planted. Divide perennials and clumps of bulbs in order to multiply stocks and add to the sense of cohesion in the garden. • It is worth visiting similar properties or even gardens linked to the individuals who have shaped your own garden. Clough Williams-Ellis is known for Portmeirion, the village in north-west Wales, but his home at Plas Brondanw is also open to the public. • Become a garden detective: seek old photographs of the garden to establish how it looked in the past. Take a close look at existing original features to see exactly what they reveal.…

Creating a herb garden at Chelsea is the culmination of 23 years exhibiting at the show. I have always wanted to do a show garden and relish the opportunity to show herbs in a garden setting. Herb show gardens are somewhat of a rarity at Chelsea; the last one was designed more than 20 years ago by Simon Hopkinson of Hollington Nurseries. Simon was awarded a Gold, so I have much to live up to. The great difference between a floral exhibit and a show garden is that the attention to detail is applied differently. In the floral marquee, every flower and every leaf has to be perfect – as well as creating a good display that is pleasing to the eye and correctly planted. Plants in show gardens are…

Ever since I was 12 sitting in bed reading John Brookes’ Garden Design I’ve known that making a garden at the Chelsea Flower Show was what I wanted to do. I’m honoured to be taking part in the show this year designing the garden for Winton Capital. My first visit was when I was 19. I was overwhelmed by the spectacle and I really took the show to my heart. A copper band, etched with different algorithms will run through the garden. The algorithms will mathematically describe bark growth, cellular expansion and other fundamental plant growth functions. The copper band will sweep around the garden and form a bench, then a handrail leading up sweeping oak stairs to a belvedere. The band then becomes a deep planter, which wraps around…

Tucked behind one of the most elegant terraces in Edinburgh is a garden that has been designed to be inviting, regardless of time of day or season of the year. Its owners were clear that they wanted somewhere that would draw them outside all year round and at any hour. “Late at night they like to switch on the garden lights and sit around the lily bowl,” says designer Carolyn Grohmann who was commissioned to turn this awkwardly shaped space into a proper garden with year-round colour and space for vegetables to grow. The garden is long and narrow and it sits at a sharp angle to the house, finishing in a point at the far end. This, however, was less of a problem than the rubble that had accumulated…

Apart from the plants, surely the most important feature in any garden is its furniture. After all, there has to be somewhere to sit, relax and enjoy the garden when the hard work is done. There is a bewilderingly large array of furniture from which to choose, but browsing the range and investing in a new piece for the garden is a pleasure; pick now and it will be in place in time for summer. BENCHES & SEATS A bench may be traditional but it needn’t be boring. Avoid a municipal feel by choosing one with a twist or quirky design: elegant curves cleverly created by steam-bending oak for example, a Lutyens bench with grand arms, or one with patterns or extra details designed into the…

Many gardeners believe the handkerchief tree (Davidia involucrata) to be the most beautiful of all flowering trees in the temperate climates. It was first seen by the French missionary Père Armand David, who found a lone tree on a Chinese mountainside in 1869, but the tree was not brought into cultivation until another missionary, Père Paul Guillaume Farges, sent 37 seeds to the Vilmorin nursery outside Paris in 1897. Only one germinated – and it took over a year to do so. Pressed specimens, taken from a single tree found in the Yangtze Gorge, were sent to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew by Augustine Henry, who was working for the Imperial Maritime Customs Service. They arrived at Kew in March 1889 and were noted by nurseryman Sir Harry Veitch, who…

Spring is a fruitful time to go foraging. So many plants start to emerge quickly and as a result, there are incredible flavours available from the young growth, whether it is from buds, blossom or foliage. It is hard to better the flavour of freshly foraged plants with produce available in shops. For years, breeders have selected crops for uniformity rather than taste, with the result that some intensively bred crops have reduced flavour when compared to plants that are in a natural state. Foraging turns the traditional approach to gardening on its head. Many of the most delicious leaves are plants gardeners normally think of as weeds. But a session weeding out the first spring flush of weed growth can turn into a time for harvesting, too. Dandelions, nettles…

Anthology of Flowers By Jane Field-Lewis and Richard Maxted Quadrille, £15 An engaging blend of arresting images and rich, memorable plant information, this book is indulgence rather than reference. Set out like a Victorian botanical, the text entries are lively, illuminating and carry a modern twist that belies the classical nature of the imagery. Despite the text on each plant being succinct, this volume will arm the reader with some fascinating pieces of trivia with which to entertain green-fingered friends. The plant Alchemilla being so-called because of the efforts of alchemists to use water droplets from its leaves to turn base metal into gold is one of many intriguing stories told. Aside from the engaging text, it is ultimately the pictures of the plants themselves that are the book’s strongest…

LEEDS CASTLE Maidstone, Kent ME17 1PL Tel: 01622 765400 | enquiries@leeds-castle.co.uk | www.leeds-castle.com Celebrate the Year of the English Garden at Leeds Castle in 2016 with a programme of outdoor events including Chelsea Fringe, guided walks with the Head Gardener and beautiful colours and smells in the Castle gardens. OPEN: All year round. THE BISHOPS PALACE & GARDENS Off Market Place, Wells, Somerset BA5 2PD Tel: 01749 988111 | www.bishopspalace.org.uk Over 14 acres of spectacular gardens including picturesque, romantic, formal and Victorian styles, a wild flower arboretum, specimen trees, a contemporary Garden of Reflection and Community Garden alongside waterfalls, well pools, a moat with resident swans and a stunning medieval Palace. Don’t miss The English Country Garden Festival 10-12 June 2016 with Roy Lancaster – everything you need to learn…