Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2016 i The English Garden

Helen Billiald Helen is a freelance journalist with a PhD in ecology and entomology. She has a particular interest in kitchen gardens and explores the beautiful walled garden at West Dean on page 22. Jason Ingram An award-winning photographer, Jason travels widely, photographing gardens, food and people. He visits the garden at Fairstowe, in Bath, for our feature on page 44. Paula Woods Paula is a leading journalist, stylist, and former magazine editor with a passion for property and gardens, not least her own walled garden. She considers the latest summerhouses on page 85.…

Support feathered friends in the garden through the warmer months with these simple tips. • Leave feeders in a range of places to attract a variety of birds. Tits prefer hanging bird feeders; bullfinches respond to bird tables. • A patch of loose, dry soil in an out of the way place creates a ideal dust-bath for them. • Opt for small bird feed as large nuts can be fed to fledglings which may choke on them. • Build a small pond to attract more insects. This will increase food available to birds in the garden.…

TUMBLING CASCADE Designed by Jim Reynolds, this recently created stone staircase of water, 60m long, tumbles towards the house from a carefully proportioned classical temple. It gives renewed emphasis to the Pleasure Grounds above, while echoing 17th-century landscape traditions. THE GROTTO This 18th-century structure was designed to allow visitors to ‘safely’ rediscover the primitive side of the natural. It held a surprise for the unwary in a further antechamber: at a given moment, stored water could be released from a tank above, thereby showering the unsuspecting ‘gentlefolk’ below. WALLED GARDENS The beating heart of the demesne is the restored and capacious productive walled garden. In the larger of these, deep herbaceous borders follow wide gravel paths that centre on a circular pool and fountain. From here, paths lead to the…

• Take a notebook whenever you visit gardens or go out in your own, so you can write down combination ideas. You will not remember otherwise, even if you think you will. • When trying to place a plant in an existing scheme, it helps to pick a bloom and carry it around to ‘offer it up’. You can even leave it in a milk bottle in different spots to see what it looks like with the other plants. • Choose the best form of a plant. There is always one cultivar that has the edge, whether it is how it holds itself, flowering length or the size of the bloom. • Although I try to avoid bedding out, Cuphea ignea and Cuphea cyanea are worth the trouble as they…

SPHAERALCEA ‘CHILDERLEY’ An upright hardy shrub for a sunny spot, offering a profusion of soft orange flowers among sage green leaves. SWERTIA BIMACULATA A striking biennial for part-shade. It was collected from woodland clearings in temperate forest areas in East Asia. VERBENA ‘LAVENDER SPIRES’ A tall and rigid Verbena with upright spikes of deep lilac flowers. It offers blooms all summer long. ACONITUM ‘BLUE OPAL’ Large blue flowers on a dark upright stem emerge from a neat leaf rosette that looks good from spring onwards. PHLOX MACULATA ‘REINE DU JOUR’ An elegant perennial, short in stature but strong in growth, boasting pure white flowers with bright pink eyes. ROSCOEA ROYAL PURPLE HYBRIDS These hardy, orchid-like, dark-hooded purple flowers add excitement…

BERRY CHEESECAKE JARS MAKES 6 120g digestive biscuits 40g unsalted butter, melted 200g cream cheese 1 tsp vanilla extract 200ml double cream 40g icing sugar 400g mixed berries Pulse the biscuits in a food processor until they resemble breadcrumbs. Transfer to a mixing bowl and add the butter. Stir well and split between six 350ml jars or glasses. Beat the cream cheese with a whisk until smooth. Add the vanilla and cream, then sift over 30g of icing sugar. Beat until soft, pillowy peaks have formed. Crush the berries and stir through the remaining icing sugar. Ripple half the berries through the cream, then add to the jars. Top with the remaining berries. Can be kept refrigerated for up to one day before serving. Adapted from Teatime, from Cath Kidston…

Summerhouses are usually considered permitted development and planning permission should not be needed as long as: • The height does not exceed 2.5m when within 2m of a boundary wall. • The height does not exceed 3m (flat roof) or 4m (pitched roof) when positioned more than 2m from a boundary. • The total area does not cover more than 50% of the garden. • The summerhouse is not to be used as self-contained accommodation. • The structure is no closer to a road or highway than the original house. However, as these rules can vary, it always pays to check with your local authority prior to any construction – especially if the summerhouse is to be within the curtilage of a listed building or conservation area.…

In spring, when we launched The English Garden Future Fund 2016, we asked hopeful garden designers to produce a design for a small London roof garden. Applications flooded in and our judges, including Inchbald director Andrew Duff, have whittled the entries down to a shortlist of four. Now it is your chance to pick the designer you think should receive The English Garden Future Fund 2016. The winner will have the chance to study garden design at the world-famous Inchbald School of Design with course fees paid, take part in work experience with award-winning garden designer Janine Pattison, help create a show garden at Chelsea and network with the best in the profession. This annual scheme began when a reader left The English Garden a sum of money in her…

‘GREEN JEWEL’ Discovered in the Netherlands in 2005, this is a reliable, long-lived garden perennial. Well-branched stems carry single to semi-double jade-green petals around a raised, central, dark green cone. ‘Green Jewel’ flowers freely from midsummer until the first autumn frosts, and blooms have a light but pleasing scent, something that is not often found in coneflowers. This variety is good for cutting and drying, and the seed heads are loved by goldfinches. Try growing it with Achillea ‘Hella Glashoff’, a soft, pale lemon yarrow, for a cool, subtle combination at a time of fiery autumn colours. ‘AUGUSTKÖNIGIN’ Despite recent successes in their breeding, with more new cultivars reaching the market, coneflowers in shades of pink, purple and white remain the best garden plants, adapting well to most types of…

With its cheerful orange and red flower spikes, Kniphofia rooperi is valued by gardeners for adding colour to borders in October and November. It was introduced to Britain from South Africa by Edward Rooper, a career soldier, knowledgeable botanist and accomplished watercolourist. Edward Rooper was born on 25 January 1818, the fourth son of Reverend Thomas Rooper of Wick Hill, Hove, and his wife, Persis. He joined the British Army and made two tours of duty to Southern Africa, in 1846-1850 and 1852-1853. By way of relaxation from his responsibilities, Rooper painted watercolours of landscapes and flora, and collected seeds and bulbs which he sent home to his father. His father would forward the more interesting plant specimens to Sir William Hooker, director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and…

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 and explore 500 acres of beautiful parkland and formal gardens in the heart of Kent. The summer is the perfect time to visit the English cottage-style Culpeper Garden with its neat box hedges and colourful flowers such as irises, hollyhocks and roses. Immerse yourself in the illusion and theatre of the Lady Baillie Mediterranean Garden featuring exotic foliage plants such as palms and banana trees. Garden tours run every Wednesday at noon. OPEN: All year round. MYDDELTON HOUSE GARDENS Bulls Cross, Enfield, London, EN2 9HG Tel: 03000 030 610 | www.visitleevalley.org.uk/myddelton Myddelton House Gardens was created by EA Bowles, one of Britain’s most influential self-taught gardeners. His…

Abundant August, when summer borders reach their peak and kitchen gardens overflow with produce. Who wouldn’t want to be outdoors this month, with so many of the most colourful perennials in flower, most of the urgent jobs done and time simply to relax and enjoy the garden? There are plenty of perennial-packed, colourful gardens to enjoy in this issue, including three with wonderfully restored walled gardens. First, there is West Dean in West Sussex, with its magnificent colour-themed borders. Next is Ballyfin, an historic Irish estate now home to a luxury hotel and a walled garden brimming with fruit, vegetables and cut flowers. Meanwhile, at Lamport Hall in Northamptonshire, the walled garden has had a contemporary overhaul with bold blocks of prairie-style planting. On a smaller scale, at Bosvigo in…

PLANT PESTS & DISEASES DEMONSTRATION 3 August, Surrey Learn how to spot and control common pests and diseases in the garden on a walk around the grounds of RHS Wisley. £60-£73. 10.30am-4pm. Tel: 0203 176 5830; rhs.org.uk BAT-FRIENDLY GARDENING 12 August, Chelmsford Discover a range of bat-friendly plants and find out how to bring bats into the garden during a guided tour of the Hyde Hall Hilltop Garden followed by a visit to the Essex Wildlife Trust’s Hanningfield Reservoir. Tickets £10. Tel: 0203 176 5830; rhs.org.uk SOUTHPORT FLOWER SHOW 18-21 August, Southport The country’s largest independent flower show features splendid show gardens, flower and vegetable displays, fine foods and celebrity guests. Tickets from £19. Tel: 01704 547147; southportflowershow.co.uk ASHBOURNE SHOW 20 August, Ashbourne To mark its 125th year, this year…

• Ensure that flowering continues into late summer, and onwards, by constantly deadheading. At Ballyfin this is vital to maintain a regular supply of cut flowers for the house. • Plan ahead for the following year by repeat planting the most reliable and top-performing flowering perennials in your borders. Our long borders are packed with varieties that need little physical support other than from their neighbours, so the borders look natural and free of intrusive plant supports. Try cultivars that aren’t too tall, such as Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’ or Nepeta ‘Six Hills Giant’. • Weed continually to ensure that valuable nutrients aren’t denied to the productive crops. Although the walled garden isn’t organic as such, no artificial fertiliser is used – only farm manure to feed the beds – and…

CHOICE DAHLIAS Wendy doesn’t have to dig her dahlias up every year, so she is particularly keen on them. ‘David Howard’ is one of the best from the hot garden, as it doesn’t need any support. Another favourite is the mini pink pompon ‘Franz Kafka’ (above), which thrives in the walled garden. SOOTHING HUES Wendy follows the advice of Gertrude Jekyll. “I don’t want to look straight out on reds and hot colours,” she says. “Jekyll advised having quite bland, soothing hues around the house.” Wendy followed this concept when designing the gold, white and blue scheme in the Vean garden, alongside the house. PLANT PERFECTION For a visible contrast, Wendy combines plants and colours by working in opposites. With contrasting colours, this is easy, but “if you are working…

THE WALLED GARDEN Blocks of perennials were chosen for their ability to look after themselves when planted in large drifts and their hardiness. Planting in rows is easier to maintain. A large area of long grass in the centre encourages wildlife and has seen an increase in bees and butterflies. THE LONG BORDERS Flanked by a high brick wall planted with an elderly Wisteria, the long borders feature plants such as Rudbeckia, Lilium henryi and hollyhocks. They spill over the gravelled path, and form a pleasing contrast to the structured topiary shapes on the lawns beyond. THE COCK-PIT This raised bed surrounded by a stone wall is rumoured to be a 17th-century cock-pit. Now a central garden feature, with the hall behind it, it is planted with towering, low-maintenance self-seeding…

As the sun starts to dip and the evening draws in, the smell of charcoal on a barbecue will have taste buds tingling. Fill the terrace with plants that sparkle in dusky light: consider pure white lilies and starry jasmine, violet pelargoniums and Verbena, and make sure there are ample pots of herbs on hand. Stripped of their leaves, stems of rosemary make ideal skewers for barbecuing meat, or can be thrown on the coals to release their aroma. In small gardens, barbecues can take up a lot of space but there are many neat, compact designs available. Choosing a gas barbecue removes the need for bulky bags of charcoal – look to Campinggaz, Landmann and Cadac for easy pieces. Weber is also a popular choice. If space is not…

The quintessential summerhouse has long been an integral part of English garden design, and while Bernard Shaw and Virginia Woolf found inspiration in one and that ultimate of British institutions, the WI, first met in one, its history as an entertaining space can be traced back to the 15th century. Traditionally built solely for enjoyment and use during summer months, today the humble summerhouse can also be elevated into a functioning all-year round room. However, for many, it is still the picturesque structures of the Victorian era that epitomise classic summerhouse styling, with the National Trust garden at Hidcote sporting a fine example. Timber remains the most enduring build material, and will always sit well within the garden, whether left to silver to a soft patina, for a natural aesthetic,…

Designed as mobile shelters for shepherds guarding their flock, these characterful huts combine traditional craftsmanship with contemporary living, and as they are deemed temporary structures, no planning permission, or indeed base, is required, making them the ultimate instant summerhouse. For those requiring authentic replication, “proportions should be based closely on Victorian originals,” says Richard Lee, of Plankbridge Hutmakers. “The wheels should be set outside the body of the hut, and be larger at the door end and smaller at the steering end. Durable and practical corrugated iron cladding is, of course, the signature detail.” Alternatively, tactile timbers and modern cedar cladding can offer a new take on heritage styling. And although most huts still take their design cues and footprint from the original, their once sparse interiors have long gone,…

One of our four shortlisted designers will be awarded a £6,680 bursary to study garden design at Inchbald School of Design and gain a priceless experience of a lifetime. Now it is down to you to choose the winner, as the decision will be made by online public vote. Go to theenglishgarden.co.uk/offers/future-fund-finalist and follow the instructions to vote for the entrant you think deserves to receive the funding. Voting closes on 19 August 2016. We will announce the winner in an upcoming issue and follow their progress throughout next year.…

Perfectly combining bright colour, dainty flower form and ease of growth, hardy fuchsias are the answer to many gardeners’ prayers. In bloom from midsummer to the first frost of autumn, this is a length of service unrivalled by any other shrub save, perhaps, roses. Because of their responsiveness to both light and hard pruning in spring, hardy fuchsias have a multitude of garden uses. In mild areas, most keep their framework of branches and can be used as short hedges or mixed with other summer-flowering shrubs including Hypericum ‘Hidcote’, Leycesteria, Buddleia and Caryopteris. Smaller varieties can be treated as herbaceous plants and cut back in spring, mixed with plants that flower later in summer such as Agastache, Solidago and Helenium alongside other late-summer daisies. In general, the hardiest varieties of…

It can be a challenge to keep gardens looking colourful and interesting in the latter half of summer. The main flush of perennials that enlivened borders has passed and will be taking a well earned rest, and unless they have received first-rate care, bedding plants will be looking a little tired. But there are ways to perk things up, the speediest and most creatively gratifying being to plant up a container or two with flowering and foliage plants that will carry their appeal through to the mellow days of autumn. Choose a large container so a worthwhile number of plants can be squeezed in, and aim for an immediate effect by placing them close together. EASY EDIBLES Metal buckets, old or new, make inexpensive but indestructible homes for plants and…

1 Stan Fairbrother Garden Structures Stan Fairbrother Garden Structures was established in 1998 and with over thirty five years’ experience, Stan has earned a reputation for crafting some of the finest garden escapes in the country. Creating beautiful designs from traditional construction, a garden building by Stan Fairbrother is the perfect choice if you desire a bespoke, wonderful piece of architecture that will last you for many years of enjoyment to come. Tel: 01772 814274 Email: enquiries@stanfairbrother.co.uk  www.stanfairbrother.co.uk 2 Oxford Planters Ltd Oxford Planters Ltd are designers and manufacturers of hardwood planters, tables, benches, obelisks and garden gates. The hardwood products are all individually handmade to order in the company’s Oxfordshire workshop and are available in Oak, Iroko and Accoya®. Tel: 01608 683022 - 07765 188725…

“Now the irises in the top border are flowering again and the roses are looking healthier than they have done in ages” Embracing change: it is hard to do – whether in the garden or in one’s life. A garden is a process, not a product and it changes all the time. But sometimes the change is in a direction we don’t like, or at a pace we don’t much care for. When I began my garden at Morville, I planted trees – maples, birches and pseudoacacias – as a backdrop to the plantings of roses, herbs, vegetables and fruit trees that were to form the backbone of the garden. The trees, now almost fully grown, give age and distinction to the garden. But collectively they are now capable of…

There are 18 species of bat in the UK but their habitat is threatened by building works, felled woods and uprooted hedgerows. Protect bats in your area and enjoy watching them flying at twilight. • The best bat boxes are in areas with lots of sun, at least 5m off the ground and close to a reliable water source. Where possible, it is best not to attach the box to a tree as dense branches can obstruct flight paths. • Make sure the bat box is made of wood that is untreated and that it has a rough surface for extra grip. The entrance to the box must be small and narrow enough to keep out predators – the common pipistrelle bat reaches only 5cm in length and weighs less…

The colours clash, contrast and harmonise in turn, moving the eye around constantly – a balancing act CORNISH GARDENS, WITH THEIR ATTENDANT CAMELLIAS, rhododendrons and magnolias, are often associated with spring. The surprise of Bosvigo in Truro is that it is, in fact, a summer garden, created by owner Wendy Perry over the past 40 years. “Shrubs rule in Cornwall,” she says, “but I am not a shrub person at all – in fact, I hate camellias. It is the mouldability of herbaceous plants that attracts me. You can create an effect with them within a year or two, but when it comes to shrubs, you have to wait four to five years to see if you have made a mistake; or they die on you.” The 2.5 acres of…

Leeds Castle is set within 500 acres of beautiful grounds in the heart of the garden of England, Kent. Visitors never forget their first breath-taking view of Leeds Castle, rising from its moat, as it has done for more than 900 years. The ethereal Castle Island garden, originally created by one of the greatest garden designers of the 20th century, Russell Page, has been developed by Leeds Castle’s gardeners over the past year. Now it has an ancient feel in keeping with this historic site, with traditional flowers such as marigolds, roses and lavenders in shades of cream and white. In contrast, the Barbican rockery boasts flora and fauna from around the world. The Culpeper Garden was once the site of the Castle’s kitchen garden. During Lady Baillie’s ownership it…

THIS UNASSUMING, RECTANGULAR GARDEN in Sevenoaks measures only 9m x 4.5m but it contains a fascinating mix of seldom grown plants. “I look at making a garden from a plant point of view and I like plants that are a bit different,” explains Ron, whose interest in unusual specimens stems from plants that came from Crûg Farm, North Wales, a nursery patronised by his father when Ron was young. “I knew I wanted to fill the garden with plants. And as I began planting the garden, it soon became clear that I like plants that have interesting leaves,” he explains. The garden demands closer inspection at every nook and cranny. Rarely is a plant repeated or a clichéd planting combination discovered. A rich diversity of specimens crammed into such a…

Summer is the time to relax and enjoy the garden, when all the effort and hard work of spring pays off and planting plans come to fruition. There is no better way to celebrate than gathering friends and family and making the most of the garden with an al fresco feast: long, lazy lunches, weekends spent around the coals of a barbecue, and warm summer nights made memorable by the heady scent of evening-perfumed flowers. With the garden looking its best, use the opportunity to invest in good furniture and accessories that will make the celebrations complete.…

Once it is dark, fire up a chimenea or light a fire pit and enjoy chatting late into the night. La Hacienda sells a wide range of chimeneas and other accessories, some of which can be used for cooking. David Harber, too, has a sophisticated offering of fire pits and tables. An outdoor pizza oven such as one from Blistering Woodfired Ovens (free-standing, and easily installed and accommodated in most gardens) will keep everyone warm – and produce delicious food. As well as making sure there is a source of heat, installing lighting will turn your garden into the perfect party space for late-night reveling. Setting lights into steps and under benches, using uplighters to illuminate tree branches or boundaries and hanging lengths of bulbs will instantly create a celebratory…

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• Hardy fuchsias are easy to grow in most soils, and in sun or part shade. Flowering will be most profuse in full sun but fuchsias often struggle in the hottest days of midsummer, especially in drought-prone soils. • Fuchsias start growing strongly as nights become longer and dews heavier. Whether a fuchsia will be hardy depends on the severity of the winter as much as the variety chosen. It is worth experimenting with this, since even fuchsias regarded as half-hardy will often pull through a mild winter. • In cold winters, stems may be killed but the shrub will throw up shoots from the base. Although these will flower later than plants that have retained woody shoots, they will still bloom in late summer. • To give fuchsias the…

Plant up a pot for an instantaneous splash of colour and texture. Most good nurseries will offer variety of plants to bolster a late-summer display. STEP 1: Good drainage is vital for healthy plant growth. Raise containers off the ground on bricks or pot feet, and place crocks in the bottom to stop compost clogging the drainage holes. STEP 2: Most composts only contain a few weeks’ worth of food, so mix in controlled-release fertiliser granules that will come into play when these nutrients are exhausted. STEP 3: In late summer and autumn, plants start to slow their growth, so plant shoulder-to-shoulder for impact. Tease open the root balls to encourage new roots to spread. STEP 4: Containers can dry out rapidly on warm, breezy summer days. Water regularly, removing…

THE BEE GARDEN PLANT CENTRE Nestled in the beautiful surroundings of Stydd Gardens, The Bee Garden Plant Centre offers a unique combination of carefully selected bee-friendly plants and old fashioned roses. We may be small in size, but we have an abundance of top-quality, home-grown plants – many of them unusual – together with expert horticultural advice. Bee- and garden- related gifts are also available from our Shop, which like the café and other shops on site is open from Tuesday to Sunday. Tel: 07960 769940 thebeegarden@hotmail.co.uk | www.thebeegarden.co.uk | www.stydd.com Stydd Gardens, Stoneygate Lane, Ribchester, Preston, Lancs, PR3 3YN ASHWOOD NURSERIES A traditional working nursery situated in the West Midlands. We specialise in Hellebores, Hardy Cyclamen, Salvias, Hepaticas, Hydrangeas, Lewisias, Dwarf Conifers, Snowdrops, Primula auriculas and offer many more…