Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2019 i The English Garden

Jane Perrone Jane is a garden writer and podcaster with a particular passion for houseplants and weird vegetables. She lives in Bedfordshire with her family and Wolfie the lurcher, and pays a visit to The Manor House on page 28. Heather Edwards Heather has been a freelance garden photographer for 14 years. Originally trained in horticulture, she has a passion for plants and garden design. She photographed Forde Abbey on page 60. Cinead McTernan Cinead is a garden writer, author and television horticultural researcher. Her third book, Grow Your Own Botanicals, published by Kyle, is out in May. She meets Somerset willow weaver Jay Davey on page 107.…

Farnborough, Berkshire The Old Rectory boasts a series of immaculately tended garden rooms, including herbaceous borders, an arboretum, a secret garden, roses, vegetables and even a bog garden. Visitors to these wonderfully diverse grounds can enjoy an astonishing array of rare and interesting plants, beautifully combined for colour and texture. With stunning views out across the surrounding countryside, the garden is the perfect setting for the 1749 rectory (not open to the public), which was once the home of poet John Betjeman. The Old Rectory, Farnborough, Nr Wantage, Berkshire OX12 8NX. Open for the NGS on 14 April and 19 May, 2-5pm, and on 26 June, 11am to 4pm. Home-made teas available. Adult £5; children: free.…

The bluebell is a persistent plant that often shades out other wildflowers through sheer density of numbers. Its presence in bracken is often testament to woods that have long since disappeared, and it’s perhaps this astonishing resilience, or possibly the unnaturally vivid colour of its bells, that has resulted in the bluebell’s strong connection with the supernatural in folklore. The ‘fairy cups’ or ‘fairy ringers’ were believed to be used by fairies to capture passers-by, and it was considered dangerous to walk through a bluebell glade.…

1. Bluebell cushion, £54. Tel: 020 8465 9819; lornasyson.co.uk 2. Edna mug, £25. Tel: 020 7734 1234; libertylondon.com 3. Bluebell fabric, £56 per meter. Tel: 020 8465 9819; lornasyson.co.uk 4. Bluebells sterling silver hoops, £141. anemidesign.com 5. Hyacinth & bluebell scented candle, £40. Tel: 03301 340180; florislondon.com 6. Miriam bluebell scented drawer liners, £7.95. Tel: 0333 222 4555; highgrovegardens.com 7. LSA International Polka teapot – bluebell, £38. Tel: 0800 587 7645; amara.com 8. Bluebell woods mural wallpaper (9m), £155. Tel: 0808 164 0130; bluebellgray.com 9. Miriam organic bluebell soap, £6.95. Tel: 0333 222 4555; highgrovegardens.com 10. Diamond weave shawl – bluebell, £29. Tel: 020 8877 4001; phase-eight.com…

CRUNCH UP THE GRAVEL DRIVEWAY towards the Manor House in Bedford in April, and it won’t be long before you are immersed in the frothy delights of spring flowers and the abundant blossom of the orchard. From the candyfloss pink of cherry tree Prunus ‘Shirofugen’ to the mauve tresses of Wisteria ‘Caroline’ clothing the walls, this place is full of the delights you’d hope to see in the most delectable of spring gardens. But it has a few surprises up its sleeve, too. Kathy Brown and her husband Simon have been here since 1987, gradually shaping and filling out their four and a half acres with a series of garden rooms that reflect their own passions and interests, from the literature of John Bunyan to the modern art of Mark…

FRITILLARIA IMPERIALIS Make an impact with this stately bulb, available in orange or yellow. Watch out for early attacks of precocious lily beetle. MUSCARI MACROCARPUM ‘GOLDEN FRAGRANCE’ This muscari, with a banana-like scent, thrives in a hot, dry, well-drained spot. PULSATILLA VULGARIS Fuzzy, down-covered buds open to reveal gorgeous flowers in plum-purple, which develop into fluffy seedheads. DAPHNE ‘FRAGRANT CLOUD’ A strongly scented daphne producing creamy-white flowers throughout April. EPIMEDIUM X RUBRUM Semi-evergreen leaves, tinged red when young, form 35cm clumps topped by red and lemon-yellow flowers in spring. ANEMONE RANUNCULOIDES This pretty ground-covering yellow anemone is best grown in partial shade. ERYTHRONIUM ‘PAGODA’ Clear-yellow flowers are held on elegant stems above broad marbled leaves – an eye-catching sight for…

• Garden design Sean Walter, The Plant Specialist. Tel: 01494 866650; theplantspecialist.co.uk • Indian sandstone paving Country Supplies, High Wycombe. Tel: 01494 562406; countrysupplies.uk.com • Round pot with hakonechloa, Urbis. Tel: 01759 373839; urbisdesign.co.uk • Steel planters and pergola Trevor Hinkley Blacksmiths & Forgemasters, Ashford. Tel: 01233 503195 • Dining Table Petersham Nurseries. Tel: 020 8940 5230; petershamnurseries.com • Garden Maintenance Alex Forster. Tel: 020 8549 0407; garden-excellence.co.uk • Studio and fence paint Sadolin. Tel: 0330 0240 298; sadolin.co.uk…

If you are seeking low-maintenance plants with structural presence, fabulous foliage and vibrant colour for your garden borders, look no further than euphorbias. Commonly known as spurges, they form the second largest plant genus in the world, containing over 2,000 species, and are found on every continent except Antarctica. The genus includes cactus-like trees native to Africa, the tender Christmas houseplant poinsettia, a couple that are native to British woodlands, plus a whole host of hardy species and cultivars that make great garden plants. Don Witton has been collecting euphorbias since the early 1990s and has held a Plant Heritage National Collection since 1998, growing them on his allotment near Sheffield in South Yorkshire. “Hardy euphorbias are such versatile plants and they more than earn their keep in the garden,”…

‘The Sutton’ Plant under a cloche from November to February or in succession, March to July, outdoors. This dwarf variety, can be grown in a pot in small gardens or on balconies. ‘Aquadulce Claudia’ This frost-hardy variety does very well started in autumn. It holds an Award of Garden Merit, which points to its healthy growth and abundant cropping in early spring. ‘Witkiem Manita’ Better suited to spring sowing, the short pods of ‘Witkiem Manita’ produce strong crops of tasty beans and can usually be harvested from May onwards. ‘Crimson Flowered’ Distinctive red flowers make this heritage variety both ornamental and productive. It prefers spring planting in beds or containers but will cope with an autumn sowing.…

Victorian gardeners went to great, labour-intensive lengths to ensure their ornamental glasshouses were colourful. There aren’t too many gardeners today who would go to the trouble of sowing an annual flower purely for display in the greenhouse, but for a cost-effective way to recreate Victorian splendour, a packet of seeds could be just the ticket. Sow one of the era’s favourite annuals now in pots or trays of seed-sowing compost and germinate in gentle warmth, at about 15-20°C. When the seedlings are big enough, prick them out individually and grow on, potting up as required. SALPIGLOSSIS These annuals, popular in the 19th century, are unflatteringly described as ‘gangly petunias’, but cultivars such as ‘Little Friends’ are compact. Stained-glass coloured flowers appear from June to September. SCHIZANTHUS Also known as ‘poor…

The winner of £7,500 and the title of International Garden Photographer of the Year is Jill Welham of North Yorkshire, England. Jill has a passion for the cyanotype photographic print process and her winning image, ‘Fireworks’, depicts three allium heads, the wet cyanotype process resulting in intricate circular patterns and fluid shapes. “Wet cyanotype is a modified version of the 19th-century photographic printing process, introducing moisture in a variety of ways, onto the treated paper before exposure,” Jill explains. “The chemical reaction produces interesting fluid patterns and colours not normally present in a traditional cyanotype print, so the resulting pieces are unique and present botanical prints in a different and painterly manner. Each piece is created with plants and flowers from my own garden and exposed using only the North…

Describe the garden for those who don’t know it. Kiftsgate Court, a Victorian house with Grecian facades, sits on the edge of the Cotswolds, amid four acres of dense planting. Surrounding the house are colour-themed rose, shrub and perennial borders, and an architectural Water Garden, framed by hedging. From the top garden, Mediterranean-style banks slope steeply away beneath towering pines. Which elements of Kiftsgate do you most enjoy? Every aspect of the garden is a delight. I love the changes of tempo, and the way plants are placed individually to draw attention to their qualities, and then repeated elsewhere to unite different areas. What makes Kiftsgate, which is very much part of the English canon, so interesting?› It has elements that are traditionally English, such as the Bluebell Wood and…

April is otherwise known as Tulip Month, when spring gardens are at their brightest and most cheerful. As James Alexander-Sinclair writes in his piece on the tulip-packed garden he designed in Leicestershire, East Langton Grange: “We have had our fill of dreary days and freezing nights. What we all need right now are plants with jewelled colours and joyful demeanours and nothing fulfils that brief as well as tulips.” The gardens in this issue certainly prove his point. At East Langton, owner Sally Bowie has added hundreds of tulips to James’s design, teaming them with another seasonal star, zingy euphorbias (see Plant Focus on page 85). Over at St Timothee near Maidenhead, the tulip displays are joined by beautiful blossom, and at Somerset’s Forde Abbey there’s an innovative technicolour spiral…

Fields of GOLD Taylor’s Bulbs Daffodil Day 10 April, Lincolnshire As part of their centenary celebrations, Taylor’s Bulbs will hold a Daffodil Day at their site in Holbeach, in conjunction with the RHS. The day will include expert talks about daffodils and other spring bulbs, a chance to see the fields on which over 400 varieties of daffodil grow, plus a visit to Taylor’s trial ground to see the machinery involved in daffodil production. Tickets: £5, including lunch. Tel: 01406 422266; taylors-bulbs.com Blue is the COLOUR Bluebell Spectacular 15 April-10 May, Kent Award-winning Hole Park Gardens will be hosting its annual ‘Bluebell Spectacular’ event as usual this year. Visitors are invited to take the circular walk through the ten-acre bluebell wood, which is often described by garden writers and visitors…

• Now’s the time to resume mowing the lawn on a weekly basis – if it’s left to grow too long, it will be much harder to cut back. Keep the blades set high to begin with. • Plant summer-flowering bulbs such as gladioli and lilies in flower beds or pots. • Thin out shoots on perennials such as sedums to avoid overcrowding. Taking out one in four shoots will ensure the flowers look their best. • From mid-April onwards, sow tender vegetables such as sweetcorn, courgettes, French and runner beans and pumpkins in a heated propagator, ready to plant out in June after the frosts. • Use a soft-soap insecticide from the garden centre if early outbreaks of aphids prove troublesome.…

• Ridged metal dolly washing tubs – either vintage or reproduction – make fantastic planters for spring displays. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can repurpose wicker baskets, chimney pots and old kitchen cooking vessels for your displays. • Tulips are perfect for spring pots, but add some underplanting for interest: try variegated London pride (Saxifraga x urbium ‘Aureopunctata’) and heucheras for their foliage, and giant-flowered English daisies (Bellis perennis) and violas for added colour. • Kathy recommends growing bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis) in a pot raised up on a bench or table, since its spreading stems, dotted with lantern-like blooms, look stunning when viewed at eye level. • Underplant with an evergreen perennial such as sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) to camouflage the bleeding heart’s dormancy from late summer through to…

• Remove the old leaves of hellebores in autumn, winter or even early spring to show off the flowers when they appear and to reduce the spread of fungal disease. • Don’t cut down or deadhead spring-flowering bulbs that you want to increase – let the seed develop so they can self-sow. Try picking the ripe seed and sowing it yourself in trays of compost so you can plant out seedlings exactly where you want them. • Rake up tree leaves in autumn and winter to make sure very dainty spring bulbs can easily be seen when they flower. • Pull out the older, dried-out and stringy stems of aubrieta to keep it looking bushy and fresh. • Don’t neglect spring-flowering herbaceous plants such as pulmonaria and aubrieta in summer:…

ALLIUM HOLLANDICUM ‘PURPLE SENSATION’ The variety to choose for stand-out globe-shaped flowers in bold purple. MAGNOLIA WILSONII This spectacular magnolia has fragrant crimson-centred flowers on a small tree that slowly grows to around 6m tall. RHODODENDRON ‘HOPPY’ This semi-dwarf variety (1-1.2m tall) has ruffled flowers in sugar-mouse pink that fade to white as they mature. ANTHRISCUS SYLVESTRIS ‘RAVENSWING’ Chocolate-maroon foliage is topped by sprays of white flowers in spring. POLYGONATUM ORIENTALE An unusual Solomon’s seal with flared emerald-and-white hanging flowers. GERANIUM PHAEUM Dramatically dark, wine-red flowers open above mid-green leaves on this reliable performer for shady areas. NECTAROSCORDUM SICULUM This relative of the allium has heads of pendent mother-of-pearl blooms. VIOLA ‘MYFANWY’ A floriferous variety that will scramble through bed and pots,…

• To make tulips last more than one season, grow varieties that are inclined to be perennial. These include ‘Apeldoorn’, ‘Negrita’, ‘Ballerina’, ‘Paul Scherer’ and ‘Queen of Night’. Plant them at a depth 2.5 times the bulb size so they won’t be stabbed accidentally while they are in the ground, and grow summer perennials around them to conceal dying foliage. Reduce irrigation during dormancy, so the bulbs don’t rot. • Keep planting simple. Aim to achieve a relaxed dusting using one of three planting patterns: a river of tulips flowing through emerging perennial foliage; a simple scattering to make an informal scheme; or a concentration of bulbs that disperses towards another concentration of bulbs, with variation in the size of concentrations. • Cover containers of bulbs with wire netting to…

In 2019 The English Garden magazine is teaming up with the National Garden Scheme, supported by Viking, to find the Nation’s Favourite Gardens. Nowhere in the world can you find such a rich array of gardens opening their gates to raise money for charity. The National Garden Scheme showcases thousands of gardens, from grand country estates to tiny urban plots, and we know many visitors have their favourites: places you admire or love, or where you have had memorable moments. Gardens returned to year after year, becoming like an old friend. Find out about our competition to reward your favourite gardens over the page. Britain is renowned for being a nation of gardeners, and if you want to spend time soaking up the colours and scents of the most glorious…

“Because garden euphorbia species come from a wide range of habitats, there is no set rule for growing conditions,” explains Don. “Mediterranean spurge (E. characias) prefers plenty of sun and good drainage, whereas the swamp spurge (E. palustris) likes heavy, moisture-retentive soil. Then there’s the wood spurge (E. amygdaloides), which needs a richer soil in dappled shade. As a general rule I always say some sun, shelter and decent drainage will suit most forms, and they’ll grow in a wide soil pH from acid to alkaline.” Never divide plants, except when propagating them. And because of the toxic white sap euphorbias suffer from very few pests. “Occasionally whitefly can be found on the leaves, but it isn’t usually a problem,” says Don. “The only disease worth noting is powdery mildew,…

• Cover autumn-sown plants with a cloche during very cold snaps and protect beans from birds and even foraging mice. • Start spring-sown beans in root trainers so roots develop well before planting out. Sowing every two to three weeks will ensure a steady supply through summer. • Plant seedlings about 20cm apart in double rows also 20cm apart. • Look out for blackfly, which affects growing tips and ultimately the entire plant. When the first pods appear, pinch off the tips to limit infestation. The tips can be added to salads.…

1 Start feeding citrus trees The Victorians generally grew their citrus in containers in the greenhouse. These plants can stay under glass all year-round, but they can also be moved outdoors during the summer months. From March onwards, hungry citrus trees benefit from regular applications of a specialist high-nitrogen citrus fertiliser. 2 Take leaf cuttings of streptocarpus A favourite Victorian houseplant, streptocarpus can also be grown in a cool greenhouse, although they will need some shade – direct sun doesn’t suit them. In spring, they can be re-potted or propagated to increase stocks. The best way to do this is by taking leaf cuttings using a method that engenders wonder no matter how many times you have done it. Choose a healthy leaf and using a sharp knife or scalpel,…

“The coarse boot nestled on the lug, the shaft / against the inside knee was levered firmly. / He rooted out tall tops, buried the bright edge deep…” One wonders what kind of spade it was that Seamus Heaney’s father used to lift the potatoes the poet recalled in Digging. Perhaps it was an Irish spade, pointed at the tip with a long, angled handle, good for breaking ground and carrying heavy loads. Old-fashioned Cornish spades and West Country shovels are similarly shaped and, collectively, these are sometimes known as Celtic spades. For modern gardeners, the starting point is a standard digging spade offered by virtually every manufacturer. These are robust, with a large head and a sturdy shaft traditionally made of ash wood for its shock-absorbing properties. Today steel…

A Pocketful of Herbs by Jekka McVicar Bloomsbury, £12.99 Of growing herbs, there is little Jekka McVicar doesn’t know. The doyenne of British herb growing was awarded the Victoria Medal of Honour for services to horticulture in 2017 and grows some 650 herbs at her farm near Bristol. Her Complete Herb Book, published in 2009, has sold in the region of one million copies. All this is, of course, as much an indicator of her expertise as it is of our appetite for these culinary and medicinal plants, the properties of which have been cherished for centuries, with new effects continuing to be discovered. Jekka’s most recent publication is an A–Z of herbs, published in a handy pocket size for easy reference when at a nursery or visiting a garden.…

• Designer Charlotte Rowe makes the most of an awkwardly shaped London plot • Landscape architect James Hitchmough’s city garden • A steep sloping Huddersfield garden packed with plants and ideas • The lush London garden of designer Christopher Masson • Surreal Succulents’ tempting and collectible plants PLUS The best epimediums for foliage and flowers; how to use wildflowers in the garden; and Charles Dowding’s guide to growing your own salad leaves this summer Don’t miss out. Buy single copies or subscribe now at theenglishgarden.co.uk 01858 438854…

WATERPERRY GARDENS Waterperry, Near Wheatley, Oxfordshire OX33 1LA Tel: 01844 339254 | office@waterperrygardens.co.uk | www.waterperrygardens.co.uk Celebrate Spring at Waterperry Gardens with a visit to our Fritillary meadow. See the county flower of Oxfordshire in all its native splendour as it flowers throughout April. Waterperry Gardens – a place to explore, relax and shop in beautiful surroundings all year round. OPEN: 10am to 5pm Jan–Mar, 10am to 5.30pm Apr–Oct. Party bookings welcome by arrangement. FORDE ABBEY HOUSE AND GARDENS Chard, Somerset TA20 4LU Tel: 01460 220231 | www.fordeabbey.co.uk A spectacular sea of colour and a wonderful sight to enjoy in Spring with over 40,000 tulips in bloom. Join us for the Easter weekend, when we’ll have lots of ‘Once Upon A Time’ story-telling fun for all the family. Homemade cakes and…

SPRING REACH NURSERY Spring Reach Nursery grows a fantastic range of clematis, trees, hedging, ferns, shrubs, fruit, perennials, roses, climbers and grasses. SPRING BLOOMERS AVAILABLE NOW: Ribes ‘Elkington White’, Skimmia ‘Kew Green’, Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’, Chaenomeles ‘Scarlet Storm’ (left) and Osmanthus delavayi Tel: 01483 284769 info@springreachnursery.co.uk | www.springreachnursery.co.ukSpring Reach Nursery, Long Reach, Ockham, Surrey GU23 6PG 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 and reliable mail order service if you would like plants delivered. Tel: 01530 413700 sales@bluebellnursery.com | www.bluebellnursery.comAnnwell Lane, Smisby, Ashby de la Zouch,…

Bramall Hall 7 April, Greater Manchester This fair takes place in the former walled garden of historic Bramall Hall, which is surrounded by Capability Brown-style parkland. Tickets: £2. Tel: 01270 811443; planthuntersfairs.co.uk Evenley Wood Gardens 7 April, Northamptonshire Set amid woodland, this private 60-acre garden grows camellias, magnolias and rhododendrons in its acidic soil. Tickets: £5 with garden entry. Tel: 0845 4681368; rareplantfair.co.uk The Old Rectory, Quenington 14 April, Gloucestershire A Grade II listed organic garden on the banks of the River Coln includes pool gardens, herbaceous borders, mature trees, and a vegetable garden. Tickets: £5. Tel: 0845 4681368; rareplantfair.co.uk Whittington Castle 19 April, Shropshire These 12-acre grounds have a bridged moat that is home to aquatic wildlife. Tickets: £1 per car. Tel: 01270 811443; planthuntersfairs.co.uk Dorothy Clive Garden 21,…

1. De Wit hand corkscrew weeder, £16.99. Tel: 01344 578833; rhsplants.co.uk 2. Spear & Jackson Razorsharp edging shears, £25. Tel: 0345 6403030; argos.com 3. STIHL RMI 632 C iMow, £2,099. Tel: 01278 651300; bridgwatermowers.biz 4. Stainless steel edging blade, £29.99. Tel: 01869 363635; wilkinsonsword-tools.co.uk 5. AL-KO 380HM soft touch cylinder mower, £99.99. Tel: 0844 9670303; dobies.co.uk 6. Scotts EvenGreen drop spreader, £32.90. amazon.co.uk 7. Westland SafeLawn lawn feed, £9. Tel: 08000 329329; wilko.com 8. Izy HRG536 VK 53cm variable speed mower, £779. Tel: 0345 2008000; honda.co.uk 9. Draper GLADD lawn aerator £16.79. Tel: 0115 9565555; machinemart.co.uk 10. StaySharp grass catcher, £50.58. Tel: 0800 9774242; toolbank.com…

‘ABU HASSAN’ Velvety maroon petals with a feathered golden-yellow edge help to lend these tulips an air of the exotic. ‘HOLLAND CHIC ’ Palest pink flowers are enlivened by a flare of magenta on the outside that darkens as the flowers age. ‘BURGUNDY’ Another lily-flowered tulip in a rich, jewel-like shade of purple, it also reliably comes back after the first year. ‘BALLERINA’ This elegant lily-flowered tulip in vibrant tangerine, is gorgeous paired with limey spring greens and purples. ‘ARABIAN MYSTERY’ A crisp edge of white on this variety’s plum-red petals adds excitement to any planting scheme. ‘SPRING GREEN’ A stalwart variety for spring, with a flash of fresh, vibrant green on the outside of creamy flowers.…

• Don’t put up with something you don’t want. Be bold and resolute and get rid of things. • Break the rules. If you want to grow a plant but aren’t sure it will work, have a go! We’ve lost some plants but many others have thrived. • See your garden as a stage set. Grow plants in pots so that you can plug a hole in a border with a fully grown plant that’s been waiting in the wings. • We use water that we’ve collected from the roofs to water the garden. Plants love it because it’s tepid. • Our feeding regime is important. We compost everything and spread this in late winter. In January I top dress with bonemeal all over the garden, in February I sprinkle…

Gloxinia Pot up the tubers of gloxinia (sinningia) in free-draining compost. Give them tepid water, but don’t let the compost become soggy. Keep in part shade, not harsh sun. Kohleria Beautiful, tubular flowers with intricately spotted trumpets. Acquire rhizomes in early spring and pot up, or plug plants may be available (try dibleys.com). Begonia x tuberhybrida Tuberous begonia varieties such as ‘Giant Picotee Mix’ (thompson-morgan.com) are the modern descendants of 19th-century begonias, best in a shaded greenhouse.…

The view from Jay Davey’s charming, self-built, white-timbered workshop stretches out across the Somerset levels, over a beautiful patchwork of fields that goes on for miles. Starlings flash past the window as they gather in numbers – the beginnings of a murmuration, which is a seasonal spectacle in this part of the world. “They’re on their way to the Avalon Marshes to roost in the reeds,” explains Jay, a willow weaver. The low-lying wetlands, the most important in the UK, are not only home to a wide range of wildlife, including the starlings, but the combination of peat and boggy soil provides the perfect growing conditions for willow beds. Basketry willow, known as ‘withies’, thrives in these conditions and this area has been synonymous with willow weaving for centuries –…

Tracing “ the walnut’s tree rings with my finger, I seem to see there all my yesterdays” Gardening and writing have always, for me, gone together. Finding oneself recording the moods and seasons of the gardening year seems as natural as the way the walnut tree at the end of the garden records the same weather, the same place, in the varied pattern of its annual growth rings – now wider, now narrower; now darker, now lighter – reflecting the flow of nutrients, the effects of sunshine and rain. As natural as the way the taste and colour of honey in the hives records the tide of flowers, the ebb and flow of nectar from hazel catkins and hellebores to ivy flower and sedum – the contents of each wax-sealed…