Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2022 i The English Garden

Darryl Moore Darryl is an award-winning landscape designer, writer, tutor, and the director of Cityscapes. His book, Gardening in a Changing World, is out later this year. He visits the garden at Follers Manor on page 40. Tom Brown Tom is head gardener at West Dean in West Sussex, overseeing the glasshouses, orchards, ornamental borders and kitchen gardens. He also judges at RHS Flower Shows. He takes a look at passionflowers on p99. Emma Leyfield Specialising in observational watercolours and inspired by the golden age of illustration, Emma is passionate about traditional drawing. She shows us how to start a garden journal on page 133.…

Judith Blacklock The prolific writer, enthusiastic educator and eponymous owner of the Judith Blacklock Flower School has been teaching her floristry courses in London for more than 30 years My mother was part of the NAFAS (National Association of Flower Arranging Societies) movement in the 1950s. She would disappear off to work at places like the Chelsea Flower Show in the early hours of the morning and I vowed never to do anything similar! Yet here I am today, and I have to admit that flowers have become my greatest joy. After 12 years of teaching English abroad I came home and had two children. I needed a job that would fit in with them, and a lot of flower knowledge had entered my system via osmosis, so I took…

Carved into the southern edge of the Cotswold escarpment is a garden possessing a rare blend of past and present. Cox’s Hill House’s past is its conception: built around 1810 (by French prisoners, as legend has it, during the Napoleonic Wars), it’s laid out across two large terraces with buttressed walls towering over lawns, borders and clipped evergreen topiary. Its modernity can be attributed to its current owner and garden designer, Charles Harman. He has developed the garden over 15 years, with everything bar the Victorian stone masonry being his own creation. “Aside from a lovely magnolia, there are few plants left from when we first arrived here,” he observes. At roughly one acre, the gardens sit to the east of the house, flanked by mature woodland to the north…

Blackdykes lies close to the east coast and is exposed to every wind that blows Although it looks as though it could have been planted centuries ago, the garden at Blackdykes Farm is only 30 years old. “It was created from a wheat field,” says Janey Dalrymple, who in 1992 returned with her husband, Hew, to his home in East Lothian and set about transforming a mellow 19th-century farmhouse into a home for them and their four children. Blackdykes lies close to Scotland’s east coast, near North Berwick, and it is exposed to every wind that blows, so the Dalrymples’ first priority was to put in a shelterbelt of trees such as oak, alder and beech to cocoon the garden from the weather. Only to the south did they leave…

Water features A PLACE IN THE GARDEN A range of stand-alone water features such as zinc leaf balls and cisterns with fountains. Tel: 01403 864866; aplaceinthegarden.co.uk AQUAGLOBE Striking acrylic water features. Tel: 07881 780000; aquaglobe.co.uk BULBECK FOUNDRY A range of lead wall fountains and cisterns. Tel: 01638 743153; bulbeckfoundry.co.uk CHILSTONE Cast stone fountains with classical appeal. Tel: 01892 740866; chilstone.com DAVID HARBER Many beautiful water features, including iconic ‘Chalice’ bowls, water walls and Moorish-style fountains. Tel: 01235 859300; davidharber.co.uk DISTINCTIVE GARDEN & INTERIORS Striking, freestanding water features that are made from decorative jars. Tel: 07810 557695; distinctivegarden.co.uk FORAS Offers a selection of contained water features and spheres, including infinity water bowls, sandstone, slate or acrylic globes. Tel: 01366 381069; foras.co.uk HADDONSTONE A wide range of cast stone pieces includes statement…

Choose a sunny, well-drained spot. Give them some elbow room in the border since penstemons hate being overcrowded. One application of well-balanced fertiliser or chicken manure in spring will be enough for the whole year. Give plants a hard cut back towards the end of March or early April when the risk of severe frost has passed and you can see the new shoots beginning to emerge. Cut down to a couple of inches, or if fresh shoots are coming from the ground the old stems can be removed completely. Regular deadheading of spent blooms will encourage a steady procession of new flowers for weeks on end. Cut just below the bottom of faded flowers and the stem will start to put out new flowering shoots. The best way to…

A cool breeze blows across the River Leach on summer mornings at Thyme in Southrop, Gloucestershire. Before the heat of the day takes hold, starlings call their territory from the trees shading the lane, while the bleating of sheep grazing in the grass of the water meadow carries through the clear air. This is the perfect time to gather produce, and, on bright mornings, owner Caryn Hibbert wanders down here with her spaniel Daphne to pick flowers from the cutting garden. Daphne is no longer quick enough to flush blackbirds from the raspberry canes, but she still likes to inspect the garden. Meanwhile, head gardener Victoria Bowsher harvests the first potatoes, tender and sweet, and puts in a few quick crops to grow. The midsummer heat means the vegetable garden…

Of all the elements in the garden, herbaceous borders probably demand the most skill. At their best, they are a symphony of colour and form – the culmination of years of plantsmanship. Traditional borders have their origins in the 17th century, with stretches of planting appearing in Mughal and Dutch plans from this time. Some 200 years later, the Victorians were filling their borders with bedding. The hardy herbaceous perennial borders we know and love were instigated by William Robinson, Gertrude Jekyll and the broader Arts & Crafts movement as a rebellion against Victorian strictures. Meanwhile, new design styles have seen some borders completely reconfigured in the looser prairie style of the New Perennial movement. This summer, why not visit some of the UK’s most splendid borders – whether traditional,…

More years ago than I care to remember, I helped judge a garden competition run by BBC Radio Cambridgeshire. The other judges and I were driven around the gardens that had made the shortlist, and it was in one of those that I saw the most spectacular display of penstemons I’ve ever witnessed. The photos I took are long lost and I can’t remember the name of the garden, but I’ve never forgotten the sight of them – there were masses, all in a dedicated border with some evergreens for company, all coral, magenta and ruby-red tones, and it was just gorgeous. They’re the subject of our Plant Focus this month, and they crop up in quite a few of the gardens in this issue, too: glowing in the Lavinia…

Hazel Cottage Cumbria A wonderful flower arrangers’ garden in Armathwaite with quirky plants and a variety of foliage. It encompasses an abandoned rail cutting that has been planted up as a woodland walk. Opens for the National Garden Scheme. ngs.org.uk Holehird Gardens Cumbria There’s year-round interest at the home of the Lakeland Horticultural Society. In spring it’s bulbs galore; by summer, the walled garden is a must; in autumn the colours are spectacular; and in winter there are heathers and early rhododendrons to see. Tel: 015394 46008; holehirdgardens.org.uk…

With its rolling woodland and pastures, there’s something magical about the 200-acre estate at Serge Hill in Hertfordshire, home to what is possibly the nation’s most talented family of gardeners: the Stuart-Smith clan. “Growing up here was a wonderful adventure,” enthuses Kate Stuart-Smith. When she and her five siblings weren’t playing in the woods and fields, they helped out in their parents’ market garden. “We picked strawberries and tomatoes and took the side shoots off chrysanthemums. It was fun because we did it together, and I’ve always loved working as a team.” Serge Hill was bought by Kate’s grandfather and then passed on to Kate’s mother, Joan. Today Kate lives in the main house with her husband, writer David Docherty, daughters Flora and Lily, and her father, Sir Murray Stuart-Smith,…

CROCOSMIA ‘LUCIFER’ The classic choice for sprays of bold scarlet flowers; divide big clumps every three years. DAHLIA ‘VERRONE’S OBSIDIAN’ Deep chocolate-maroon flowers in a distinctive star-shape are loved by bees. ACHILLEA ‘CREDO’ Pale yellow flowers fade to cream as they age on this AGM variety; give it full sun and free-draining soil. DAHLIA ‘BISHOP OF YORK’ Purple-brown foliage sets off the peach-flushed yellow flowers to perfection. PENSTEMON ‘ GARNET’ A cottage garden favourite, in flower from June to October, and one of the hardiest. HEMEROCALLIS ‘STAFFORD’ Introduced in the 1950s, this popular, easy-going daylily has stood the test of time.…

A spark of red brings a border to life, as Corot found with his paintings. You only have to put your finger over a red plant in a photograph to see what a difference it makes. Deleting is as important as increasing: taking out trees that are crowded or that have grown too big, creating vistas, lowering hedges, removing plants that are not doing well. Some of our favourite shrubs for scent include Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’, Rosa ‘Charles de Mills’, Viburnum carlesii and almost any variety of philadelphus and lilac. To cope with heavy clay like ours, keep adding mushroom compost or other organic matter composts, and mound-plant anything that doesn’t like sitting in cold, wet soil all winter.…

Josie Lewis is head gardener at Perch Hill, Sarah Raven’s garden in East Sussex. Josie handles the day-to-day running of the garden and manages the team of gardeners. She works closely with Sarah to decide on what will be grown from year to year, but she is also passionate about gardening for wildlife and making Perch Hill a joyful place for everyone. Josie has a specific interest in creating container collections, giving thought to form, scale and colour when putting together a theme. Now is the ideal time to sow biennials for early flowers next year, and here Josie suggests ten of her favourites to grow. Perch Hill Farm, Willingford Lane, Robertsbridge, East Sussex TN32 5HP. Perch Hill hosts open days throughout the summer, which can be booked online. Tel:…

Passionflowers have an unrivalled ability to transport us to exotic places, every flower drawing you in with its hypnotic intricacy. Grow them and these wonderful climbers will add a mood of excitement and bring a sense of curiosity to our gardens and conservatories. These intriguing climbers can be found in the wild in rainforest environments in North and South America, Africa, Asia and Australia, battling their way through tree and shrub canopies, using their tendrils to reach the ‘Emerald City’ – the illuminated section where the sunlight hits. Although they originate from tropical regions, passionflowers are remarkably tolerant of sub-tropical and temperate regions’ climates, which enables us to grow a range of species here in the UK. Passionflowers were introduced to Britain in the 18th century, and by the early…

July and August have historically been dry months, but in recent years they’ve tended to be much wetter. Water evaporates quickly from soil on hot days, however, and with plants now at their largest and most productive, watering can make or break a harvest. Always water in the coolest parts of the day, morning or evening. As a rule of thumb, water the soil, not the plant, since plants that are damp overnight are more likely to develop fungus. It is far better to water deeply and less frequently than it is to water lightly every day. Deep watering draws roots away from the soil’s surface where they will quickly dry out in hot weather. Water easily evaporates from bare soil, so a mulch is essential and, of these, compost…

In previous centuries, gardeners often kept a record of their crop rotation and heirloom varieties. Many of these records were in the form of substantial illustrated volumes that incorporated the day-to-day running of a large estate, documenting everything from account keeping to pest control. Fortunately, you don’t need an estate of several acres to try your hand at this project: your back garden, allotment, balcony or terrace containers will do. By paying close attention to your garden’s progress in this way, you can enjoy your plants up close through careful study. As an artist and a gardener, I’m an advocate for the quiet things in life. Days spent working in the garden are the perfect companion to an hour of drawing, cup of tea in hand. The act of keeping…

KELMARSH HALL The glorious grade II* listed gardens at Kelmarsh Hall are influenced by the work of three 20th century tastemakers: Nancy Lancaster, Norah Lindsey and Geoffrey Jellicoe. The garden holds exuberant flower borders, romantic rose gardens, and a walled garden full of vibrant colours. Springtime offers swathes of daffodils and fritillaries along the driveway to the Hall, and a colourful sea of tulips in the walled garden. OPEN: 17 April – 29 September 2022 Tel: 01604 686543 enquiries@kelmarsh.com | www.kelmarsh.comNorthamptonshire NN6 9LY MARKSHALL ESTATE Markshall Estate is a hidden gem situated in the heart of Essex countryside. Home to 200 acres of trees from across the world, formal gardens, and miles of leafy woodland walks. Here you’ll find the largest collection of Wollemi pines in Europe, the longest double…

Strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries and currants – summer is the season of soft fruit, and what better way to make the most of the harvest than by whipping up a batch of home-made ice cream or sorbet? An ice-cream maker such as Cuisinart’s Ice Cream and Gelato Professional model (£250) will simplify the task. Tel: 03702 406902; cuisinart.co.uk…

GERANIUM PSILOSTEMON Dark-eyed, magenta flowers on a hardy geranium that obligingly fills border gaps. CLEMATIS ‘PERLE D’AZUR’ Expect violet-blue flowers all summer long from this old and rightly popular variety. LYSIMACHIA CILIATA ‘ FIRECRACKER’ Purple-tinged leaves contrast with yellow flowers on this easy-going, 90cm perennial. ACHILLEA ‘WALTHERFUNCKE’ Give achillea a sunny spot and free-draining soil to obtain the best results. EUPHORBIA WALLICHII Mounds of handsome foliage are topped by zingy lime flowers from May to August. GERANIUM NODOSUM Small lilac flowers and glossy leaves on a groundcover ideal for sun or dappled shade.…

1 Plan it out in advance. You can develop it gradually, as time and budget allow, but if you have planned it, with luck you will avoid having to move or redo things later. 2 Nurture your soil carefully. The old gardening adage about spending a shilling on the plant and a pound on the hole still applies. 3 Try to work with nature, not against it. No matter how much you may love a particular plant, if you can’t give it the right conditions it’ll always be a struggle to grow it well. 4 Don’t feel that you have to live with a plant just because it’s already there – you wouldn’t feel that you had to live with wallpaper that you hated inside your home, would you? 5…

“Any opportunity to use water should be taken.” So wrote Dame Sylvia Crowe in her seminal book, Garden Design, which you’ll find on every garden designer’s bookshelf. It’s a maxim that many of us follow, although most designers will also heed the caveat Crowe added: “provided it can be suited to the particular circumstances.” As with so many aspects of design, making sure a new water feature suits the scale of the site and the location planned for it really is the key. Whether you opt for quiet reflection or playful splashing jets, the moods water can create in the garden are as diverse as the forms it can take. “It adds a lovely extra dimension; both the sound and the sight of it creates a very romantic atmosphere, I…

After only a short conversation with John Lee, holder of a vast National Collection of penstemon, you will be left wondering why you don’t grow more of these delightful, incredibly long-flowering perennials. The flowers resemble those of foxgloves, but with neater foliage, and they are every bit as attractive to bees. Penstemons are native to America and can be found as far north as Canada and as far south as Guatemala. They were discovered in 1745, and the following two centuries saw the introduction of around 150 new variants. During that period they were the preserve of the wealthy, grown as annuals at stately homes and botanic gardens. As a result of the two world wars, when gardeners and gardens were needed for the war effort, penstemons effectively disappeared from…

Cobaea scandens f. alba This elegant form of the cup-and-saucer vine is vigorous and fun to grow, reaching 3m. Grow as a seed-raised annual or an overwintered perennial. Eccremocarpus scaber An exotic-looking climber that flowers prolifically all summer. Perennial in sheltered spots, it can be grown from seed each year. Solanum laxum ‘Album’ This semi-evergreen climber is covered in white, jasmine scented flowers in summer. Fast-growing in a sheltered spot, it reaches up to 12m. Dregea sinensis Scented hoya-like flowers appear among felted leaves, to a height of 3m. Needs well-drained soil in partial shade and a sheltered spot. Schizophragma hydrangeoides ‘Moonlight’ A relative of the hydrangea with glaucous leaves and creamy flowers, up to 10m. Tropaeolum speciosum A delicate perennial known as the flame nasturtium. It thrives in cool…

Cholmondeley Castle’s head gardener Barry Grain first drove his spade into the ground that would become two colourful new borders in 2017. Christened ‘the Lavinia Walk’, the borders honour Lady Lavinia, Marchioness of Cholmondeley, who died in 2015 aged 94. She came to the turreted sandstone castle in 1949 with her husband, the 6th Marquess of Cholmondeley, and began transforming the grounds around it into a garden of great romance. Barry, who came here in 2013, warmly remembers the two years he spent working alongside her, out in the garden or talking things over in the library. Now he discusses garden matters with Lady Lavinia’s son David, the 7th Marquess, who is also hands-on and keenly involved. “Lord Cholmondeley decided that we should put in a new feature in dedication…

It’s best to choose student or artist-quality materials from an art shop, rather than supermarket own brands or cheap alternatives. You get what you pay for with art supplies, but the student sets are perfectly suitable for beginners. As a general guide, stock up with: • One watercolour sketchbook • One set of student or artist-quality watercolours • One student watercolour brush, sized 8-10 (synthetic is fine but avoid ‘water brushes’) • A sharpened pencil and an eraser • A waterproof fine-line pen size 0.2-0.8mm – Uni-ball is a good brand to try • A pot of water • Kitchen roll…

ASHWOOD NURSERIES A plantsman’s paradise and an independent nursery situated in the West Midlands open seven days a week. We specialise in hellebores, hardy cyclamen, salvias, hepaticas, lewisias, hydrangeas, dwarf conifers, snowdrops, Primula auricula and many more beautiful plants. Our UK mail order service sends plants, garden essentials and gifts direct to your doorstep. John’s Garden is also open on Saturdays 10am-4pm. Please visit our website for full details. Tel: 01384 401996 mailorder@ashwoodnurseries.com|www.ashwoodnurseries.com Ashwood Lower Lane, Kingswinford, West Midlands DY6 0AE LANGTHORNS PLANTERY With an eye for the unusual and a vast range of plants of all sizes, the team at Langthorns Plantery are on hand to help you choose the right plants for your gardens. Our collection of more than 5,000 varieties includes ornamental and fruit trees, shrubs, perennials,…

“Pieces of stone are set an inch apart and half-buried to produce a jewel-coloured floral banquet of the most delectable kind” In the mid 16th century, an impassioned Conrad Gessner wrote of his resolve “every year to ascend several mountains… when the plants are in full growth, partly for knowledge of them, partly for noble exercise, and gladdening of the mind”. A new book aims to bring this exhilarating spirit of rocky places, where life can be extreme but where plants can be at their most spectacular, into the present day. Kenton Seth and Paul Spriggs’ The Crevice Garden sets out to persuade us all to try a refreshingly accessible form of rock gardening, suitable for the beginner upwards and for the smallest outdoor space. This is not about outdoor…