Indholdsfortegnelse for March 2018 i Gardens Illustrated Magazine

It has always fascinated me that inside a bulb is everything needed to grow into an incredible flower. A nascent bud, wrapped in leaves, inside a papery tunic, that is waiting to grow when the conditions are right. This issue of Gardens Illustrated is in praise of small things. Many small spring flowers are worthy of close inspection and part of the appeal is their transience. ‘These fleeting moments caught, is when pot culture excites me,’ Troy Scott Smith replied when I asked him to draw up his ideas for planting combinations for pots, inspired by the garden at Sissinghurst and its creator Vita Sackville-West. Vita likened the miniature form of gardening that is container planting to a jeweller working in precious stones. Sissinghurst is the epitome of an English…

1-5 OCTOBER 2018 GARDENS OF THE ITALIAN LAKES Our journey to the Italian Lakes, in the company of award-winning designer Annie Guilfoyle, will take us to some of the finest gardens of Lakes Como and Maggiore. We will travel mostly by boat, and while our days will be infused with exquisite light, by night we will revel in the fin de siècle atmosphere of our lakeside hotels. The warm, humid microclimate results in exceptional growing conditions, with much to enthuse the plantsman. Combining great botanical interest with the fascinating history of the gardens’ origins, our tour will move from the Renaissance to the 20th century with visits including the baroque splendours of Villa del Balbianello and the historic gardens of Villa Carlotta. The tour culminates at Orticolario, an unusual, small…

Flowers CHILTERN SEEDS The Chiltern Seeds catalogue is always tempting with a selection of inspiring images. Cultivar choice is excellent and descriptions always helpful. You might try Lobularia maritima ‘Paletta Salmon’ – a new colouring that brings a lease of new life to this traditional bedding favourite. There’s a selection of seed for green manuring plants, too. Look out for the companion vegetable catalogue sporting characterful illustrations and a similarly good range of cultivars. chilternseeds.co.uk MR FOTHERGILL’S An extensive range of flower and vegetable seeds, including potato, onion and garlic sets. Plantsman Graham Rice writes a regular blog for the website, which provides useful discussion on some aspect of Mr Fothergill’s offerings. mr-fothergills.co.uk GREAT DIXTER If you’ve visited this iconic garden, you’ll have been delighted by its sheer exuberance, colour…

Earliest gardening memory My first recollection of gardens is as a five-year-old, exploring the late, great Jill Cowley’s garden in Essex, which drew in visitors by the thousands for the National Garden Scheme. My grandmother would make the cakes and I’d be left to enjoy getting lost in that space of wonder. First plant love Stumbling upon a carpet of jewel-like spring squill (Scilla verna) while clambering around Gurnard’s Head peninsula in Cornwall at a young age inspired my first plant obsession. Who has inspired you? My grandfather Jerry Harpur started Harpur Garden Images photography business with my uncle Marcus Harpur in 1992. Jerry would travel all over the world taking beautiful photographs of exotic spaces, and would recount some fairly wild stories to accompany them. Their talent and creativity,…

BLOWN AWAY Montreal-based architect Atelier Urban Face has brought a fresh approach to the humble information point with its witty designs for three kiosks in the city’s Mount Royal Park. Although the steel-framed kiosks all have a practical use, they combine to create an exciting installation that constantly changes with the movement of the sun thanks to the glass walls at both gable ends of each building. All three tilt as if blown by the wind, but at slightly different angles. The first, used for educational field trips, is inclined at 10 degrees; the second, which houses tools and equipment and also serves as a first aid station, leans at 20 degrees, while the third, a ticket office, leans at a giddy 30 degrees. atelierurbanface.ca…

1 HEVER CASTLE & GARDENS Be dazzled by the bright sight of thousands of daffodils and find out more about the cheery spring bloom at this new event that includes free garden tours. Master grower Johnny Walkers will be onsite giving free talks and tours and will be sharing his encyclopedic knowledge of bulbs accrued over a lifetime growing daffodils. hevercastle.co.uk | 01732 865224 2 CHIPPENHAM PARK Offering more than 35 acres of spectacular woodland, lakes and formal gardens. In March, the gardens are a vast carpet of daffodils with early spring bulbs and blossoms. Home-made hot food, cakes and other refreshments are available all day from our tearooms. Gardens open 17 Mar - 30 Mar 2018 10 am - 4pm. info@chippenhamparkevents.co.uk | 01638 721416 3 NATIONAL TRUST, SMALLHYTHE PLACE Explosions of…

WE NEED A SOCIETY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF SMALL BLUE THINGS. A SINGLE PINPRICK OF GOOD BLUE CAN MAKE YOUR DAY AND BRING A GARDEN TO LIFE It is a time for small blue things. No good will be had from looking at the sky to guess what will happen next, or at nude branches to wonder how long until decency. We are counting to the equinox, not in days but in ridiculously undersized flowers. Some think it is all about yellow now, and yellow is indeed blazing everywhere to keep the majority distracted. You and I are focused on blue delicacies in between the brazen. In another month, there will be forget-me-nots and bluebells and then blue will be old hat. We awkward squad did yellow last month, smug…

CLIVE NICHOLS Clive photographed Morton Hall on page 76. “I have been documenting the garden at Morton for the past two years but the fritillary meadow at dawn has to be the highlight.” LYNN KEDDIE Lynn met Brian Ellis to shoot his collection of wood anemones on page 62. “Brian’senthusiasm was infectious and his knowledge impressive. Who knew that there were so many jewels?” JOHN HOYLAND John visited the bulb-filled garden of Rod and Jane Leeds on page 38. “It was great to visit Rod and Jane’s garden: it is a dream place for a plant enthusiast, packed with treasures.”…

A TOUCH OF GLASS In 1938 the businessman and inventor Vincent Hartley set up Hartley Botanic, a Lancashire-based manufacturer with the simple mission to produce the ‘finest greenhouses money can buy’. What made his glasshouses stand out was their aluminium frame, which unlike wood or wrought iron doesn’t rot or rust and allows the interior of the glasshouse to be free from internal bracing so maximising both light and space. This year marks Hartley Botanic’s 80th anniversary and the company continues to expand its range of aluminium glasshouses with designs that range from Victorian to contemporary. hartley-botanic.co.uk…

SALIX GRACILISTYLA ‘MOUNT ASO’ This early blooming pussy willow has exquisitely beautiful, red-purple catkins that over time fade to a silky pink. Once flowering has finished the shrub has attractive leaves that have a slight blue shine. It was selected by a Japanese cut flower grower and the cut branches retain their catkins for ages – even without water. It’s relatively easy to grow and is little troubled by disease, although the flowers are sterile, so you can’t grow it from seed. It flourishes best on young wood, so prune it firmly each year. Height 2m. Origin China, Japan, Korea. Conditions Well-drained soil; full sun or part shade. Hardiness RHS H7, USDA 4b-8b† . Season Late winter to early spring. ANEMONE NEMOROSA ‘KENTISH PINK’ I’m always amazed that Anemone nemorosa…

Garden Masterclasses aim to bring together gardeners and designers with some of the most innovative people in the gardening world through one-day workshops. Each workshop is organised around a specific topic, and designed to help students learn and practise. With quality catering, in garden or nursery venues, we hope that students will have a good day out too, meeting other passionate gardeners, and sharing experiences. ANNIE GUILFOYLE AND NOËL KINGSBURY, MASTERCLASS ORGANISERS 2018 workshop dates and venues: unless noted all days run from 10am-4.30pm • WEDNESDAY 18 APRIL £130 Walled Garden Treberfydd, Powys (9). Planting design basics with Sarah Price & Noel Kingsbury. • WEDNESDAY 2 MAY £130 Easton Walled Gardens, Lincolnshire (8). What makes a successful garden? with Annie Guilfoyle & Ursula Cholmeley. • SATURDAY 12 MAY (10.30AM-5PM) £140…

IN BRIEF Name Chestnuts. What The garden of two plant collectors, packed with large collections of bulbs and alpine plants. Meadow areas with naturalised bulbs, greenhouses and cold frames for propagating and raising bulbs and alpines. Where Suffolk. Size Approximately one acre. Soil Boulder clay overlaid with decades of compost. Climate Mild and temperate. The garden is protected from winds by a shelter belt of trees. Average annual rainfall is 1,185mm. Hardiness zone USDA 8. WE WENT ALONG TO AN OPEN GARDEN WHERE WE SAW A GREENHOUSE THAT WAS FULL OF BEAUTIFUL BULBS AND WE WERE ENTRANCED Driving along a narrow lane in rural Suffolk, there is no mistaking Jane and Rod Leeds’ garden. Tumbling through the fence and flowing down to the road is a cascade of colourful plants.…

PLANT PROFILE What A group of shade-loving herbaceous perennials composed of several genera, although Anemone nemorosa is possibly the best known. Origins Woodlands and hedgerows in Europe and North America. Season Spring flowering plants that are dormant during the summer and autumn. Most flower March through to June. Hardiness Tough plants that are hardy throughout all of the UK. Size Most reach a height of between 12cm and 20cm, and can often form clumps that are several metres wide. Conditions Moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil; part shade. Some species will tolerate drier conditions during the dormant period. *Holds an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.† Hardiness ratings given where available. My indispensable reference for spring flowers is a tattered copy of EA Bowles’s My Garden in Spring.…

INCREDIBLE EDIBLES: GROW SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN YOUR FRUIT AND VEG PLOT by Matthew Biggs Dorling Kindersley, £14.99 ISBN 978-0241302101 An inspiring seed-to-plate guide to cultivating more than 50 out-of-the-ordinary fruits and vegetables from goji berries to cucamelon. Reviewer Mark Diacono is a writer, grower and cook. Incredible Edibles is an invitation to look beyond the familiar fruit, vegetables and herbs and try something deliciously different. The main book is split into seven chapters, organised by food type, such as Salad Vegetables, Herbs and Spices, with early pages devoted to tips and techniques and guidance about choosing what to grow. As someone who has grown more than his share of unusual edibles, I can certainly vouch for the interest in the selection of plants – everything from chickpeas and honeyberries –…

ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE Inspired by period design, we are proud to present our carefully curated 2018 garden ornament catalogue. The catalogue features a classic collection of seating, sundials and water features, alongside an extension to our garden planter and Quercus Robur oak furniture range. 01386 584 414 architectural-heritage.co.uk GETPOTTED.COM Brighten up your patio, terrace, and garden with a fantastic selection of planters with different sizes, colours and designs. We also supply flowerpots or gardening accessories for your design business. 02038 905454 info@getpotted.com BEE BEAUTIFUL Ultra Bee Health offers wellbeing and beauty benefits from nature’s own beehive. 100% natural the Anti-Ageing balm offers long lasting moisturising, uniquely formulated with Propolis & Honey, Avocado and the regenerating powers of Jojoba & Carrot seed with a hint of Patchouli. Discover…

JAMES BASSON James lives in the South of France where he runs Scape Design with his wife Helen and is a passionate advocate for dry gardens and for creating sustainable landscapes. The winner of four Chelsea Gold medals, he was awarded Best in Show in 2017. FERGUS GARRETT Fergus was appointed head gardener at Great Dixter by Christopher Lloyd in 1993. He is passionate about passing on his knowledge through student and volunteer programmes at Dixter and through worldwide lectures. He was awarded an RHS Associate of Honour in 2008. ANNA PAVORD Anna’s books include her bestseller The Tulip and most recently Landskipping. For 30 years she was The Independent’s gardening correspondent. In 2000 the RHS awarded her the Veitch Memorial Medal. She lives and gardens in Dorset. DAN PEARSON…

One of the most famous parks for native plants in the Netherlands is Thijssepark near Amsterdam. It’s what in the Netherlands we call a heemtuin, a semi-wild landscape intended to show off indigenous wild flora and fauna at their best. It’s a concept that was first introduced in the 1920s by the famous Dutch biologist and conservationist Jac P Thijsse, after whom this park is named. Thijsse did much to popularise nature and conservation in the Netherlands and one of the ideas behind the parks was to encourage visitors, especially school children, to enjoy nature and learn to appreciate the richness of the country’s natural flora. When we started our nursery in the early 1980s, we had initially planned to create a nursery that specialised in what are known in…

I stria, the large heart-shaped peninsula at the head of the Adriatic, is politically divided between Croatia, Slovenia and Italy. Ancient ports and picturesque fishing villages are dotted along the now tranquil coast (the region has a turbulent history). Remote medieval villages, ancient ruins and candlelit, fresco-filled churches hide in the rolling hills. Natural habitats are diverse, with Mediterranean grassland and maquis dominating the low-altitude coastal areas. The pristine, 360-hectare Kamenjak National Park is the highlight, especially if you appreciate orchids. The inland hills are karst, formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks. Limestone cliffs conceal sprawling underground drainage systems. Caves and dramatic sinkholes (known locally as dolines) are common. The hills are clothed in beech and oak forests with an abundant floral understorey in spring. Inspiration for the trip…

PATINA OF AGE For many, Sissinghurst is the epitome of an English garden, but Vita and Harold’s plant choices were often influenced by their travels, using bulbs such as Fritillaria from Iran and Turkey to bring a dash of intrigue and mystery. Here I’ve used one our native Fritillaria mealagris in one of Vita’s pewter vases; its metal is the colour of ripe, bruised plum and is etched with history that connects with the richness and intricacy of the two flowers. How to achieve the look Vita loved to experiment with growing different plants and combinations in containers of different sizes, and likened this miniature form of gardening to a jeweller working in precious stones. Fittingly I’ve chosen two jewel-like plants. Fritillaria mealagris, described by Vita as ‘a sombre, sinister…

When Nick Bailey made his first Chelsea Flower Show appearance, aged 40, in 2016 with a show garden that celebrated patterns in plants and featured many southern hemisphere species, people wondered who this talented new designer was. In fact, Nick, whose day job was head gardener at the Chelsea Physic Garden, had been designing and reshaping gardens since the age of 19 when he was studying landscape design. It’s just that he’d also packed in several other careers on the way: nursery horticulturist, teacher, hands-on gardener, writer and editor, and broadcaster. But after Chelsea he became a much more familiar face when BBC’s Gardeners’ World took him on as part of the expanded team, where his rolled-up-sleeves approach and clear, unpatronising advice to garden owners have won him many fans.…

Twelve years ago, my mother said, ‘someone in the family needs to collect Backhouse bulbs and plants, and record their history before they are lost forever’,” says Caroline Thomson, founder of the Backhouse Heritage Exhibition & Education Centre based at her home in Fife. “At the time I didn’t realise that this would become a lifetime’s work for myself and my husband Andrew.” Caroline’s mother is Lady Georgina Buchan-Hepburn, a direct descendant of the Quaker Backhouse family, and the plants in need of collecting that have taken over Caroline’s life are the famous Backhouse daffodils bred by three generations of Backhouses, starting with William Backhouse (1807-1869). William was a banker from Darlington whose passion for hybridising daffodils revolutionised daffodil breeding. In 1865 he raised two cultivars, ‘Emperor’ and ‘Empress’ that…

May I share with you some of the things that annoy me? This is not, I promise, a long list, as I am generally quite a tolerant fellow. I will limit myself to three things: first, large men with small wheelie suitcases (why do they not just pick them up and avoid the ire of all those people whom they trip up?); second, people on trains or planes who hog the entire armrest; and finally, those who park their cars so that they ruin a view. You glance out of the sitting room window expecting your cares to be rinsed away by the cheering sight of the roses in full bloom and instead find yourself looking at the muddy bonnet of a Landrover Discovery. If you’re really unlucky, you may…

A PHILOSOPHY OF DIRT by Olli Lagerspetz Reaktion Books, £15 ISBN 9781780239185 A series of essays opening up a detailed discussion about dirt and how it has played its part in philosophy and culture. THE CHOICE by Tim Woodbridge Dotesio Publishing Wiltshire, £8.99 A fictional retelling of the events surrounding the creation of the magnificent 18th-century garden at Stourhead. DESIGNING WITH PALMS by Jason Dewees, Photographs by Caitlin Atkinson Timber Press, £35 ISBN 978-1604695434 Inspiration for creating landscapes with palms. RHS HOW TO GARDEN: WHEN YOU’RE NEW TO GARDENING RHS, £16.99 ISBN 978-0241336656 A new title from the RHS for beginner gardeners. It covers the basics of how to tame your green space. WOODWORKING by Samina Langholz and Andrea Brugi Photographs by Ditte Isager Jacqui Small, £20 ISBN 978-1911127376 Learn…

Dahlias are the backbone of any summer and autumn garden. They make your plantings come alive with colour and are incredibly easy to grow. March is the month to plant your dahlias, so order your tubers now to ensure you don’t miss out on your favourites. Gardens Illustrated readers can claim £5 off their orders of these three stunning collections from Sarah Raven*. VENETIAN DAHLIA COLLECTION The eight dahlias in this collection make a magnificent combination in the garden or the house, with a brilliant range of colour, shape and texture. Includes dahlias ‘Ambition’, ‘Con Amore’, ‘Downham Royal’, ‘Jescot Julie’, ‘Jowey Mirella’, ‘New Baby’, ‘Sam Hopkins’, ‘Thomas A Edison’. Product code 229197 Pack choice: 8 tubers £29.95 16 tubers £54.95 RUBENS DAHLIA COLLECTION NEW FOR 2018. A super-sumptuous, curvy collection…

1. WYKEHAM MATURE PLANTS Specialist grower of large trees, specimen shrubs and instant hedging for immediate impact. Specialist in screening for privacy and security. Yorkshire grown – hardiness guaranteed! Advisory services and delivery available. wykehammatureplants.co.uk | 01723 862406 2. KEN MUIR As a family business with over 50 years experience, we at Ken Muir pride ourselves on providing only the highest quality fruit trees, soft fruits, canes and vines. One of our key aims is to share our knowledge and expertise. kenmuir.co.uk | 01255 830181 3. ORNAMENTAL TREES Family run business specialising in ornamental trees, fruit trees and large shrubs. Over 550 varieties to choose from, offered in various sizes from young plants to mature specimen trees up to 6 metres. ornamental-trees.co.uk | 01943 660870 4. WEASDALE NURSERIES LTD Hardy trees and shrubs…