Indholdsfortegnelse for June 2019 i Gardens Illustrated Magazine

The Radicepura Garden Festival in Sicily opened in April. To those more familiar with the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, this is a different type of garden event where the gardens remain in situ for six months and then are judged at the end of this period. The festival is biennial and the key designs remain permanently in place. Visit this year and as well as seeing Andy Sturgeon’s Layers (new for 2019, with exquisite planting and curved walls based on storage leaves of bulb pushing into life when conditions are right) you can also enjoy James Basson’s Alpheus and Arethusa from 2017 and see how it has evolved. This way of exploring design and planting ideas over time feels in keeping with the zeitgeist and is very elegant. It captures…

HOME GROWN Rediscover the beauty and variety of the British flower market in British Flowers Week, 10-16 June, supported by the Flower Market at New Covent Garden Market. Since the 1970s we’ve become increasingly dependent on wholesale blooms from the Netherlands and beyond, importing hot-house blooms out of season. British Flowers Week is an attempt to reverse this trend, by showcasing the natural charm and freshness of locally grown flowers. Many seasonally grown British flowers still have their original heady scents, an asset that is often grown out of species used in large-scale flower production. Support British Flowers Week by visiting events across the UK, from an exhibition of photographs (shown above) by Tessa Bunney of British flower farmers at Oriel Colwyn in north Wales, to innovative floral installations from…

CHAMAENERION ANGUSTIFOLIUM ‘ALBUM’ This white rosebay willowherb lends a naturalistic ease to borders, both in its appearance and in the way that it effortlessly moves in the breeze; in this way it is reminiscent of its wild cousin. In my experience, it tends to grow on its own terms. In spring, lime-green shoots appear slightly off centre to where they grew the year before. Certainly not a thug but more of a wanderer through the border, it pops up in and around other perennials and shrubs and does not freely self-seed (at least not for me). Height 1.5m. Origin Temperate northern hemisphere. Conditions Reasonable garden soil, tolerant of clay; full sun to part shade. Hardiness RHS H7, USDA 2a-7b† . Season of interest Mid to late summer. ROSA ‘VEILCHENBLAU’ I…

Earliest garden memory Gorging myself on raspberries picked from our garden. The plants felt so much taller than me. It was my own secret world. I also remember the flavour being extraordinary. Most valuable training Apprenticeship in ecological horticulture at the Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems (University of California, Santa Cruz): a complete six-month immersion in organic food production. Living in cabins on the farm overlooking Monterey Bay, working the land, soaking up all the lectures. I didn’t want to come home. Actually I didn’t, I stayed for a further year getting a job at the Huntington Botanical Gardens in LA. Who has inspired your career the most? Sean O’Neill – an organic grower based in Cornwall sending produce to some of the UK’s top restaurants. He’s also…

Plant lots of box and then leave it to its own devices. This does well on the moist soil, and in its natural form it provides anchoring structure without looking inappropriately manicured. Choose plants that have a good natural form, without too rigid a structure. Tania has had great success here with Carpinus betulus ‘Globus’ and C. betulus ‘Frans Fontaine’, both of which have a lovely form. Plant roses through your meadows. The wild Rosa moyesii, R. rubiginosa, R. ‘Cantabrigiensis’ and the magnificently red-thorned R. sericea subsp. omeiensis f. pteracantha (all of which are deer proof) grow at Spilsbury Farm, but you could use anything vigorous enough to hold its own and grow above the height of the meadow grasses. Put in lots of willow, provided your soil is moist…

When Adolfo Harrison was building his design practice just over a decade ago he found the perfect test bed for his ideas in Norfolk at home of his parents, David and Loretta Harrison. He began to plot how they could transform the undulating eight-acre landscape into a sustainable series of garden spaces. Together Adolfo and his father have not only created a serene, transportative space but a working partnership that continues apace. “We really talk about each aspect for a long, long time and there’s still a lot of back and forth,” says Adolfo. “It’s very much a collaboration between the two of us.” To the west of the house is an enclosed area bordered on one side by a timber-clad garden room and, on the other, by a stream,…

In the damper, shadier part of this garden Lucy and Dan used grass-like plants, such as Liriope muscari, dotted with a range of other foliage plants. “I’ve always used a lot of liriope,” says Lucy, “it’s evergreen, tough and covers the ground but does not compete too much with other plants, and it’s a whole lot nicer to look at than mulch.” The plant acts as a matrix, filling in space around the ferns and other perennials dotted into it, but does not limit their growth. This low-maintenance concept is a variant on an increasingly important garden trend in the USA, the use of groundcover sedges (Carex species) as a grass alternative, particularly in shaded areas where there is no foot traffic. The most common species used is C. pensylvanica,…

WELCOME TO WISLEY The relandscaped approach to RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey and the construction of a new £40-million Welcome Building have transformed the entrance to the 240-acre garden. The new landscape designed by Christopher Bradley-Hole extends across the east façade of Wisley’s laboratory and features more than 250 native trees, including silver birch, Scots pine and aspen. A ribbon of colourful herbaceous plants, grasses and bulbs guides visitors towards the awaiting ornamental displays, while clipped beech and yew signpost the way to an avenue of Prunus x yedoensis leading to the entrance. Opens 10 June. rhs.org.uk…

CRISP ANGLES Abinger Obelisk, medium, H200cm, £285, Muntons, 01285 706511, muntons.net VICTORIAN STYLE Ornate Green Wirework Garden Arch, H263cm, £225, English Salvage, 01568 616205, englishsalvage.co.uk FUNCTIONAL SCULPTURE Fern Plant Support, H180cm, £220, Straysparks, 07729 422657, straysparks.com DELICATE VEIL Fontenay Trellis Round Wide, H222cm, £390, Garpa, 01273 486400, garpa.co.uk SIMPLE SHAPE Lobster Pot Plant Support, matt black, From H75cm, £70, Harrod Horticultural, 0333 400 6400, harrodhorticultural.com HEIGHT OF STYLE Climbing Tower, H180cm, £169.50, Leander, 01773 550495, leanderplantsupports.co.uk NATURAL CHOICE Willow and Hazel Obelisks, From H137cm, £27.50, Yorkshire Hurdles, 01653 658462, yorkshirehurdles.com RUSTIC FINISH Rusted Flower Globe, H105cm, £385, Secret Gardens Furniture, 020 8464 5327, secretgardensfurniture.com HERITAGE Decorative Plant Support, Price on request, Bob Johnston Basket Maker, 028 9147 0653, bobjohnstonbaskets.co.uk…

1 HEVER CASTLE & GARDENS Hever in Bloom (25–30 June) showcases the glorious gardens with floral displays in the Castle and free garden tours. Led by the gardening team, the delightful tour will explore Faith’s Garden, a new area of the garden providing 1,200 square metres of perennials Edenbridge, Kent TN8 7NG | 01732 865224 | hevercastle.co.uk 2 BLUEBELL ARBORETUM & NURSERY Visit our tranquil nine-acre woodland garden full of unusual trees and shrubs, many of which have been planted for their superb late spring and summer flowers. Most of the plants on display in our gardens are available for sale from our adjoining plant nursery. We are a RHS Partner Garden. Ashby, South Derbyshire LE65 2TA | 01530 413700 | bluebellnursery.com 3 FULLERS MILL, ONE OF…

KENDRA WILSON Kendra visits an architect’s garden in London, page 48. “There is something very calming about a small outdoor space when the soft and hard landscaping work together this well.” RACHEL WARNE Rachel photographs an Oxford garden, page 74. “The moment I walked into this garden I became instantly relaxed. Angus has created a serene space with beautiful planting. Absolute bliss.” CLARE COULSON Clare visits the Old Rectory, page 62. “It was a really inspiring garden to visit, not least because David manages most of it single handed and has the drive to continue pushing it forward.”…

Jinny Blom is an eclectic designer whose gardens include a Chelsea gold-winning show garden for Prince Harry, a rugged, naturalistic estate in Scotland, a wildlife-focussed retreat in Kenya and romantic Cotswold manor house gardens. Her recent book The Thoughtful Gardener called for a more intelligent approach to garden design. Mark Straver and Robin Wallis set up Hortus Loci in 2011. The nursery has become known for its expertise in sourcing a wide range of plants from around the world and working with designers to supply plants for their show gardens in particular at RHS Chelsea Flower Show.…

Renowned nurserywoman, Claire Austin, set up her nursery in 1999, following in the footsteps of her famous father, rosarian David. She holds the National Collection of Bearded Iris and a Hybrid Herbaceous Peony Collection, devoting two of the nursery’s five acres to the latter. Claire opens up her nursery in June when you can view the collection and buy some unusual peonies. Claire Austin Hardy Plants, White Hopton Farm, Wern Lane, Sarn, Newtown, Powys SY16 4EN. Tel 01686 670342, claireaustinhardyplants.co.uk James Alexander-Sinclair and Arne Maynard are two of the numerous designers who have contributed to some of Cottesbrooke Hall’s stunning and opulent garden features. The garden sits beautifully and is enveloped by the rolling Northamptonshire countryside. Look out for the large, double borders on The Terrace, designed by Alexander-Sinclair, and…

What A genus of about 250 species of semi-evergreen and deciduous perennials grown for their profusion of flamboyant flowers. Origins Most are native to North America. Season The main flowering period is early summer to mid-autumn. Size From 15cm to 1m tall. Conditions An undemanding and adaptable plant that grows best in well-drained soil in a sunny situation. Hardiness Very hardy to frost hardy, RHS H3-H5, USDA 4a-9b. *Holds an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. † Hardiness ratings given where available.…

Islamic, or paradise, gardens bring together many influences from Iran and beyond. They are designed for contemplation and usually involve an enclosed space, often in a quadrant surrounding a water feature. The layout and planting is designed to create a multi-sensory experience with a focus on colour, scent and sound. At the Old Rectory edible plants – another key component of a paradise garden – include grapevines and the strawberry Fragaria x ananassa ‘Cambridge Favourite’. The interior of the water feature has been painted Majorelle Blue in a nod to the famed Moorish garden in Marrakesh. The soft terracotta render colour is also used widely in the gardens there. This part of the garden has become a hub for the family, just as the original Islamic gardens would have been.…

In the world of garden design, Sarah Eberle has become a trailblazer for women starting out on their careers. Last year, she pulled off the near-impossible feat of designing four spaces at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show: a walk-through garden for Hillier in the Great Pavilion; an India- and cricket-inspired Artisan Garden; a trade stand; and a Royal wedding installation. For most designers, creating and overseeing just one show garden is nerve-racking enough. But for Sarah, a self-confessed high-energy person, running a project on a very short turnaround is an indulgence. “For really good creativity,” she explains, “you need to maintain that energy in a project and it’s difficult when it’s maybe over two or three years.” What drives her is a need to be challenged. For someone who says…

1 Hosta ‘Ming Treasure’ A Hosta plantaginea cultivar with broad, chartreuse-edged leaves. Prefers both light shade and a moisture-retentive soil. 50cm x 50cm. RHS H7, USDA 3a-8b† . 2 Pieris japonica ‘White Rim’ A shrub with fiery red new growth and white flowers in spring. 4m x 2m. RHS H7, USDA 5a-8b. 3 Beesia calthifolia An evergreen groundcover, with attractive foliage, but inconspicuous flowers. 40cm x 50cm. RHS H7, USDA 5a-8b. 4 Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Fastigiata’ Distinctive yew-like conifer, upright habit. Potentially, decorative berries. 3m x 1.8m. RHS H7, USDA 5a-8b. 5 Hydrangea serratifolia Self-clinging climber with white flowerheads. Slow to start, eventually vigorous. 5m x 3m. RHS H7, USDA 5a-8b. 6 Polystichum polyblepharum Semi-evergreen glossy fronds, full to light shade. Relatively vigorous. 60cm x 60cm. AGM*. RHS H7, USDA 5a-8b.…

1 Sanguisorba tenuifolia ‘Purpurea’ Easy perennial that flowers from June to August. Alex brought it from his own garden and has since split and replanted it in various spots. 1.5m. 2 Salvia verticillata ‘Purple Rain’ A healthy plant whose upright stems are covered in copious whorls of purple flowers from May to August if deadheaded. Doesn’t like winter wet. 75cm. RHS H5, USDA 5a-8b† . 3 Nicotiana ‘Lime Green’ Very long flowering and likes a moist (but well-drained) spot. Makes good contrast to the salvia. 60cm. AGM*. RHS H2, USDA 10a-11b. 4 Acanthus spinosus With glossy, deep-green foliage and erect stems bearing white flowers and contrasting purple bracts, this is an eye-catching plant for a shady spot. Will repeat flower if deadheaded. 1.2m. RHS H6, USDA 5a-9b. 5 Penstemon ‘Hewell…

HOW TO CREATE YOUR GARDEN by Adam Frost DK, £20 ISBN 978-0241332313 A solidly reliable and practical guide to designing, constructing and maintaining your garden, written by an experienced gardener. Reviewer Jodie Jones is a garden writer. Adam Frost knows a thing or two about creating gardens. Starting at 16 as an apprentice with the North Devon Parks Department, he now has his own landscaping business and garden design consultancy, picking up seven RHS Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medals along the way. In this book he shares those years of expertise in an accessible guide for the enthusiastic novice, divided into sections entitled Design, Build and Enjoy. The section on construction is clearly explained and well-illustrated, enough to convince me that I am never going to lay a patio by…

Penstemons are excellent hardy perennials, ideal for providing long-lived colour and interest from May to October from their clustered dangling blossoms and their attractive, lush, semi-evergreen foliage. Throughout summer stout spires are laden with flowers, which are popular with bees. Gardens Illustrated readers can save up to £27, and receive free p&p on this special collection from Hayloft Plants. Available as a six-plant collection (one of each cultivar), or 18-plant collection (three of each). All plants show are also available to buy as individual cultivars (three plants of each) with free p&p. Supplied as young plants in 14 days.* HOW TO ORDER • By post Complete order form and post to Gardens Illustrated Offer, PO BOX 2020, Pershore, Worcestershire WR10 9BP. • Online at hayloft.co.uk/ROGI • By phone Call 01386…

GARDENATURE Create your very own wildlife TV channel with a Gardenature nestbox camera system. 01255 514451 gardenature.co.uk ED BROOKS FURNITURE Bespoke outdoor wooden furniture and gates, designed and handcrafted in Dorset and made from sustainably sourced English hardwoods, such as oak and chestnut. All the furniture is uniquely designed to encompass the organic nature of the timber, its surroundings and your requirements. 01297 20182 edbrooks.com NICHOLAS MOSSE Making hand-decorated earthenware since 1976. Visit our Irish Country Shop and café in County Kilkenny, Ireland or shop online. +353 (0)56 772 7505 nicholasmosse.com WALL GREENHOUSE BY WILSTONE Innovative and beautiful, this wall greenhouse is made with toughened glass. Includes a mirrored back to maximise available light. RHS Chelsea Product of the Year Finalist 2018. 01694 771800 kadai.com NUTSCENE Nutscene is now offering…

JULY ISSUE • Maximising the potential of a small space in a lushly planted, southeast London garden • Tom Stuart-Smith’s transformation of a historic walled kitchen garden in North Yorkshire • Stylish container ideas to take the heat out of summer • Ideas for perennial planting from Wildegoose Nursery in Shropshire…

JAMES BASSON James lives in the South of France where he runs Scape Design with his wife Helen, specialising in low-maintenance and dry gardens. He is a fervent advocate 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 programmes at Dixter and worldwide lectures. He was awarded an RHS Associate of Honour in 2008 and an RHS Victoria Medal of Honour in 2019. 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.…

We travel to northern France for a four-day tour of some of Normandy’s best-loved gardens. Our base in Dieppe puts us within easy reach of the village of Varengeville-sur-Mer, which boasts five exceptional gardens, including the gardens of Bois des Moutiers, a Lutyens/Jekyll collaboration where we will also be invited to view the house with a tour by the owners. Le Vasterival is the creation of the late Princess Greta Sturdza who created a woodland garden in the Gardenesque style. The Princess famously continued with the development of her garden right up to her death at the age of 94 in 2009. Other gardens include Château de Miromesnil with a charming walled potager, Shamrock with its remarkable collection of hydrangeas, Jardin Agapanthe, a densely planted garden defined by a powerful…

Israel is a small but geographically diverse country; its total territory is less than a tenth of the size of the UK. Sitting at the junction of Europe, Asia and North Africa, it has serene deserts in the south, high mountains on the Syrian border and a Mediterranean coastline. Northern Israel is the most densely populated region. Maquis and garigue dominate the limestone hills and the fertile valleys are intensively cultivated for olives, vines, almonds, wheat and barley. Many of the wild plants are annuals, or bulbous or tuberous geophytes (that is, they have an underground storage organ), so the date they start growing each year is dependent on winter rainfall. Wildflowers are central to the identity and cultural history of Israelis, but many are now endangered and there is…

1 Filipendula rubra ‘Venusta’ Statuesque meadowsweet with rich rose-pink flowers, slender stems and leaves reminiscent of a grape vine. 2.5m. AGM*. RHS H5, USDA 3a-8b† . 2 Lysimachia verticillaris Wildly invasive in the garden’s damp clay. Bold spikes of rich yellow flowers in late summer are tempered by its meadow neighbours. 1m. RHS H6. 3 Trifolium rubens A robust and bushy plant covered in dense clusters of rosy pink flowers that are magnets for both bees and butterflies. 60cm. RHS H7, USDA 3a-10b. 4 Centaurea macrocephala Giant knapweed has shining, conker-brown buds that burst open in a tangle of fine golden petals in late summer, clearly signalling their membership of the thistle family. 1.5m. RHS H7, USDA 3a-8b. 5 Euphorbia palustris Creates spectacular mounds of golden flowers and bracts that…

• Binny Plants Binny Estate, Ecclesmachan Road, Uphall, West Lothian EH52 6NL. Tel 01506 858931, binnyplants.com • Froggery Cottage* 85 Breakleys Road, Desborough, Northamptonshire NN14 2PT.froggerycottage.com Open on selected dates. • Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants Priory Lane Nursery, Freefolk Priors, Whitchurch, Hampshire RG28 7FA. Tel 01256 896533, hardysplants.co.uk • Hayloft Plants† The Pack House, Manor Farm Nursery, Pensham, Pershore, Worcestershire WR10 3HB. Tel 01386 554440, hayloft.co.uk • Pershore College Avonbank, Pershore, Worcestershire WR10 3JP. Tel 01386 551149, wcg.ac.uk/plantcentre Nursery is normally wholesale only, but check website for public opening days. *National Collection Holder. † Readers can save up to £27 and receive free p&p on a specially selected Penstemon collection from Hayloft Plants. See page 138 for details.…

Gardeners are raised on the idea that a thick mulch will benefit the garden, but what if this is wrong? Research from Chicago Botanical Gardens has found it is better for plants and soil microbes to live in leaner conditions, only applying compost at 2.5cm maximum while using the odd soil amendment to aid soil life. Or an even more extreme thought, what if we cut out soil completely? Growing without soil is an approach used in urban planting to reduce maintenance costs, tackle more extreme weather and combat limited resources. It sounds radical and it challenges everything we know about our plants. A pioneer of this technique is Swedish gardener, nurseryman and designer Peter Korn, who with his partner Julia Andersson has created a horticultural Eden at Klinta Trädgård…

On a sloping site in the breathtakingly beautiful Monnow Valley in Monmouthshire, friends Desdemona Freeman and Denise Jones are creating something unique: an artisan rosewater rich in essential oils. Unlike most commercially produced rosewater, theirs isn’t a by-product of making rose oil – a process whereby the oil is separated out during distillation and the petals are distilled multiple times to squeeze out every last drop. Everything that goes into Desdemona and Denise’s copper still remains throughout the distillation process to retain all the goodness and fragrance of the roses they grow. They are doing it the traditional way. Making Welsh rosewater has been a big learning curve for both women. Neither had much experience of cultivating roses, before they started growing them behind Desdemona’s farmhouse in 2009; their company…

There is something mesmerising about topiary. The geometry of low hedges, the intricacy of patterned parterres or the anchoring structure of individual shapes can all give your garden a new dimension. For me, topiary is hugely versatile. It is the perfect complement to classic Georgian architecture or to the contained symmetry of a Victorian city terrace. It is an essential element of a formal Italianate garden, but is equally at home in a bucolic Arts and Crafts setting – imagine Great Dixter without its peacocks – or a contemporary country garden, where key pieces can be used to anchor an expansive perennial planting scheme. I invariably tuck a few significant pieces of topiary into all the gardens I design, whether they are in town or in the country. It is…

THE LITTLE BOOK OF PLANTING TREES by Max Adams Head of Zeus, £10 ISBN 978-1788546270 A practical guide for those who have never planted a tree before, including what to plant where, and tips on caring for trees. RSPB GUIDE TO BIRDSONG by Adrian Thomas Bloomsbury, £15.99 ISBN 978-1472955876 This handy print and audio (CD and digital download) guide will help you identify over 100 songs and calls of 65 garden, woodland and farmland birds. GARDENING WITH BIOCHAR by Jeff Cox Storey, £14.99 ISBN 978-1612129556 Everything you need to know about making and using biochar in your own garden, with detailed instructions and step-by-step photography. WILDLIFE GARDENING FOR EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING by Kate Bradbury Bloomsbury, £14.99 ISBN 978-1472956057 From bee hotels to compost corners, advice on how to make your…

1. OLD COURT NURSERIES Choose plants from the National Collection of Michaelmas daisies and a great range of other late-season perennials. Mail order catalogue available. Visit the nursery and adjoining Picton Garden May–20 Oct. autumnasters.co.uk | 01684 540416 2. BLUEBELL ARBORETUM & NURSERY Specialists in hardy trees, shrubs and climbers including a huge selection of unusual species and varieties. Informative website and a reliable mail-order service is available. bluebellnursery.com | 01530 413700 3. NORFOLK HERBS An established family-run, countryside nursery, growing and supplying naturally raised culinary, medicinal and aromatic herb plants. We pride ourselves on quality plants, advice and service. Online ordering available. norfolkherbs.co.uk | 01362 860812 4.WOOTTENS OF WENHASTON Plant specialists based in Suffolk. Growing and propagating perennials and offering a mail order service. Open every Saturday from March to October. Pelargonium…

Euphorbias make fantastic house plants. They are extremely easy to take care of: they need minimal watering, will tolerate dry air conditions, and also like lots of light so are ideal if you want a plant to place in a bright window. They also make a striking statement piece with a decidedly exotic look, but some species can grow into real beasts and quickly outgrow their pots. Commonly knowns as spurge, euphorbias come in many guises and form one of the largest flowering genera, made up of around 2,000 species. Their evolution has been diverse and they grow worldwide as annuals, shrubs and trees. The species most commonly grown as houseplants are those known as Old World euphorbias from Africa, Madagascar and parts of the Americas. They are frequently misidentified…