Gardens Illustrated

Ranking in third, and once again returning to eco-themes are ‘sustainable gardens’ with 250,613 pins. The trend supplies informative inspiration on limiting waste, how to be self-sufficient, and tips on guerrilla gardening (the act of cultivating public spaces and other areas you may not own in order to brighten up the world around us). Very noble.

The full top ten – in order of popularity

1 Recycle and repurpose garden – 269,869

2 Balcony garden – 264,966

3 Sustainable garden – 250,613

4 White garden – 215,156

5 Vertical Garden – 153,092

6 Garden office – 123,542

7 Social space garden – 14,644

8 Split level garden – 9,940

9 Staycation garden – 6,562

10 Rustic retreat garden – 6,529

Stefan Gheorghe from DIYS.com says:

“Gardens have become far more than just a place to plot plants. Over the past year, we’ve seen consumers wanting to convey a sense of relaxation into their accommodations and offices. And with the weather warming up, a lot of people are now looking to recreate garden spaces to mimic interiors such as garden studios and social spaces.

People no longer need a large plot of land to create their ideal green oasis – those with small outdoor spaces like balconies can create gardens via a multi-functional solution such as vertical gardening.

In addition, as staycations are on the rise this year, many homeowners are looking to design garden spaces that remind them of their favourite holidays. Bars and tall, leafy plants will be an emerging decor trend this year.”

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https://www.gardensillustrated.com/recipes/beetroot-bake-with-parmesan/ Tue, 27 Apr 2021 09:10:10 +0000

https://www.gardensillustrated.com/?p=27896

It is a great pity that many people will not eat beetroot – I suspect it is a hangover from school dinners. I think it has a much more interesting flavour and texture than potato, and maybe this is just the dish to convert them. Can anyone resist baked cream and parmesan? I could very easily eat a whole dish of this on its own, although it is also wonderful with a good roast chicken. Do try to hunt down some decent parmesan – it is worth the effort. Christopher Lloyd’s niece Olivia Eller brings a good quality parmesan over from France for me, and it is so much better than the version you generally find in supermarkets.

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https://www.gardensillustrated.com/directory/westmidlands/cotswold-garden-flowers-advertisement/ Mon, 26 Apr 2021 14:47:01 +0000

https://www.gardensillustrated.com/?p=27971

Founded by Bob Brown in 1990, this family run nursery specialises in a wide range of interesting and unusual perennials for the flower garden. In addition we have a range of tender plants including succulents.

There is a one acre garden attached to the nursery, which can provide planting ideas. There’s always something in flower in the garden.
Our mail order service runs all year.

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https://www.gardensillustrated.com/garden-equipment/what-to-wear/9-of-the-best-gardening-shoes/ Fri, 23 Apr 2021 13:12:51 +0000

https://www.gardensillustrated.com/?p=27866

1

The classic easy slip-on

These slip-on clogs are designed to be practical; slip-resistant so you can wear them on a range of different surfaces with confidence, and you won’t be weighed down either as they are lovely and lightweight to walk in. Perfect for keeping near the back door, simply slip these stylish clogs on and you’re good to roam freely in the garden. Soil, water, mud; just give them a gentle wipe down after to clean and have them looking as good as new.

Slip-on clogs, £12.95
Sarahraven.com

2

Half-cut boot

A cross between a shoe and the iconic chelsea boot, this original design is one of the most popular items at Poddy and Black. A step-up from a classic clog, the gripped sole and heel add height and strength, and the tough, durable waterproof upper parts provide extra grip and protection. The front lip is much taller and wider than other designs, and provides that added protection from any mud, water and soil, and helps prevent rubbing and blisters.

The Half Cut in Bish Bosh Black, £75
Poddyandblack.com

3

Stylish weatherproof Wellies

To jazz your gardening attire, this classic striped design pair of wellies is not only stylish, it comes with and the added bonus of resistant weather protection. Complete with a natural cotton lining for added breathability, comfortable cushioned footbed and made from 100% rubber, these classic boots are also vegan-friendly.

Kimberley Walsh Fairweather II Wellingtons Navy White Stripe, £34.95
Regatta.com

4

Short wellies

This stylish polka-dot number is a practical addition to your gardening footwear. Lightweight, yet sturdily made, the modern design makes a welcome update to your gardening gear. A low gripped heel, and elastic at the sides makes these comfortable to walk and bend in, and easy to pull on and off. They also come included with antibacterial padding, ensuring your feet stay fresh, making them ideal for use in the garden and allotment.

M&S Collection, £25
Marksandspencer.com

5

Iconic mule

Another bright, iconic design from Poddy and Black. Low-cut, strong rubber and waterproof, this mule can easily be slipped on and off and is a great essential item to keep by your back door. The bottom sole and heel have grip and height making them ideal to walk in and go about your gardening jobs. Plus, the soft, yet strong rubber has added flexibility, making them ideal for bending and reaching up on tiptoes in the garden. Their delicious shade of rose-red adds a stylish pop of colour to your essential gardening footwear.

The Stubborn Mule in English Rose, £70
Poddyandblack.com

6

Adjustable wellies

If you want to add some colour and pattern to your gardening wardrobe, then Joules have the answer. These bright coloured wellies come with a clever twist; an adjustable back gusset to cater to individual preference. This clever design helps provides added security and grip around your shin, which is much needed whilst working in the garden. The polka-dot pattern and bolt of yellow add an ultra-chic touch to an otherwise plain design.

Printed wellies with adjustable back gusset, in French Navy Spot, £49.95
Joules.com 

7

Unisex

Available in a range of colours and sizes, the versatile Super-Birki can be worn by anyone and everyone. Made from dirt-resistant polyurethane, with a fabric footbed lining and non-slip sole, these are both practical and durable. The super-resilient shoe can actually be washed at up to 60C. Plus, the removable, cork-latex footbed can be removed and popped in the washing machine. A practical addition to keep by your door or in your allotment or greenhouse for sliding on and off.

Super-Birki, £50
Birkenstock.com

8

Flexible

This unisex design is brilliant as a lightweight, waterproof garden shoe. Think of a mix between a welly and shoe, these are made from neoprene for comfort and warmth, come with a 6mm Nitrocell footbed for ultra-comfort and athletic benefits; slip them on and off with ease. The under-foot chassis provides ample added luxurious comfort, enabling you to walk with ease as you work in the garden.

Grubs Woodline 5.0 Gardening Shoes, in Moss Green, from £39.99
Charlies.co.uk

9

Tropical

An economical and super-stylish design from Crocus, these flexible and lightweight clogs add a boost of colour to your gardening routine. Perfect for popping in a bag and carry to the allotment or keeping as a spare pair at the other end of your garden in the greenhouse or shed, these plastic clogs are waterproof and come with removable insoles for added comfort.

Sicilian lemon garden clogs, £11.99
Crocus.co.uk

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https://www.gardensillustrated.com/gardens/christopher-lloyd-great-dixter/ Fri, 23 Apr 2021 12:57:26 +0000

https://www.gardensillustrated.com/?p=27906

Christopher Lloyd adored Great Dixter.

It’s the house where he was born 100 years ago this month and where he lived for almost his entire life. It was also where he gardened wonderfully for almost his entire life. For the past 15 years since he died it has continued to thrive under the guardianship of its long-time head gardener Fergus Garrett. It’s certainly Christopher legacy but so too are the gardens and gardeners it has inspired around the world.

STOP PRESS: You can join Great Dixter’s head gardener Fergus Garrett for an exclusive Gardens Illustrated Masterclass online lecture on 28 April at 6pm UK. Click here to find out more.

Australian designer Michael McCoy recognises that much of the boldness of his planting combinations comes from the time he spent at Great Dixter in 1991. “Christo loosened me up and liberated me from my self-imposed notions of what good gardening looked like,” he says. “Working at Dixter made me almost immune to any concerns about failure. Failure was no longer a measure of my poor gardening; failure was an indicator of my experimental nature.”

For Michael’s friend Edward Flint, Dixter opened a door on to a completely different world. He first came as a 20-year-old student and often found himself sitting down to eat with some of the greatest horticulturists of the day, invited to join in their argument and debate. Everyone could bring an opinion to Christopher’s table, provided they could argue their case. Alongside his work as a head gardener in East Sussex, where he gardens in a high-input, high-output style he describes as ‘Dixter light’, Edward now teaches gardening and tries always to instil that same sense of questioning in his students. “Christo taught me to develop a critical eye,” he says. “Not just about plants and gardens but about literature, music, everything. There was so much more to Dixter than just gardens and gardening.”

Hannah Gardner also loved the stimulating life at Dixter when as a student she would come and volunteer in the garden. “It was informal and spontaneous, and I thought ‘my God this is gardening and it’s so much fun’,” she says. “The friendship between Fergus and Christo was so productive and vibrant. It was inspiring to think this is what being a head gardener could be.”

For head gardener Tom Coward, another volunteer student who later returned to the garden as Fergus’s deputy, it was that welcoming sense of community at Great Dixter that mattered almost as much as the plants. “It’s the people that make Dixter special,” he says. “And the atmosphere that has persisted since Christo. He would be overjoyed if he could see what is now being created.” Tom now gardens magnificently at Gravetye Manor Hotel, where he’s brought a touch of Dixter magic to his reinterpretation of William Robinson’s naturalistic plantings.

He’s added plenty of his own distinctive style too, but acknowledges Gravetye’s roots lie partly in Dixter, and still finds it a lovely compliment when someone tells him they can see he has worked there. “I learned so much from Fergus, especially about flower gardening,” he says.

Tom’s predecessor as Fergus’s deputy, Matthew Reese, fell “head over heels in love” with Dixter on his first visit and always knew it was where he wanted to work. When he finished studying at Kew he asked Fergus for a job for a few months, eventually staying six years, which allowed him to see how cleverly the garden changed through the seasons. “Christo didn’t just want a garden to be looking good for that summer climax, he wanted it to earn its keep for as long as possible,” he says. “He always wanted to be out there enjoying it and seeing things and, experiencing the ebb and flow of the garden.” Matthew is now head gardener at Malverleys, a ten-acre, private garden in Hampshire. It’s a soft, natural-looking garden with abundant layering of planting that includes, like at Dixter, lots of annuals and spring bulbs.

“For me gardening is an artistic outlet,” he says. “It’s where you manipulate nature and exaggerate it, and play with it and come up with wonderful combinations. If your garden’s too rigid and too low maintenance, it’s not a garden.” Dixter is still training the head gardeners of tomorrow, and since 2010 has offered a scholarship in Christopher Lloyd’s name to talented students. Students get experience in everything from propagation to pruning, as well as the artistry of gardening.

“Dixter has a style of generosity. You’re encouraged to have fun and just put colours together that appeal to you, that’s what Fergus certainly does in the spirit of Christo,” says James Horner the first Christopher Lloyd scholar. At Dixter, James was given the opportunity to work alongside the Italian designer Luciano Giubbilei and has since worked as planting designer for Giubbilei on several gardens including his 2014 Best in Show at Chelsea.

Ed Alderman, the 2013 scholar, found his year at Dixter a confidence-boosting masterclass on how to do the basics well and then push the boundaries. “It showed me anything is possible,” he says. “It’s a fearless approach.” Ed is now head gardener for a private garden, but other scholars have found Dixter opens different doors. Jonny Bruce the 2017 scholar discovered he loved the symbiotic relationship between the garden and nursery at Dixter and now feels his future is in sustainably growing perennials.

Perhaps after Dixter, Christopher Lloyd’s greatest legacy is his body of writing. He wrote more than 20 books and for more than 40 years a weekly column for Country Life magazine, all full of opinion and wit and astute gardening knowledge. “There aren’t many people who can write well about gardening and who are also brilliant gardeners,” says the Dutch writer and broadcaster Romke van de Kaa, who was encouraged to write by Christopher while working as Dixter’s head gardener in the 1970s.

Aaron Bertelsen Dixter’s current gardener cook was persuaded to pick up the pen by Christopher. “One of the greatest lessons Christo taught me was that there’s a difference between looking and seeing,” he says. “He had such an eye for detail. For a writer that’s very a useful skill.” Aaron has now followed Christopher’s lead not just in publishing two books on cooking from the Great Dixter kitchen garden but also in writing a column for Gardens Illustrated magazine.

Who knows what Christopher Lloyd would have made of the gardens Dixter has inspired; he would surely have had an opinion and one that would be worth seeking out. “It makes me incredibly sad that Christo never saw Malverleys,” says Matthew Reese. “I think he would have liked it. Perhaps not everything, I don’t think he would liked the White Garden, but I would have loved to have shown it to him and know what he thought.”

USEFUL INFORMATION

Address: Great Dixter, Northiam, Rye, East Sussex TN31 6PH. Tel 01797 252878. Web greatdixter.co.uk

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https://www.gardensillustrated.com/gardens/win-a-southwold-collection-bistro-set/ Thu, 22 Apr 2021 12:50:16 +0000

https://www.gardensillustrated.com/?p=27504

With summer days ahead of us, we can start thinking of relaxed moments in the garden and convivial gatherings with family and friends. Now might be the time to upgrade your garden furniture; choose items that are comfortable, long-lasting and practical.

The Southwold Collection by Harrod Horticultural is a delightful, new garden range of high-quality, traditional, handcrafted designs. It includes formal dining, bistro and coffee table furniture sets, as well as complementary pieces such as pergolas, obelisks, plant supports and trellis. Hot-dip galvanised and hand-etched to give an antique, silvery- grey patina, each piece is structurally guaranteed for 25 years.

One of the most popular items in the collection is the elegant Bistro Set. This comprises an attractive, slatted table top with four gracefully curved legs that end in scrolled feet and strong ring bracing. The arms of the carver chairs feature broadly sweeping serpentine curves, also ending in scrolls, which echo the detail of the feet and the rolled-top back. The chair frame is robust and ergonomically superior – built from strips of steel, precisely sized to give maximum support and allow the correct degree of ‘give’ as you sit down, it provides great comfort with or without a cushion.

For the full range within the collection go to harrodhorticultural.com

COMPETITION

We have one elegant Bistro Set to be won, with two carver chairs complete with cushions, worth over £1,445 in total.
Key features:
• Designed to seat two people
• Table measures H73cm x 75cm diameter; chairs measure H88cm x W55cm x D67.5cm
• Handcrafted and finished using high-grade steel
• Galvanised for exceptional corrosion protection
• Hand-etched finish for antiqued patina; additional chairs and cushions available from the collection at own cost.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

*Entrants must be UK residents, aged 18 or over. Prize as stated; there is no cash alternative. Prize not for resale. Prize delivered within UK mainland only. Closing date 11.59pm, 31 May 2021. Full terms and conditions can be found at gardensillustrated.com/harrodhort

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https://www.gardensillustrated.com/plants/tom-massey/ Wed, 21 Apr 2021 11:57:27 +0000

https://www.gardensillustrated.com/?p=26553

Tom Massey

Tom’s 21 plant choices for 2021 are all adaptable species, suitable for a range of locations and for the UK’s increasingly extreme weather conditions and challenging garden spaces. tommassey.co.uk

And don’t miss our other essential sustainable suggestions from:

Conrad Batten, Olivier Filippi, Marian Boswall and Nigel Dunnett.

1

ACANTHUS MOLLIS ‘RUE LEDAN’ 

Dramatic, tall and elegant flower spikes, loved by bees who crawl right inside the trumpet-shaped flowers. Large, dark-green, serrated leaves at the base that will hold though winter in milder areas. Perfect for lighting up shaded areas. AGM. H 1.5m. S 1m. C Moist but well-drained soil; sun to part shade or shade. SI Summer. HR RHS H6, USDA 7a-10b.

2

ASPLENIUM SCOLOPENDRIUM

Seen growing all over the British Isles, this little evergreen fern is great for filling gaps almost anywhere; it will grow in damp rockeries, dry-stone walls or crevices between boulders. AGM. H 45cm. S 45cm. C Moist but well-drained soil; part or full shade. SI Year round. HR RHS H6, USDA 5a-9b.

3

CERINTHE MAJOR ‘PURPURASCENS’ 

Honeywort produces a sweet, honey-flavoured nectar irresistible to bees. It has very unusual bell- shaped, purple flowers, hooded by deep blue-green glaucous leaves. Blooming from spring to autumn, they produce large black seeds that are explosively released, don’t cut back too early and allow it to go to seed if you want it to persist in your garden.  H 45cm. S 30cm. C Well-drained soil; sun. SI Spring to summer. HR RHS H3.

4

DESCHAMPSIA CESPITOSA ‘GOLDTAU’

There are many good D. cespitosa cultivars to choose from, but this golden dew (tau is German for dew), is one of my favourites. Smaller and more compact than some, it produces a gold haze of gauzy flowers emerging from a buff-green base of slender leaves. Looks amazing planted en masse as a single species, or mixed with airy flowering perennials such as Sanguisorba ‘Tanna’. AGM. H 60cm. S 60cm. C Moist but well-drained soil; sun or part shade. SI Summer to autumn. HR RHS H6, USDA 4a-9b. 4721 76

5

DIGITALIS FERRUGINEA

My favourite foxglove – a real gem that will light up shady spots. Can be biennial or a short-lived perennial. Sends up tall flower spikes with close-set buds that open to short trumpets of orange-yellow flowers with brown veining. Looks great naturalised through ornamental grasses. AGM. H 1.2m. S 30cm. C Moist but well-drained soil; shade, part shade or sun. SI Summer HR RHS H6, USDA 4a-8b.

6

DISPORUM LONGISTYLUM ‘NIGHT HERON’ 

This rare perennial is fantastic for partially shaded or woodland planting areas. Bamboo-like stems of deep purple age to dark green. Narrow, bell-shaped green-cream flowers are followed by purple-black berries. Almost evergreen in mild climates or a sheltered spot but deciduous where temperatures drop lower. Cut back old growth before new purple shoots appear in spring. AGM H 1.5m. S 1m. C Moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil; part shade. SI Spring to autumn. HR RHS H6, USDA 5a-10b.

7

ERYNGIUM YUCCIFOLIUM

Fantastic for adding drama and an otherworldly feel to a planting scheme. Can be used as a filler to dot through a border, or as a statement in a pot. Protect from winter wet. H 1.2m. S 1m. C Poor to moderately fertile dry soil; full sun. SI Summer to autumn. HR RHS H4, USDA 3a-8b.

8

EUONYMUS EUROPAEUS

Our native spindle comes into its own in autumn when leaves turn bright red and it produces berries that resemble little pink and orange lanterns. Looks stunning growing alongside ornamental grasses. H 3m. S 3m. C Moist but well-drained soil; sun or part shade. SI Autumn to winter. HR RHS H6, USDA 4a-7b.

9

EUPHORBIA MYRSINITES

One of my favourites among the many Euphorbia species, the broad-leaved, glaucous spurge produces whorls of fleshy leaves on trailing, prostrate stems. Acid-yellow flowers are produced in spring, but this plant has year-round interest. AGM. H 15cm. S 30cm. C Well-drained soil; sun. SI Year round. HR RHS H5, USDA 5a-9b.

10

FOENICULUM VULGARE ‘GIANT BRONZE’

Bright-yellow umbels appear on contrasting blue- green stems in mid to late summer, followed by aromatic seeds. The blue-green leaves have feathery bronze tips, which can give salads an aniseed twist. H 1.8m. S 5m. C Moist but well-drained soil; sun. SI Summer to autumn. HR RHS H4, USDA 4a-9b.

11

HAKONECHLOA MACRA

Arching, elegant, green foliage that sways gently in the breeze. Fades through red to buff in the autumn; it will hold its foliage all the way through winter and can be cut back in early spring before new growth emerges. AGM. H 40cm. S 50cm. C Moist but well-drained soil; sun or part to full shade. SI Summer to autumn. HR RHS H7, USDA 5a-9b.

12

HELLEBORUS ARGUTIFOLIUS 

Luminous-green flower spikes held above dark- green, holly-shaped foliage make this a standout plant. Try dotting through a carpet of Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae. AGM. H 1m. S 40cm. C Moist but well-drained soil; part to full shade. SI Winter to spring. HR RHS H5, USDA 6a-8b.

13

LUZULA NIVEA

A fantastic sedge ideal for damp shade. Will tolerate very wet and boggy conditions. Dense clusters of arching, white flowers emerge in spring that look beautiful grown en masse. H 60cm. S 60cm. C Moist but well-drained soil; full to part shade. SI Spring. HR RHS H5.

14

MATTEUCCIA STRUTHIOPTERIS ‘THE KING’ 

A fantastic fern. Perfect for water-side bog gardens or swales. Often turns autumnal rusty orange before dying down to ground level; new fronds unfurl in spring. H 1.8m. S 60cm. C Humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil; part to full shade, SI Spring to autumn. HR RHS H5, USDA 3a-7b.

15

MISCANTHUS SINENSIS: ‘YAKUSHIMA DWARF’

Plumes of feathery flowers emerge in summer and persist into the autumn, when this ornamental grass really shines; the foliage turns a beautiful mix of red, bronze and gold. Cut back in early spring before new growth emerges. H 80cm. S 60cm. C Moist but well-drained soil; sun. SI Summer to autumn. HR RHS H6, USDA 5a-9b.

16

MOLINIA CAERULEA ‘HEIDEBRAUT’

Fine plumes of dark flowers are held on long vertical stems borne above a basal mound of strap- like leaves. In autumn it turns bright orange-yellow, and has a transparent, ethereal quality. Best where it is backlit by the sun. H 1.2m. S 60cm. C Moist but well-drained soil; sun or part shade. SI Summer to autumn. HR RHS H7, USDA 4a-9b.

17

PENSTEMON MENSARUM

A Colorado native wildflower that has intense cobalt-blue flowers held above an evergreen rosette of shiny green foliage. After flowering cut off the flower spikes right at their base, which will encourage a profusion of flowers next spring. H 40cm. S 25cm. C Well-drained soil; sun. SI Spring to summer. HR RHS H5.

18

PUNICA GRANATUM VAR. NANA

Bright-red flowers emerge in the summer followed by miniature red pomegranate fruits. Leaves turn bright-yellow in autumn before dropping and leaving the fruit to shine. AGM. H 1.2m. S 1.2m. C Well-drained soil; sun. SI Summer to winter. HR RHS H3, USDA 7a-11.

19

SALVIA ARGENTEA

A show-stopping biennial or short-lived perennial with incredible, candelabra-shaped panicles of pure-white flowers. Ruffled silvery-grey foliage provides interest before flowering. H 90cm. S 60cm. C Well-drained soil; sun. SI Summer. HR RHS H5, USDA 5a-8b.

20

TRIFOLIUM OCHROLEUCON

The sulphur clover looks like a giant form of common clover with sulphur-yellow flowers loved by bees and butterflies. Native, but now quite rare, so grow this at home and help preserve the species. H 50cm. S 50cm. C Moist but well-drained soil; sun or part shade. SI Summer. HR RHS H7.

21

VERONICASTRUM ‘FASCINATION’

Invaluable for adding interest to the middle or back of a border, this tall perennial bares long, thin, leafy stems topped with candelabra-like racemes of lilac- blue flowers that bumble bees love. Seedheads offer interest well into winter. H 1.8m. S 50cm. C Moist but well-drained soil; sun or part shade. SI Summer to autumn. HR RHS H7, USDA 3a-8b.

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