The Reviewer This month’s literary digest, plus Gwendolyn van Paasschen reflects on the inimitable John Brookes.

The Reviewer

A selection of the best writing on the shelves this month

The Eighth Wonder of the World: Exbury Gardens and the Rothschilds

by Lionel de Rothschild and Francesca Murray Rowlins, Exbury Gardens, £30

Some 24,000 plants are recorded as growing at the Exbury Gardens, situated on the banks of the Beaulieu river in Hampshire. Of these, 13,000 are rhododendrons, a figure that points to the rich, 100-yearold history of this property, recorded here by Francesca Murray Rowlins, garden writer and historian, and Lionel de Rothschild, chairman of the Exbury Gardens Trust and grandson of Lionel Nathan de Rothschild (1882-1942), who bought Exbury in 1919.

Gardening was in the blood of Lionel Nathan de Rothschild, who described himself as a “banker by hobby but a gardener by profession”. He, his wife Mariloo, and a constellation of gardeners, breeders and plant-hunter-explorers passionately developed Exbury into one of the most important gardens in the country, making significant contributions to horticulture in doing so. And it is an ethic that has persisted to this very day.

This is a detailed account of the work at Exbury that will captivate those curious about ericaceous plants, as well as readers more broadly interested in interwar society. Anecdotes and images from The Rothschild Archive bring an idiosyncratic cast of characters to life, while a foreword by HRH The Prince of Wales alludes to the many royal associations this garden has enjoyed over the decades.

A Tree A Day

by Amy-Jane Beer Batsford, £20

With the autumn winds beginning to blow the leaves from the boughs, Amy-Jane Beer reflects on the life of trees as told through a mixture of science, folklore, history and art. This is an opportunity to visit some of the world’s most wonderful trees from the comfort of an armchair.

Entries represent such far-flung places as the Yemeni island of Socotra, where the cucumber tree (Dendrosicyos socotranus) is protected, and Juneau, Alaska, which is widely populated with western hemlock trees (Tsuga heterophylla). Not all entries relate to specific trees, however. There are also thoughts on mycorrhizae; an account of goats that climb the branches of Moroccan argan trees (Argania spinosa) to eat its tasty fruits; and a simple technique for measuring tree height. If the collection is at times a little disparate, it is compensated for by the breadth and interest of the subject matter. Bedside Companion for Gardeners

by Jane McMorland Hunter Batsford, £20

If the past 18 months has led to an unhealthy mobile-phone habit at bedtime, this anthology of garden writing could be the remedy. Jane McMorland Hunter has gathered 366 digestible reads, some no more than a few lines, spanning fact, fiction, fantasy and experience.

Contributions come from John Milton, Edward Thomas and Gertrude Jekyll, among others, with entries grouped seasonally. While Keats’ ode ‘To Autumn’ is an inevitable inclusion, consider, on 16 October, the advice of Mrs Earle, in Pot-Pourri from a Surrey Garden, of 1897: ‘It is a very good plan, when you want to cut a new bed or alter the shape of an old one, to shuffle along the wet dewy grass on an October morning – and this leaves a mark which enables you very well to judge the size, shape, and proportion – before you begin to cut your beds out.’

Q&A

Gwendolyn van Paasschen, editor of How to Design a Garden, a collection of writing by John Brookes, considers the designer’s legacy and the future of his garden at Denmans

Would you consider this book to be a retrospective of John Brookes’ work?

People keep asking me this, but John would never want people to look back at his work. He would say: ‘don’t ask me what I did then, ask me what I’m doing now’. He was the first designer to show a garden on Main Avenue at Chelsea, in 1962, aged 29. It was a garden associated with a townhouse and one of his first rooms outside. What he really wanted to talk about is what we’re doing now with design, where we’re going next, and where our responsibilities to the land, to the homeowner and to our environment lie. One of the reasons I wanted to put this book together was that so much of what he was talking about throughout his career is even more timely today than when he was writing.

John died in 2018, leaving a question mark hanging over the future of his garden at Denmans. How is that being resolved?

When he was alive, the idea was that Denmans would be part of the John Brookes Denmans Foundation in perpetuity. Unfortunately he died without giving us a road map for the future and the garden became badly neglected. We’ve spent the past three years restructuring, renovating, rejuvenating and restoring. To our credit, the garden is now Grade II listed and we have been reinstated as an RHS Partner Garden. The garden is now looking amazing. The most important next step is to create a conservation plan so that we can create a blueprint for the future. That way, whoever takes over will have a really strong understanding of what we did and why we did it. We have to look forward while respecting the ethos of John Brookes and Joyce Robinson, who also lived there.

What would you say is John Brookes’ overall garden design legacy?

I think his gift was to teach us to be realistic and pragmatic and to make things beautiful. He taught us to find artistry in creating designs. He certainly looked at the garden as art. I love the fact that in Britain he taught the British to live in their gardens, to treat a garden as an outside room, which was very un-British for the time when he was working.

What did John believe were the most important considerations when designing a garden?

First and foremost, John would say, think about what you need. Make a list of what you want, what you can and can’t afford and what your style is. He always liked to take a walk through someone’s house before he designed their garden to get a sense of a client’s lifestyle as well as the views from the windows of the house. Even in a small garden, don’t be afraid to be theatrical but get the structure right, consider the traffic patterns – then decorate.

Outline some tips for good garden design.

Make sure you understand your needs and your budget – what you put in doesn’t have to be expensive. Know what you want, know what you can manage, phase it in if you have to, and always make sure you’re working to the right proportions. Only then do you get to think about plants: go out and look at what everyone else in your neighbourhood is growing well. n How To Design a Garden

by John Brookes, edited by Gwendolyn van Paasschen. Pimpernel, £20.

HEDGING UK

Hedging UK are specialist growers of quality hedging plants. Plants are available to purchase at wholesale prices across the UK through our mail order service. Buy direct from the grower, delivered direct to your door. Readers of The English Garden get a 5% discount (quote TEG2021).

Tel: 01704 827224 or 07789 922457 sales@hedginguk.com | www.hedginguk.com Boundary House Farm, Holmeswood Road, Holmeswood, Lancashire L40 1UA

DAISY CLOUGH NURSERIES LTD

A busy nursery in rural Lancashire, Daisy Clough specialises in a carefully selected range of over 700 perennials and grasses. Open seven days a week, the nursery also offers a good selection of shrubs, trees, container plants and fruit. Plenty of homegrown vegetable plants are available through spring and summer. A full plant list is available to view on our website. Our garden shop sells seeds, tools and essential garden sundries. We have a beautiful homeware and clothing shop, a deli and a tearoom to round off your visit. Covid restrictions apply.

Tel: 01524 793104 info@daisyclough.com | www.daisyclough.com Station Lane, Scorton, Preston, Lancs PR3 1AN

BRED BY PETER MOORE

© FhF GreenMedia Celebrating 60 years in horticulture, in 2020 plant breeder Peter Moore gave 25% of the UK royalties from sales of four cultivars to horticultural charity Perennial. A unique plant bred by Peter: Buddleja Berries and Cream ‘PMOORE14’ A very unusual Buddleja with a mixture of bicoloured purple and white flowers. Very floriferous from late July to early September with flower spikes up to 20cm long. Very hardy.

www.bredbypetermoore.co.uk for nationwide stockists

SPRING REACH NURSERY

A plant fanatic’s paradise on the edge of the beautiful Surrey Hills, just 10 minutes from the A3/M25. Brilliant homegrown Shrubs, Climbers, Grasses, Perennials, Roses, Ferns, Trees, Hedging and Fruit, plus these October starlets: Callicarpa ‘Profusion’, Loropetalum ‘Black Pearl’, Hebe ‘Sandra Joy’, Hydrangea quercifolia, Miscanthus ‘Ferner Osten’, Pennisetum ‘Red Head’ and Teucrium fruticans ‘Azureum’.

Tel: 01483 284769 info@springreachnursery.co.uk | www.springreachnursery.co.uk Long Reach, Ockham, Surrey GU23 6PG

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, roses, climbers, bamboos, grasses, herbs and wildflowers. We have plants, you have time, come to our shop, it’s now all online. Browse our collection and treat yourself from the comfort of your home, or visit the Plantery and enjoy some fresh air in the beautiful Essex countryside. OPEN: Every Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm.

TENDERCARE NURSERIES

Specialising in more mature and specimen plants, from acers to agapanthus, pleached trees and evergreen screens, Tendercare’s 12 acres are a joy to visit. Our popular site visit and warrantied planting services can help rejuvenate a tired garden or change the focus of the garden after building works. While our award-winning design service will create a beautiful garden for you to enjoy all year through. Book a visit with assistance from one of our horticulturists, by golf buggy, or pop into our office and we can give you a map, a route to follow, and suggestions to get you started.

N1 & W6 GARDEN CENTRES

Established since 1998 N1 Garden Centre in Islington, is a life-enhancing space with an ethos to make “London an urban garden, one home at a time”. Following this ethos too is sister site W6 Garden Centre in Hammersmith. The award-winning London garden centres offer quality, style, and originality for the best indoor and outdoor plants along with exclusive accessories, plus with passionate and knowledgeable staff on hand providing outstanding service and expertise.

N1 Garden Centre | 020 7923 3553 | n1gardencentre.com W6 garden Centre | 020 8563 7112 | w6gardencentre.com

REDISCOVER ENGLAND’S FIRST CATHEDRAL

Tel: 1227 762862 www.canterbury-cathedral.org Canterbury, CT1 2EH UNESCO World Heritage Site, seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and resting place of saints and royalty, Canterbury Cathedral’s thrilling history spans 1,400 years, telling the stories that have shaped England. Whether exploring the Cathedral’s stunning gardens, admiring the medieval stained glass windows – including the oldest in Britain – or seeking out carved dragons and grotesques, there’s plenty to do. And with new visitor experiences and Kids Go Free until 31 October 2021*, there’s never been a better time to visit. Book now at www.canterburycathedral.org for a day out 1,400 years in the making! *T&Cs apply

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 auriculas and many more beautiful plants. Our mail order service sends plants, garden essentials and gifts to mainland UK destinations. John’s Garden is also open every Saturday 10am to 4pm. Please visit our website for further details. Tucked away beside the Thames, Chelsea Physic Garden is London’s oldest botanic garden and home to 4,000 different medicinal, herbal, edible and useful plants from around the world. Established in 1673 by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London, the Garden is open for visitors to explore and enjoy its amazing plant collection. OPEN: Sunday to Friday, 11am to 5pm. Please pre-book admission tickets online.

WATERPERRY GARDENS

Tel: 01844 339226 www.waterperrygardens.co.uk Near Wheatley, Oxfordshire OX33 1LA Eight acres of inspirational ornamental gardens steeped in horticultural history, quality Plant Centre, Garden Shop, Gift Barn, Gallery, Museum and Tea Shop. Close to Oxford in the heart of the countryside. Waterperry Gardens - a place to explore, relax and shop in beautiful surroundings all year round. OPEN: 10am to 5.30pm April–Oct, 10am to 5pm Nov–March. Please visit our website for further details.

CHELSEA PHYSIC GARDEN

Tel: 020 7352 5646 enquiries@chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk | www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk 66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London SW3 4HS

HEVER CASTLE & GARDENS

Autumn is the season when Hever’s striking trees come to the fore. Colour abounds with vivid maples and brilliant beech. Boston ivy scrambles up the Castle walls whilst Vitis coignetiae clothes bridges and pergolas with crimson. Visit on a still day for the very best views of reflections in the moats and lake. OPEN: See website for opening times and prices.