Creating the Perfect Garden 2020

Create the perfect

GARDEN An English garden’s essential elements Romantic roses for classic style

A supplement from THE

english

GARDEN

WHY HARTLEY

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CONTRIBUTORS CLARE FOGGETT; VIVIENNE HAMBLY COVER IMAGE GAP/JOE WAINWRIGHT IMAGES NATIONAL TRUST/ANDREW BUTLER; HOWARD RICE

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beautiful English home needs a beautiful garden to surround it, there’s no question. We are a nation of gardeners and, for many of us, our gardens are as much a source of pride and joy as our interiors, lavished with the same care and attention to detail.

But what makes an English garden so special? The following pages explore that very question, voyaging through the timeless features that a traditional English garden really ought to include, to the very best plants that conjure up that dreamy atmosphere: roses, of course, but also a selection of the very best new plants that have been introduced over the past two decades, handpicked by some of the gardening world’s most revered plant experts. Northamptonshire’s Coton Manor is the embodiment of the English garden style, with its sumptuous borders, plus we bring you 20 more gorgeous gardens to visit, which are sure to capture your imagination.

CLARE FOGGETT, EDITOR

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4 Contents 4 Essentially English Discover the 20 distinctive finishing touches that will help give any quintessentially English garden its irresistible style and traditional charm.

12 Coton Manor Crowned The Nation’s Favourite Garden in 2019, gloriously colourful Coton Manor in Northamptonshire is testament to the planting skills of owners Susie and Ian Pasley-Taylor.

19 Top 10 The best introductions from the past two decades, as selected by expert plantspeople.

23 Romantic Roses No other flower evokes such memories of bygone days, nor is associated with such beauty in the garden, as the rose.

26 20 Gardens to Visit The most beautiful, romantic and inspiring gardens to visit in the country.

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ESSENTIALLY ENGLISH

Rhubarb forcers, once a mainstay of the Victorian kitchen garden, add traditional charm

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IMAGE GAP/MARK BOLTON; CLIVE NICHOLS

A summerhouse in which to relax is a classic element of an English garden.

Essentially English What makes an English garden so distinctive? It is the features and finishing touches that give these quintessential spaces their irresistible style – here are 20 that no English garden should be without THE THEENGLISH ENGLISHGARDEN GARDEN 5

ESSENTIALLY ENGLISH

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or gardeners across the globe, English gardens are renowned. Their reputation for being the most romantic, beautifully planted and idyllic spaces a gardener could hope for has spread far and wide.

But how do you define a quintessentially English garden? Say the words and the mind immediately conjures up certain images: arbours and pergolas dripping with rambling roses; herbaceous borders with spires of sky-blue delphiniums, Yorkstone paving and clipped yew hedges. There are some features that no self-respecting English garden should be without, the essential elements that make the country’s gardens so iconic – here are our must-haves for that dreamy English garden look.

Victorian glass cloche The glass cloche has been gracing English gardens for hundreds of years, and there is something defiant about its presence in the kitchen garden. Yes, in terms of protecting a large number of plants from frost or pests, there are more efficient and cost-effective products. But few will enhance the look of a garden the way a glass cloche does. To treat a prized squash or tender young lettuce plant to a cosy, glazed home all of its own when nights are still cold, is surely the gardener’s prerogative. It is an indulgence made all the sweeter when it comes to harvesting the plant in late summer.

Whether it is a dome-shaped bell cloche or a lantern cloche with small individual panes of glass, antique examples can be expensive, made from beautiful old glass with wonderful lustre and characterful flaws: tiny bubbles or not quite perfect symmetry. Excellent reproductions are available, however, so anyone’s vegetable plot can evoke the glorious era of Victorian kitchen gardening. Try Waitrose (waitrosegarden.com) or Access Garden Products (garden-products.co.uk) for new cloches; scour eBay and antiques fairs for originals.

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A summerhouse Despite Noël Coward’s famous line about ‘mad dogs and Englishmen’, a summerhouse in which to sit and contemplate has long been a bastion of the English garden. The trick is undoubtedly to position it in the most advantageous spot. Those wishing for a fix of hot sun would surely site a summerhouse in a south-facing location – Top A summerhouse is a garden addition that’s perfect for the addition useful and a beautiful of a scrambling clematis design statement. or some climbing roses.

Far right Box balls add A west-facing spot, classic style, as well as meanwhile, can offer the evergreen structure.

Right Evoking the golden gardener a well-earned age of kitchen gardens, rest, letting them gaze a Victorian-style cloche at a fine sunset after a from Waitrose Garden.

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summer’s day in the garden. If you can’t decide, build your summerhouse onto a rotating base, an ingenious mechanism that allows the summerhouse to revolve so that its occupants can follow the sun or enjoy different views. Try Scotts of Thrapston (scottsofthrapston.co.uk) or Stan Fairbrother (stanfairbrother.co.uk).

Clipped box balls So many of the country’s gardeners rely on the evergreen Buxus sempervirens (common box) to provide shape, structure and form. Of all the shapes that box is clipped into, it is the box ball that has sailed through changing fashions and styles, remaining a much-loved component of the English garden. At home in either a classic cottage garden or a contemporary urban design, it provides the English gardener with a stately entrance to the house, a solid structure to offer hope in the depths of winter, and a subject to be therapeutically and satisfyingly clipped into shape with topiary shears on an early summer’s day. Of course box blight and box moth caterpillars are now increasingly a problem, so more resilient alternatives would include Ilex crenata and pittosporum. Try Hedges Direct (hedgesdirect. co.uk) or Practicality Brown (pracbrown.co.uk).

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Rhubarb forcer A terracotta rhubarb forcer will add a touch of traditional charm to the vegetable patch. Once a staple of the Victorian kitchen garden, they were essential for head gardeners striving to provide fresh produce for the ‘big house’ before spring arrived.

Providing the kitchen with a valuable, early, sweet crop of this curious dessert vegetable, a rhubarb forcer is as practical as it is decorative. And when left to mingle amid an abundance of leafy crops in summer, a forcer adds character and style at an idyllic time of year for the English vegetable garden.

Try Whichford Pottery (whichfordpottery.com) or Harrod Horticultural (harrodhorticultural.com).

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An old-fashioned rose An English garden is definitely poorer without a rose groaning under the weight of sweet-scented blooms. An authentically vintage and long-lasting display of these summer favourites can be achieved by growing some of the repeat-flowering old roses.

These include the delightful, soft-pink, ruffled blooms of 19th-century ‘Jacques Cartier’ and the neat yet fulsome, fragranced flowers of the deep pink ‘Rose de Resht’, which dates back to 1840.

To grow either of these roses is to make room for an exquisite timepiece; each of these plants is the equivalent of a treasured antique, yet each will burst with life and freshness every summer. Try David Austin Roses (davidaustinroses.co.uk) or Peter Beales Roses (classicroses.co.uk).

IMAGES CLIVE NICHOLS; SHUTTERSTOCK; JULIA LEAKEY

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A classic greenhouse Wherever possible, room should be found for a tasteful greenhouse. Its warm protection will span the seasons, allowing a wide range of edible crops and ornamentals to be grown, and it can present the perfect tableau for creating wonderful displays under glass. Chosen carefully, it can become the garden’s stylish focal point as much as an essential working space. Pick a style that complements the garden, whether that’s minimalist with fuss-free expanses of glass, or more ornate with details such as decorative finials. Try Alitex (alitex.co.uk) or Hartley Botanic (hartley-botanic.co.uk).

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Top A glasshouse makes a tasteful addition to any garden and will extend the growing season.

Above Wonderful ‘Rose de Resht’ billows with old-time romance.

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ESSENTIALLY ENGLISH A water feature or fountain The melodic tinkle of running water instantly gives a garden a languid feel, cooling down a hot midsummer’s day and supplying a decorative focal point. Install a fountain or raised pond at an axis in the garden’s layout for visual impact and a strong draw. Or use calm, still water to create a mood of reflection to act as an antidote to a part of the garden with busy borders and flowery indulgence. Try Haddonstone (haddonstone.com) for stone fountains or David Harber (davidharber.co.uk) for classic and more contemporary water features in materials such as mirrored stainless steel.

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A manicured lawn Nothing sets off borders full of flowers better than the velvet carpet of a lush green lawn. Nor is there any better setting for an elegant picnic, sumptuous afternoon tea, or lively cocktails conjuring a mood of Brideshead Revisited or a Merchant Ivory film. A close cut creates an even surface, preferably with stripes – a cylinder mower with a rear roller is the essential piece of kit to achieve this. Try Hayter (hayter.co.uk) or Atco (atco.co.uk) for the ultimate fine finish.

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Lutyens bench Every garden needs a spot where the gardener can sit back and admire the view, and an elegant bench is the English garden seat of choice. Instantly recognisable for its curved back and scroll-shaped arms, the Lutyens bench has a timeless style that has lasted since English architect Sir Edwin Lutyens came up with the original design in the 19th century, and is beautiful enough to make a focal point in its own right. Try Andrew Crace (andrewcrace.com) or find Barlow Tyrie’s Lutyens benches in garden centres (teak.com).

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Above David Harber’s Ekho water feature is the perfect finishing touch in this classical setting.

Left An armillary sphere from Border Sundials makes quite a statement.

Below Nothing sets the tone of an English garden quite so well as a perfectly striped lawn.

A sundial or armillary sphere It may no longer be used to tell the time, but a sundial remains a timeless accessory, giving a garden an immediate sense of the past. Use it as a focal point at the end of a vista, or let one emerge from planting. Surround it with a circular area of paving that emphasises the dial’s circular face or an armillary sphere’s globe. Stud the paving with aromatic thyme or let Alchemilla mollis self-seed in the cracks to create a pretty centrepiece. Try Border Sundials (bordersundials.co.uk) for handmade items that can be personalised with your own engraving and statuesque armillary spheres, or David Harber (davidharber.co.uk).

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Lead planters Little has the quality and permanence of a lead planter, an investment that will last forever. A pair of square lead planters, either side of a door or

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path, complete with an equally resplendent plant – standard bay, olive or Portuguese laurel trees perhaps – is stage-set dressing that is hard to beat.

Try Redfields (redfields.co.uk) for a wide-choice of lead planters made in Hampshire, or Garden Requisites for similar-looking zinc-galvanised steel (garden-requisites.co.uk).

An arch or pergola Pergolas or archways dripping with flowers are such an essential element that some English gardens became famous for their examples – the laburnum arches at Bodnant Gardens and Barnsley House for example. Bodnant’s golden-flowered tunnel is 55m long, but even in the smallest garden a single arch can create the same magic. Just add climbers: roses are the classic choice, while clematis have blowsy appeal. Try Vitis ‘Brant’ for autumn colour or ring the changes with a different annual climber each year. Choose a sturdy support – once it and its climber are in place, toppling is the last thing you want. Try Leander (leanderplantsupports. co.uk) for rose arches in rusted iron or Agriframes (agriframes.co.uk) for a wide range of shapes.

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Terracotta pots Terracotta pots simply cannot be bettered – even though their colour is distinctive, it seems to work well with every plant combination a container gardener can dream up. And as long as they are good quality, they shouldn’t succumb to frost damage, making them long-lasting decorative additions for terrace or patio. Try Italian Terrace (italianterrace. co.uk) for containers that have a classic style or Whichford Pottery (whichfordpottery.com) for more embellished extravagance.

IMAGES GAP/GRAHAM STRONG; CLIVE NICHOLS

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A croquet set Does anything sound as English as the thwock of wooden mallet on ball on a summer’s day?

Although croquet was introduced to the UK from France in the 19th century, its hoops and colourful balls are such a familiar sight in an English country garden they’re as much a part of its fabric as a cricket green in a traditional English village. A level area of mown lawn is all you need; traditionally a croquet court measures 17.5m by 14m, although its size isn’t set in stone, and the measurements are easily adapted to fit smaller spaces. Try Jaques of London (jaqueslondon.co.uk) Top An arch smothered or the Croquet from top to toe with Association’s shop blooming roses is a real (croquetassociation delight to walk through.

Left Terracotta pots are shop.org.uk). The universally stylish and Association’s website is work with any plant. also the place to go if you Far left Set out a court need to mug up on the on the lawn and enjoy a game of croquet. game’s rules.

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ESSENTIALLY ENGLISH Classic paving England’s beautiful, mature gardens often contain wonderful examples of Yorkstone paving (sandstone quarried in West Yorkshire). It was the material of choice for noteworthy garden designers such as Sir Edwin Lutyens, and can be found in iconic gardens for which he produced the blueprints, such as Great Dixter and Hestercombe. In shades of soft buff and grey, it complements planting and existing architecture and has been used for centuries across the country. Reclaimed Yorkstone is highly sought after, thanks to its time-worn, weathered appearance; newly quarried Yorkstone is equally beautiful though, with a sparkle on its sawn surfaces that brings areas of paving to life. Try London Stone (londonstone.co.uk) or CED Stone (ced.ltd.uk).

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Statuary and sculpture The icing on the cake when the rest of the garden has taken shape, a statue or sculpture turns a space from mere garden to art gallery. A carefully sited sculpture or piece of statuary can enhance outdoor space, adding character that alters in different lights, weather conditions or seasons.

Bronze oozes quality – try Avant-Garden (avantgardenguernsey.com); stainless steel, aluminium and glass are often used for sculptures with a contemporary look. Stone is a timeless choice, whether real or cast. Try Chilstone (chilstone.com) or Coade (coade.co.uk) for cast-stone sculpture with fine details and excellent durability.

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An obelisk Obelisks can transform a border – a sea of flowering perennials of similar heights cries out for dramatic punctuation, which is where an obelisk comes into its own. Position one mid-border or towards the end of a stretch of planting to draw the eye, and it will supply a visual bullet point to ensure

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Above An obelisk from Agriframes adds height and will supports pillars of climbing plants.

Left Chilstone’s Bust of Antonia is a timeless piece of statuary.

Far left Softly weathered Yorkstone paving will never go out of style.

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ESSENTIALLY ENGLISH there is no monotony.

They work as well left bare as they do covered in climbing plants. Try Wooden Garden Obelisk (woodengardenobelisk. co.uk) or Agriframes for metal and wire options (agriframes.co.uk).

Top A wrought iron gate offers glimpses of the garden beyond.

Bottom right Perfect for parties: a pergola from the Raj Tent Club.

Bottom left A wooden recliner evokes elegant ocean-liner style.

A beautiful gate If a garden is divided into separate areas, the doorways and entrances that link one to another should be as carefully considered as the rooms themselves. Matching paintwork on wooden gates throughout a garden lends cohesion; bespoke metal gates can become a talking point. Try Grange Fencing for well-built wooden and metal gates (grangefen.co.uk) or Cotswold Decorative Ironworkers for bespoke and made to order gates worthy of a stately home (cd-ironworkers.co.uk).

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The perfect parasol Shelter the terrace or set up a parasol on the lawn to recline at leisure, shaded from the sun. Avoid replicating a pub beer garden by choosing pretty shades and parasols in soft, muted colours. For serious shade, upgrade to a tent – use its cool interior to relax and enjoy the garden, set up a dining table or use it for parties. Try the Raj Tent Club (rajtentclub.com) for a range of parasols and tents or Indian Ocean (indian-ocean.co.uk) for larger designs, with cantilever and central poles.

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A relaxing recliner Evoking the opulence of a bygone age of ocean liners, a steamer chair is a great choice for stretching out and relaxing, when all the gardening is done. Search for an antique model or buy a new one from John Lewis (johnlewis.com). Oak always sits well in an English garden. For a new take on a steamer chair, look for a curvaceous lounger. Try Gaze Burvill (gazeburvill.com). n

IMAGES CLIVE NICHOLS

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Some ten acres of garden, laid out over a gently sloping site, surround Coton Manor, which dates from the 17th century.

A PASSION for Colour

Susie and Ian Pasley-Taylor knew little about gardening when they inherited Coton Manor in Northamptonshire, but have since refined their planting skills to create masterfully colour-themed borders WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHS NICOLA STOCKEN

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Above Sumptuous green

planting, including Gunnera manicata, provides the ideal backdrop for a froth of pastel-coloured blooms.

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C

oton Manor Garden is a deeply evocative place that leaves lasting impressions lingering long in the mind’s eye. Created over the past 100 years by successive generations of the same family, this exemplary English garden is a never-failing delight, with ancient woodland, surprise vistas round every corner, streams and ponds, wildflower meadows and, running throughout its ten acres, the most beautifully conceived, sumptuous borders. Yet it is the intangible qualities that are often affecting. “There’s a very special ambience – it immediately struck me when I first visited,” says owner Susie Pasley-Tyler.

It is now 30 years since Susie and her husband, Ian, took charge of the garden, leaving life in London for a quiet corner of Northamptonshire. “It was something of a shock,” Susie admits. “I was little more than a hobby gardener, but the advantage in being so inexperienced was that I didn’t recognise it was such a major undertaking, so never felt daunted.”

The garden’s framework was laid out in the 1920s

by Ian’s grandparents. “There was nothing but fields and the ponds, yet they had the vision to plant the trees, yew and holly hedges, lay terraces and establish the water garden,” explains Susie.

From the outset, Susie focused on the borders, developing those created by her late mother-in-law, a great plantswoman who added many interesting plants during her own 40 years at Coton. She also planned new borders, each with its own cast of plants and distinct character, and by 1998 (when Coton Manor was first featured in The English Garden) most were well-established. “But the range of plants was sufficiently limited that it was challenging to sustain the flowering season through the second half of summer,” she points out. “Whereas now, the introduction of many new varieties of hardy agapanthus, salvias and dahlias has given a huge fillip to late-season colour.”

Last year crowned ‘The Nation’s Favourite Garden’ in a competition launched and run by The English

Garden and the National Above Pale pinks, mauves and blues fill Garden Scheme, Coton the Holly Hedge Border.

Manor today is a Left Lemon-shaded triumph in every respect. kniphofia, bolder The original few salvias rudbeckia and indigo Clematis heracleifolia. are now more than 40 Below Carefully varieties, with colours orchestrated blues and ranging from creams, pinks at Coton Manor. whites, pinks, blues and purples to apricot hues. So, too, with the dahlias.

“There wasn’t a single dahlia in the garden until 2000 – they’ve made a phenomenal difference,” Susie notes.

Over the years, Susie has constantly refined the borders, with much trial and error along the way, to arrive at today’s planting schemes. Awakening gradually to spring bulbs, the borders fill out with summer roses and perennials, before culminating in early-autumn abundance. Close to the house run the Holly Hedge Border, The Old Rose Garden, and Acacia Border, while tucked behind a yew hedge lie the Red Border and Midsummer Border above a steep slope that descends to the Meadow Border.

“Each border has a particular colour scheme and plant palette that is repeated,” she explains. “There is something reassuring in the repetition of plants, colours and shapes – it creates a visual rhythm.”

It takes years to fine-tune different planting combinations in a colour-themed border. “It’s like composing a piece of music,” Susie explains. “You start out with these separate elements – shape, texture, different growth rates, colour, timing and THE ENGLISH GARDEN 15

Season-stretching BORDER PLANTS A mix of annuals and both tender and hardy perennials keeps Coton Manor’s borders going

CUPHEA VISCOSISSIMA

GLADIOLUS MURIELAE

Apricot blooms appear from late summer on this 110cm decorative dahlia.

Known as blue waxweed, this is a hardy annual with vivid violet flowers, often used in summer bedding schemes.

Graceful white blooms with a maroon smudge in the centre emit a wonderful perfume. Plant the bulbs in spring.

ECHINACEA ‘GREEN JEWEL’

DAHLIA ‘BISHOP OF LLANDAFF’

SALVIA GREGGII ‘STORMY PINK’

A compact, fragrant coneflower, bred by Dutch plantsman Piet Oudolf.

Dark purple-tinged foliage with scarlet flowers produced over several months.

A compact, bushy sage with baby-pink flowers from July to November.

KNIPHOFIA ‘PERCY’S PRIDE’

ASTER X FRIKARTII ‘JUNGFRAU’

CLEOME HASSLERIANA ‘ROSE QUEEN’

Long-flowering and mildew-resistant too, this stocky stalwart grows to 60cm.

Sow this half-hardy annual in April and plant out after the frosts have passed.

DAHLIA ‘GLORIE VAN NOORDWIJK’

This red hot poker’s flower spikes appear in August and last until autumn. Give it a sunny spot and well-drained soil.

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NOTEBOOK

Coton Manor Colour Deftly composed planting palettes result in a seamless colour display from spring to autumn

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2 weather – and somehow Above Quieter places in the garden, a focal ensure they reach a point, or a framed view, crescendo at a similar balance the abundance time.” Colour is a of colourful herbaceous driving force, but Susie borders elsewhere. is not hidebound by the rules. “It’s true that adjacent colours on the colour wheel harmonise, while opposites are stimulating and exciting, but overdoing the first can be dull, and too much of the latter is overkill.”

She often experiments with unexpected colour combinations, such as injecting pink coneflowers and lythrum into the mainly orange, purplish-blue and gold Meadow Border. “It works because the pink is in tune with the purples, while the echinaceas have brown cone centres that tie in with the heleniums and bronze foliage.” The Meadow Border is first glimpsed from afar, so Susie started out with orange hues that really stand out, harmonising with yellows. “Then, I added blue and purple tones from the opposite side of the colour wheel, creating a natural counterbalance,” she continues. “Ideally purple works best with yellow, and orange with royal blue, but royal blue flowers are limited, so I’ve compromised with a palette of purplish blues.”

By autumn, asters and agastaches are in full flower, creating a background of violet-blues with Aster x frikartii ‘Jungfrau’ and Agastache foeniculum, while indigo tones come from Aster amellus ‘King George’ and Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’. Softer blues are provided by catmint, aconitum, echinops, perovskia and eryngium.

Meanwhile, clumps of purple Verbena bonariensis

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1 Susie added contrast to the Red Border, mixing pale yellows with the bold fuchsias, lobelias, penstemons and salvias. 2 The Meadow Border includes plants that reflect their wild forms in the meadow beyond — achilleas, cranesbills, hyssops, daisies and grasses. 3 This border has been replanted with Hylotelephium ‘Matrona’, Caryopteris ‘Heavenly Blue’, Agapanthus ‘Blue Moon’, Cleome hassleriana ‘Rose Queen’ and Knautia macedonica. 4 Susie puts roses at the back; salvias, fuchsias and alstroemerias in the middle and, lower down, penstemons.

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Brilliant BORDERS Susie’s advice on creating a long season of interest

Planning long-lasting border displays is a neverending balancing act to ensure that as one plant retires, another takes its place. “It really is a logistical exercise,” she maintains. For example, the Meadow Border opens with orange ‘Ballerina’ tulips, later superseded by dahlias, which bulk up to screen summer’s achilleas. It is a similar story with oriental poppies, which die untidily only to be concealed by later-flowering perovskia.

Maintaining Coton Manor to such a high standard is a particularly labour intensive affair, so it is surprising to discover there are just two full-time gardeners – one, Richard Green, has worked there for 37 years – as well Top A co-ordinated as regular part-time help, occasional vie with orange Dahlia ‘Glorie van show of purple cleomes, volunteers and, of course, Susie Noordwijk’, Crocosmia ‘Zambesi’, dahlias, eupatorium herself. “I am very hands-on, but I gold Helenium ‘Zimbelstern’ and and lobelia, with many enjoy it.” She and her husband make scrambling nasturtium. Amid the shades of green.

Above The gold and a good team, with Ian organising flowers, foliage, too, plays a key purple Meadow Border. the gardening school, nursery and role, with Ageratina altissima public opening days, while Susie ‘Chocolate’, black elder and concentrates on the garden. “When we took over Ligularia dentata ‘Desdemona’ combining to all those years ago, we had no idea that it would complement the brighter orange tones. become so central to our lives, but the one thing While concentrating on fine details, Susie never we knew above all else was that we wanted to loses sight of the bigger picture, ensuring each nurture the very special atmosphere.” n border complements its setting, both in terms of colour and plant choice. “The colour palette must suit the surroundings,” she insists. “The backdrop Coton Manor, Coton, Nr Guilsborough, of a brick wall, for example, may demand a Northamptonshire NN6 8RQ. Opens to the different set of colours to a holly hedge that public from 1 April to 3 October, 12-5.30pm. reflects a glittery light illuminating the flowers.”

Tel: 01604 740219; cotonmanor.co.uk 18 THE ENGLISH GARDEN

Plant a border with one third of the plants scheduled to flower early in the season, and two thirds for late summer.

Early bloomers such as bulbs, aquilegias, lupins and poppies perform for around three weeks, whereas plants flowering after midsummer — asters, salvias and dahlias — keep on going for much longer, providing better value.

Don’t forget about the foliage. The green colours in a border are very important because there are so many different shades to complement flowers.

In late June and early July, cut back the leaves and flowers of earlyflowering perennials such as hardy geraniums, catmint, violas and alchemilla. That way you catch the growing period and they will either reflower or, at the very least, produce fresh foliage.

Repeating plants throughout a long border creates cohesion, adding a sense of rhythm.

TOP 10 PLANTS

Rising Stars Ten top plantspeople recommend some of the very best new introductions from over the past two decades, with plants to suit every type of garden

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ritish gardeners have been treated to a wide range of new plant introductions over the past 20 years. Of course, ‘new’ doesn’t always mean better than what has gone before, so we asked ten highly respected gardeners and plantspeople which plants they consider to be the best new introductions

from the past two decades. The result is a diverse mix of plants, some instantly recognisable, some ripe for belated discovery and wider appeal. From an allium with an extraordinary-sized flowerhead, to a drought-tolerant verbena that shimmers through the heat of a summer’s day, there is a plant to suit every taste and colour palette.

IMAGE GAP/ANDREA JONES

1 Geranium ‘Dragon Heart’ Hardy geraniums are among my favourite perennials and Geranium ‘Dragon Heart’ stands high. With its saucer-shaped, black-centred, cerise flowers, it’s similar to ‘Anne Folkard’, but an improvement in vigour and floriferousness. Blooming from July to September, the flowers are spread over a handsome mound of leaves, with longer stems weaving through later. Claire Austin, nurserywoman specialising in irises and perennials

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TOP 10 PLANTS

2 Cornus ‘Venus’

3 Miscanthus ‘Cosmopolitan’

This unmissable small tree is a hybrid between Cornus kousa and Cornus nuttallii, with remarkable flowers up to 15cm across.

It is hardy, with superb autumn colour and resistance to cornus anthracnose. It grows to 5m in well-drained soil in a sunny spot.

Tony Kirkham, head of the arboretum, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus ‘Cosmopolitan’ has elegant, arching leaves that rustle in the breeze, while silver-pink tassels appear late in the season and glisten in the sun. The fountain of pale foliage is a catalyst in borders and a foil to contrasting neighbours. Fergus Garrett, head gardener, Great Dixter, Sussex

4 Rosa ‘Munstead Wood’

5 Allium ‘Universe’

This rose has beautifully shaped and coloured, rain-resistant, velvety flowers with a lovely scent. Grow it by a path to enjoy the fragrance up close, or try it with hardy geraniums and campanulas.

It’s good for cutting, but take care with the thorny stems.

This allium has a huge flowerhead, 18cm across, yet the flower stems are just 60-70cm in height. The deep violet flowerheads are loosely packed, so individual flowers look like stars. It flowers for four weeks from May and is perfect for the front of a border.

Michael Marriott senior rosarian, David Austin Roses, Shropshire

Richard Wilford, head of garden design, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

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IMAGES GAP/VISIONS; ALAMY

6 Rudbeckia ‘Henry Eilers’ ‘Henry Eilers’ is a striking development of its species, Rudbeckia subtomentosa. I first saw it in the flesh at the London Olympic Park and I now include it in many of my designs. The flowers are a soft, glowing yellow with a contrasting dark cone. It is a delicate flower, yet it blooms from August to October, reaching 1m, and combining well with late-flowering grasses.

Nigel Dunnett, landscape architect and plantsman

THE ENGLISH GARDEN 21

7 Salvia ‘Amistad’

8 Sorbus commixta ‘Olympic Flame’

‘Amistad’ flowers from May to October and has proved hardy over several winters – although I always take cuttings as a backup.

I love the inky blue calyces on flower spikes that reach 1m and I tend to grow it with alliums, Knautia macedonica and shrub roses.

The upswept branches of this mountain ash give it a columnar habit when young; it arches to produce a broad crown in maturity.

This one has huge, divided leaves of glistening green, coppery at first, before its orange-red firecracker autumn tints are revealed.

Bunny Guinness, landscape architect, designer and broadcaster

Roy Lancaster, plantsman, author and broadcaster

9 Sporobolus ‘Weinheim’

10 Verbena ‘Bampton’

This elegant grass is very tough and copes with wet and dry conditions and sandy, loam or clay soil. It is clump-forming and doesn’t self-seed much, so is easy to manage. Its summer flowers have a coriander fragrance, and the leaves are a terrific orangeyellow in autumn. Piet Oudolf, garden designer and plantsman

This verbena is a favourite, since it copes well with drought in our Gravel Garden. Its purple-tinted foliage and stems darken over the season and look stunning against silver foliage. Masses of tiny pink flowers on wiry stems create a cloud-like haze. Grows to 80cm.

22 THE ENGLISH GARDEN

Åsa Gregers-Warg, head gardener, Beth Chatto Gardens, Essex

IMAGES GAP/ELKE BORKOWSKI; ALAMY

TOP 10 PLANTS

ROMANTIC ROSES

WORDS GREG LOADES IMAGE DAVID AUSTIN ROSES

Rosa ‘Royal Jubilee’ has large, bowl-shaped blooms that carry a rich, fruity fragrance.

The Gentlest Seduction Is any flower as romantic as the rose? No other evokes such memories of bygone days nor is associated with such beauty in the garden THE ENGLISH GARDEN 23

ROMANTIC ROSES

T

a disappointment that leads to a feeling of he archetypal image of the having been cheated. Modern rose breeding perfect summer’s day simply is helping to make this experience less likely, isn’t complete without with many classical-looking but newly bred the air being filled with roses holding a rich fragrance within their the intoxicating scent of petals, strongest when placed in full sun. a plethora of blowsy roses in soft, pastel ‘Anne Boleyn’ is a gorgeous rose that shades. There are different facets of roses combines a warm, rich pink with buttercup that make them such romantic subjects. On yellow in its opulent flowerheads. It evokes one hand it can be the delicacy of a dainty images of Henry VIII courting his young single-flowered shrub rose. Many such bride-to-be at Hampton Court Palace in high as ‘Buff Beauty’ and ‘Cornelia’ also have summer. Yet this rose is less than 20 years a graceful growth habit, with slim, pinkold, with exceptional health and masses of tinged stems that hold the blooms as they flowers throughout summer and autumn. nod gently in a breeze. These are known as The florally abundant ‘Wildeve’ is another hybrid musk roses – bred by a 19th-century modern classic, belying the fact that it was English clergyman, Reverend Joseph bred this century. The quartered, rosettePemberton – their trademark being clusters shaped blush pink blooms ooze nostalgia. of refined, scented blooms of high quality.

There are some dependable old-fashioned At the other end of the spectrum, large, roses that have been delighting fully double blooms are also gardeners for over 100 years, an essential component of Clockwise from top left though, and these charming a romantic English garden, Crimson ‘De Resht’ provided they have a sumptuous beats florists’ red roses; timepieces fully deserve to graceful ‘Cornelia’; be grown alongside the new scent to accompany their rich, velvety blooms of introductions. Some produce aesthetic appeal. Sniffing ‘Souvenir du Docteur only one flush of flowers in a a voluptuous bloom and Jamain’; ‘Wildeve’ is the growing season, however, so inhaling nothing but fresh air is epitome of nostalgia.

24 THE ENGLISH GARDEN

savour every day of glorious colour as if it were the last. Especially sumptuous is ‘Roseraie de l’Hay’, which has blooms that carry a sweet, rich fragrance reminiscent of Turkish delight. Also wonderfully oldfashioned and desirable is the deliciously romantic crimson-red ‘De Resht’, that has a charm with which florists’ red roses simply cannot compete. It produces its small but beautifully shaped flowers in continuous flushes. Or try ‘Souvenir du Docteur Jamain’, with its deep red, velvety blooms.

Some of the most extravagant oldfashioned roses are the Bourbon roses.

This group was created by cross-breeding Damask roses (a group of roses thought to have originated in the Middle East) with China roses, much coveted for their ability to flower all through summer. They have been gracing gardens with romance and charm for over 150 years. One of the most intricate and strongly scented is ‘Madame Isaac Péreire’, which bears large, striking purple blooms that make the stems bow under the weight of its flowers. For more subtle colour, ‘Louise Odier’ is another

NOSTALGIC RAMBLERS

IMAGES ALAMY; CLIVE NICHOLS; DAVID AUSTIN ROSES; HOWARD RICE

One of the most romantic scenes in the English garden is created by a doorway, arch or house front adorned with masses of roses in high summer.

This is the work of the rambling rose.

Ramblers are the most vigorous of all roses, capable of growing to heights of 12m and more, but they have a light touch that defines romance when

Rosa ‘Kew Rambler’

they are in full bloom. Their trademark is clusters of small flowers, clothing the plant in a fresh, often fragrant summer outfit.

Long-standing favourites such as the white pompon-flowered ‘Félicité Perpétue’ and single, pink, muskscented ‘Kew Rambler’ produce nearly all their blooms in one summer crescendo. As does the delightful ‘Cécile Brünner’, bred over 130 years ago and still gracing gardens with its pale pink, miniature blooms, which start a rich, hot pink in bud. Full of cottage garden charm, it is also known as the ‘sweetheart rose’.

There are some modern exceptions, which make great planting partners to extend the flowering season. ‘The Albrighton Rambler’ combines quality with quantity. Each cupped bloom is a work of art with a centre arranged in a rosette, and a light, musky scent.

Sprays of flowers are produced continually in summer. Frothy flowered ‘Snow Goose’ performs the same trick, with flowers in pure white.

Above The gorgeous agreeable rose in English rose ‘Anne this class. The buds Boleyn’ is diseasestart off crimson resistant and before revealing a highly floriferous. hot-pink bloom that resembles a double-flowered camellia but with a lavish scent.

Named after the tragic heroine of Romeo and Juliet, the multi-coloured blooms of ‘Sweet Juliet’ are achingly beautiful, doing justice to the name. Each, crisp bloom is made up of many petals, forming near-perfect rosettes that neither time nor the elements would have the temerity to destroy. With a strong perfume, the beguiling mix of apricot, peach and shades of pink make this a romantic dream.

Part of the romance of the rose springs from the dichotomy between its beautiful flowers and the sharp spines of its stems. If this juxtaposition is too much of a hazard for the garden, try the purple-pink ‘Royal Jubilee’. Named for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, it has large bowlshaped blooms with a fruity fragrance, held on slim stems with very few thorns: a more elegant picture of English romance for Her Majesty could not be mustered. n

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20 GARDENS TO VISIT

Powis Castle 26 THE ENGLISH GARDEN

Crathes Castle

Follow Your Heart This summer, indulge in the unadulterated beauty of 20 of the most inspiring and romantic English gardens to visit in the country

O

IMAGE NATIONAL TRUST/ANDREW BUTLER; SHUTTERSTOCK

ur country is filled with beautiful gardens, many of them among the most exquisite examples of their kind in the world. During the summer months, there can be no better way to while an afternoon than to spend it in one of these iconic spaces embellished with roses and fulsome herbaceous beds, defined by clipped borders or whimsical statuary, or set against sweeping pastoral vistas. From Norman castles to contemporary country houses, north, south, east and west, here you will find details of 20 delightfully transporting gardens that will both seduce and inspire you in equal measure.

Alnwick Castle The vision of the current Duchess of Northumberland is a short walk from the 12th-century castle itself.

Expect to find dramatic cascading waterfalls, heaps of blowsy roses, an orchard of ‘Tai-haku’ cherries with clouds of white blossom in spring, plus the wonderfully lavish herbaceous planting that surrounds the formal rills in the walled ornamental garden. alnwickgarden.com Belvoir Castle Generations of the Dukes of Rutland have left their mark at Belvoir Castle, near Grantham,

Lincolnshire. Here, the peaceful, picturesque Duchess Garden was originally laid out in 1814 by the 5th Duchess of Rutland and was looked after with great care until war broke out. After the Second World War it fell into a state of disrepair that lasted until the 1970s. Since the 11th Duchess, Emma, took over the estate, it has gone from strength to strength and a further 14 acres have been opened up. These include a rose garden, gorgeous in early summer, which is overlooked by the monumental hill-top castle. belvoircastle.com

Biddulph Grange On the western edge of the Peak District National Park, near Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, this is the creation of Victorian James Bateman, who, over 20 years, amassed an astonishing collection of trees and plants from around the world – including Britain’s oldest surviving golden larch. It also features a dazzling dahlia walk and impressive summer borders and is now in the care of the National Trust. nationaltrust.org.uk Crathes Castle The towers and turrets of Crathes Castle emerge from the Aberdeenshire woodland like something out of a fairy tale. The land here was granted to the Burnett family by Robert the Bruce in 1323, but the THE ENGLISH GARDEN 27

WINTER 20 GARDENS GARDENS TO VISIT

Goodnestone Park Alnwick Gardens

castle that stands today was built in the late 16th century. Lupins, galega, tanacetum and irises create a billowing, romantic look that harks back to another age. nts.org.uk

Easton Walled Garden While Lady Ursula Cholmondeley’s sweet peas have gained legions of fans, there is much more to explore at this lovingly restored estate between Grantham and Stamford in Lincolnshire. visiteaston.co.uk 28 THE ENGLISH GARDEN

The Garden at Miserden Not far from Stroud in Gloucestershire is this award-winning, privately owned property and garden with views out over a deer park. Laid out in the 17th century, it has been consistently updated over the years – you’ll find a topiary yew walk designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens as well as mixed borders packed with roses and herbaceous plants. An on-site nursery supplies plants. miserden.org

Goodnestone Park This private property in Kent was one of Jane Austen’s favourite places to stay, and it is easy to see why. A neat parterre and terraces descend from the Georgian building, and you will discover a walled garden, woodland walk and a gravel garden beyond. It also features a fine collection of wonderful old trees. goodnestoneparkgardens.co.uk Hatfield House This 17th-century Jacobean property near St Albans, Hertfordshire, was built by the first Lord Salisbury and remains in the care of the Cecil family today.

Covering 42 acres, the grounds here are extensive and offer a buffet of orchards, parterres, terraces and maze to tempt the discerning visitor. A new water sculpture, Renaissance, by Angela Conner, has been installed on the North Front of the house. hatfieldhouse.co.uk Helmingham Hall Near Stowmarket in Suffolk, these historic Grade I listed gardens, surrounding a beautiful moated hall, have been reinvigorated by designer Xa Tollemache.

Look out for a parterre, sumptuous rose garden and an immaculately clipped knot and herb garden, all in the most tasteful shades. helmingham.com

IMAGES CLIVE NICHOLS; SHUTTERSTOCK; THOMAS ALEXANDER

Easton Walled Gardens

Hever Castle In Kent, this defensive motte-and-bailey castle was built in the 13th century, before it became home to one of Britain’s most powerful families – the Boleyns – in the 15th and 16th centuries. In the more peaceful 1900s, William Waldorf Astor created a series of sensational gardens, including a rose garden contained by walls that magnify the scent of hundreds of blooming roses. You can well imagine Henry VIII and Anne enjoying its yewenclosed seclusion. hevercastle.co.uk

Leeds Castle South of Maidstone in Kent, this grand, historic building recently marked its 900th anniversary. There is plenty to offer visitors, but children in particular will enjoy the intricate maze that has been fashioned from 2,400 yew trees. leeds-castle.com Malverleys This new Hampshire garden is one to note. Spread over ten acres, its design bears the influence of several greats of English gardening, including Christopher Lloyd,

Malverleys

Hill Top Close to Windermere in Cumbria, you’ll find the erstwhile home of children’s author Beatrix Potter. Her former kitchen garden is a riot of flowers and vegetables such that it isn’t hard to imagine Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail feasting on fresh carrots in the vegetable patch here. Once you’ve seen the garden, stroll through the surrounding hay meadows to view wildflowers in full bloom. nationaltrust.org.uk Ightham Mote This medieval manor house near Sevenoaks in Kent, is now under the care of the National Trust. In addition to the original moat, you’ll find several distinct garden rooms, including a fulsome cutting garden, courtyard garden and a bowling green that was painted by John Singer Sargent. nationaltrust.org.uk

Hever Castle

Hatfield House

Leeds Castle

THE ENGLISH GARDEN 29

20 GARDENS TO VISIT

Walmer Castle

Trentham Gardens

William Robinson and Vita Sackville-West, with beautiful, themed ‘rooms’ enclosed by tall yew hedges. malverleys.co.uk

The Newt in Somerset On the outskirts of Castle Carey, Somerset, you’ll find another recently established and astonishingly grand garden. Built around Hadspen, the property that once belonged to the Hobhouses, the focus here is on an immaculate productive walled garden and cider-making. thenewtinsomerset.com

Tintinhull Garden Near Yeovil in Somerset, this Arts & Crafts garden is modelled on Hidcote. It was later taken on by Penelope Hobhouse, who lived here for over a decade and brought her unmistakable style to the garden. nationaltrust.org.uk Trentham Gardens These expansive gardens located just south of Stoke-on-Trent have enjoyed 30 THE ENGLISH GARDEN

Tintinhull Garden

considerable renovation in recent years.

Seek out the Italian Gardens, reinvigorated

by Tom Stuart-Smith, as well as the Rivers of Grass and the Floral Labyrinth, designed

by Piet Oudolf. trentham.co.uk

Walmer Castle On the coast at Deal in Kent, this castle was built by Henry VIII as a coastal artillery fort. Lord Beauchamp, a former Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, added the 85m-long herbaceous borders. Backed by a gloriously wonky yew hedge, they are filled with dreamy perennial planting.

There is also a formal garden designed by Penelope Hobhouse to commemorate the

95th birthday of the Queen Mother, Lord Warden from 1978 to 2002. Pastel shades from perennials including nepeta, dierama and old-fashioned, soft-pink roses such as ‘Queen Mother’ are just right for this garden’s peaceful atmosphere. englishheritage.org.uk/walmer

Westbury Court Garden West of the River Severn in Gloucestershire, is the National Trust-owned Westbury Court Garden. This Dutch water garden with canal and circular pond has been restored and now appears as it did in 1720, with plants authentic to the period. nationaltrust.org.uk n

IMAGES NATIONAL TRUST/ANDREW BUTLER; JOE WAINWRIGHT; ENGLISH HERITAGE TRUST

Powis Castle This Welsh castle benefitted from Georgian wealth and expansion when it passed to the Clive family in the 18th century. It’s now a magnificent example of a baroque garden, with Italianate terraces decorated with statuary and vibrant planting. Roses such as blush-pink ‘Sally Holmes’, creamy white ‘Jacqueline du Pré’ and apricot ‘Buff Beauty’ create a soft tapestry of pastel planting. nationaltrust.org.uk

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Visit us at The RHS Flower Shows 2020 - Hampton Court Palace 7th - 12th July | Tatton Park 22nd - 26th July Discover the secret of Hartley Botanic by calling 0800 783 8083 or visit www.hartley-botanic.co.uk

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THE HARTLEY

SPRINGTIME EVENT

Victorian Terrace, Derbyshire

Visit us at The RHS Flower Shows 2020 - Hampton Court Palace 7th - 12th July | Tatton Park 22nd - 26th July Discover the secret of Hartley Botanic by calling 0800 783 8083 or visit www.hartley-botanic.co.uk

NOTHING ELSE IS A HARTLEY The only aluminium Glasshouses and Greenhouses endorsed by the RHS © The Royal Horticultural Society 2020. Endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society. Registered Charity No 222879/SC038262 rhs.org.uk