3 minute read
Garden Feature
Right Plant, Right Place
Beth Chatto ( 1923 - 2018) was a British plantswoman and author whose most famous mantra was "Right plant, right place". By applying this, she was able to choose the best plants and techniques to design the world famous 'Gravel garden' in dry Essex, which, famously, has never been watered.
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Nowadays, plants from overseas, which originally evolved to grow in very different conditions from those in the UK, are common in our gardens. For example, Acers and Camellias were brought from Asia, and Dahlias, from Central America.
Bishop’s Waltham in Bloom are organising a Hidden Garden Event on Sunday 10th July. There will be 12 gardens opening their gates for us all to explore.
The event was last held in 2019 and we are excited that we can revive it this year. Of the 12 gardens opening 6 have not opened before, 4 opened in 2019 and 2 in 2017, so there is plenty for you
Bishop’s Waltham in Bloom
Take time to ponder your garden, so you can choose plants that suit the conditions you can provide. Observe what plants do well - and fail(!) in your garden, your road or your local NGS garden- all likely to have similar growing conditions.
Soil in Meon Valley gardens can vary from a few inches of loam above chalk to heavy clay soil, even in the same village!
• What type is yours? • Does water drain from it easily, or puddle? • What parts of your garden or balcony get full sun or shade? • What areas are sheltered or buffeted by the wind?
To boost your well-being every day, think of where your garden interacts with humans.
Could you have a wonderful fragrant plant greeting you at the front door - a pot of narcissi in spring, or sarcococca in winter? If you have a sitting spot in the back garden, or a view from a favourite chair, imagine what plants might be happy in those conditions and could also enhance the experience. Perhaps sunloving lavender that will also bring the butterflies in? Or some stocks and jasmine for evening scent?
Using “Right plant, right place’, your plants will boost you and your environment, with their usefulness, beauty, scent, or place in their ecosystem.
to experience. Some of these gardens are attached to historical properties, some to new-builds. Some are well established, some newly planted. They vary in size too.
Garden gates will be open from 11.00 until 5.00. Refreshments will be available at 5 gardens and there will be craft and plant sales at some too.
To guide you round the gardens there is a Garden Guide. This gives details of all the gardens opening and includes maps to help you find your way from one garden to another. It also shows where there are car parks around Bishop’s Waltham and where footpaths allow you to plan walking routes.
The guide contains some information about each garden, with a photograph, and details of the facilities each has to offer. Purchasing the guide ahead of time allows you to plan your day.
Each person will need a guide which costs £6.00: children under 16 are free. The guides will be on sale towards the end of May and throughout June and July at Best Wishes in Brook Street and The Sweet Corner in the High Street. We will also sell guides in Red Lion Street on the day (July 10th ) from 10.00 in the morning. We ask, though, that purchases are made in cash or by cheque at all venues.
This is a great opportunity to visit private gardens and talk to the people who have created them and who maintain them. All are enthusiastic about their own gardens and enjoy sharing them with others.
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