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Show Gardens contd.
Stonemarket Patio Garden
(Silver) Designed on two levels with a Jacuzzi built into the change in levels this was a garden for modern living. A built in chessboard and pieces provided intellectual stimulus while the garden. The upper level included a pergola and sitting area as well as a wealth of container plantings and borders.
Planting included acers, hostas, rhododendrons, photinias and other shrubs in an essentially low maintenance, suburban garden. In a fresh touch clipped 'cloud' box brought a new element. Bright pots of red pelargoniums broke up the short flight of steps.
Jubilee Garden
(Bronze) For the Queen's Jubilee Year designer Paul Stone developed an asymmetrical, formal garden with golden planting for Help the Aged. Showers of roses tumbled over low walls and fell in swags from arches across a central pathway. 0ver 200 roses, including 'Allgold' and more, joined old favourites 'Buff Beauty' and 'Seagull'. Yellow flag iris and golden grass introduced some variation in texture and form, while foliage plants included golden variegated hostas, elaeagnus and euphorbia with splashes of deep plum from purple cotinus. Five fastigiate golden yews (representing the five decades of the reign) anchored the design, which also featured channels of water, and, when we were there, a special visit from Elizabeth I.
The Wonderful World of Koi
A Japanese styled garden with a pond of koi carp (rumoured to be worth GBP30, 000 and with their own security guard) this was one garden that failed to pull it off. All the 'Japanese' elements were there but the garden lacked tranquillity and simplicity that is key to the style.
Designers Roy Day and Steven Hickling used bonsai, rocks, acers, clipped plants and steps to develop a Japanese theme but the result was fussy and busy. A small seating area under a Japanese style arbour was an English imitation rather than a representation of an authentic pavilion. The plantings lacked the scale and balance needed to hold the scheme together.
The Prairie Garden
(Bronze) Representing a North American prairie garden of around 1400, this garden was devised by Warren Klink for Urban Thickets Landscapes. A teepee held center stage surrounded by crops and medicinal plants.
Plants included food crops such as beans that scrambled up corn plants, and squash. Dye plants and tobacco were also common. A garden that sat gently on the earth; efficient and organically in tune with the land.
'Wherefore Art Thou?'
(Bronze) A modern interpretation of Juliet's courtyard, with paving was painted in renaissance style by Sarah Brodie and faith Dewhurst. A formal pattern of borders in paving was filled to the brim with romantic planting.
A balcony (of course) overlooked the scene and a small arbour provided a place of rest. The large house façade dominated the garden and there was no large planting or tree to balance it.
Planting was rich and unusual. Bamboo alongside topiary balls, bronze bearded iris next to lilac scabious, a tapestry of renaissance colours.
Bradstone's Evergreen Garden
(Bronze) A traditional town garden for year-round enjoyment. Designer James Steele-Sargent used structural plants and hard paving to give a formal structure to this garden. Planting was devised for a garden for all seasons. A pavilion, pool with formal fountain and paired urns surrounded by a terrace took centre stage in this garden.
Planting consisted of fastigiate golden yew, phormiums, cordylines as well as palms for a more contemporary look. Rhododendrons provided splashes of colour amidst the green and purple foliage effects.
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Stonemarket Patio Garden - complete with chess board
Elizabeth I and the Golden Jubliee Garden
Layers of planting and tumbling roses
Garden of Koi - busy and restless
The Prairie Garden
Rich renaissance traditions in a modern garden
Bradstone's Evergreen garden - formal for all seasons | |
