The English Garden
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THE ENGLISH MARCH 2016 ForA everyone R who loves beautiful DEN gardens www.theenglishgarden.co.ukSARAH G RAVEN’S SWEET PEA OFFER THE SEASON STARTS HERE INSTANT CHARM Emerging bulbs and Creative containers beautiful blossom for colour now FIRST TO FLOWER Carol Klein picks Expert advice her favourite for exquisite early perennials camellias Spring essentials £4.20 l Best gardens for MAGNOLIAS l CITY CHIC in a small London plot l Sow seeds of HARDY ANNUALS l SPRING PRUNING masterclass Cover8 - MAR.indd 1 21/01/2016 11:53 THE NATIONAL TRUST GREENHOUSE COLLECTION www.alitex.co.uk 01730 826900 CONTRIBUTORS Carol Klein Carol is a television broadcaster, author and former nurserywoman, who Welcome... has a cottage garden at her home in Devon. She picks her favourite opeful signs of spring are always appreciated; this year we early spring perennials on page 77. have been able to enjoy plenty of them early, thanks to such H mild winter weather. I spotted daffodils blooming during the first week of January in a park, and primroses in my garden were out the week after, well ahead of their normal schedule. Some plants will forever be associated with spring in our combined gardening consciousness, despite the fast-forwarding effects of unusually warm weather. So this issue features gardens that are full of daffodils, including the former home of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Robert Clark Mother, St Paul’s Walden Bury in Hertfordshire and Dunham Massey Robert is editor of the in Cheshire, where camellias also join in the show. The earliest species Literary Encyclopedia and an expert on tulips bring colour to The Old Rectory garden in Dorset, while in 18th-century garden history and Jane Hampshire, Little Court is painted purple by a wash of crocus. Austen. He explores historic St Paul’s The distinctions between the seasons may be growing unclear, but Walden Bury March will always be the month with which I associate these flowers, on page 26. marking the start of spring and the season of gardening ahead. Clare Foggett, Editor Vanessa Berridge Vanessa was launch editor of The English DIGITAL Garden. Now a PLATFORMS freelance writer on ON THE Download The English gardens, gardening COVER Garden app free for and heritage, she Bright daffodils and phone and tablet explores the gardens cherry blossom from iTunes, for STUART BLACK/GETTY/ROBERT HARDING WORLD IMAGERY; CHRISTOPHER DRAKE CHRISTOPHER IMAGERY; HARDING WORLD BLACK/GETTY/ROBERT STUART of The Old Rectory in epitomise the iPhones, and Google IMAGE IMAGE Dorset on page 34. pleasures of spring. Play, for Android. MARCH 2016 THE ENGLISH GARDEN 3 Ed's Letter - MAR.indd 3 22/01/2016 10:37 Rural Workwear & Accessories. Handmade in Norfolk, England. www.carriercompany.co.uk +44 (0)1328 820699 Church Farm House, Wighton, Norfolk, NR23 1AL, UK For everyone who loves beautiful gardens WWW.THEENGLISHGARDEN.CO.UK Tel: +44 (0)20 7349 3700 Fax: +44 (0)20 7349 3701 The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd, Jubilee House, 2 Jubilee Place, London SW3 3TQ Email: [email protected] Website: www.theenglishgarden.co.uk EDITORIAL Editor Clare Foggett Deputy Editor Greg Loades Art Editor Jeremy Bird Production Editor Vivienne Hambly Editorial Assistant Gabriella Dyson ADVERTISING Advertisement Manager Carly Bell: Tel: +44 (0)20 7349 3733 [email protected] Sales Executives Daniela Rizzo: Tel: +44 (0)20 7349 3700 [email protected] Casey Barton: Tel +44 (0)20 7349 3735 [email protected] Advertisement Director Lyndal Beeton Advertising Production allpointsmedia.co.uk PUBLISHING Managing Director Paul Dobson Deputy Managing Director Steve Ross Commercial Director Vicki Gavin Publisher Camilla Akers-Douglas Subscriptions & Circulation William Delmont Brand Manager Chatty Dobson ONLINE Digital Marketing Manager James Dobson Digital Product Manager Oliver Morley-Norris Digital Executive Scarlett Lill Digital Assistant Tam Hashim PRODUCTION Reprographics Manager Neil Puttnam Printing William Gibbons Ltd, Willenhall, UK The English Garden (UK issue) ISSN no 1361-2840. Printed in England. SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES 0844 848 8053 SUBSCRIPTION OFFICE SUBSCRIPTION RATES The English Garden, CDS UK £59.50 (13 issues) Global, Sovereign Park, Overseas £69.50 (13 issues) Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 9EF, NEWS DISTRIBUTION confounding perception UK. Tel: 0844 8488053. Seymour Distribution Ltd, Europe and Rest of World: 2 East Poultry Avenue, +44 (0)1858 438840. London EC1A 9PT, UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 7429 3667. EXTERIORS | INTERIORS | BIG SPACES © The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd 2015. All rights reserved. Text and pictures are copyright restricted and must not be reproduced without permission of the publishers. The information in The English Garden has been published in good faith and every effort +44 (0) 1235 859300 has been made to ensure its accuracy. However, where appropriate, you are advised to check prices, opening times and dates etc before making final arrangements. All liability www.davidharber.com for loss, disappointment, negligence or damage caused by reliance on the information within this publication is hereby excluded. The opinions expressed by the contributors of The English Garden are not necessarliy those of the publisher. www.chelseamagazines. com: Publishers of The English Home, Artists & Illustrators, Baby London, Baby Hampshire, Baby Surrey, Little London, BRITAIN, Discover Britain, Cruise International, Independent School Parent and associated Guides, Racecar Engineering, Classic Boat, Sailing Today and Yachts & Yachting. 005_EGUK_0316_.indd 3 22/01/2016 16:33 Flannel Panel - MAR.indd 5 21/01/2016 12:18 CONTENTS Gardens 26 TAMING THE WILDERNESS History 62 CITY CHIC Mosaics and metallic and horticulture combine in the elements make neat work of a Queen Mother’s childhood garden. sophisticated north London garden. 34 SEASONAL SPLENDOUR At The Old Rectory in Netherbury, Dorset, Plants substance, structure and naturalistic planting make a noteworthy garden. 69 HARDY ANNUALS These jolly flowers offer a quick, impactful dose 42 CLOTHS OF HEAVEN During of colour, and can be sown now. the most tender of seasons, aconites and crocuses flower in 77 BELLES OF THE BALL Carol sublime profusion at Little Court. Klein considers some of the finest early flowering perennials, from the 48 A SPRING FEAST The season arrives humble primrose to treasures from at Dunham Massey in a burst of North America. colour from bulbs and camellias. 85 SPRING OPULENCE Timeless and 55 NOBLE BEAUTY New life has been an ideal specimen tree, magnolias breathed into the garden at Alswick offer splendid perfume and form in Hall by a dedicated pair. a range of appealing shades. 91 POTTED PLEASURES A good 69 Design arrangement of spring bulbs in containers is a simple but failsafe 14 PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS The way to perk up dull corners at this International Garden Photographer time of year. of the Year competition seeks the best images of plants and gardens. 97 PRUNING MASTERCLASS Sound advice from RHS Harlow Carr on the best way to prune shubs for peak condition. 48 Regulars 9 NEWS & EVENTS A guide to events, anniversaries and garden visits, plus garden news. 19 SHOPPING Notable sources of essential pruning equipment and inspired presents for Mother’s Day. 22 GARDEN PATHS An early introduction to plants informed the career choice of RHS Garden Wisley curator Matthew Pottage. 6 THE ENGLISH GARDEN MARCH 2016 Contents - MAR.indd 6 22/01/2016 10:39 55 77 75 PLANT STORY The first Western accounts of the giant redwoods in the Sierra Nevada seemed stranger than fiction. 87 A NEW LEAF Extend the short-lived asparagus season with these tasty alternatives. 103 THE REVIEWER A selection of new book releases and an interview with Nigel Hewitt-Cooper. 87 114 LAST WORD Gardeners must live by their wits in March, believes Katherine Swift. 85 Offers 54 SUBSCRIPTION OFFER Subscribe and enjoy The English Garden every month. 74 EXCLUSIVE! Special reader discount on Sarah Raven’s sweet peas. 34 MARCH 2016 THE ENGLISH GARDEN 7 Contents - MAR.indd 7 22/01/2016 10:39 Choose this medal winning school for your garden design course Inchbald graduates come out top at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show with four medals A high standard of teaching is central to our garden design school’s success and on which our reputation has been built over the past 40 years. Whether it’s a graduate, part time or online course you will receive guidance from the same high quality tutors. So whether you are aiming for a successful career in garden design or simply looking to improve your own garden you won’t fi nd a better established or more renowned school than the Inchbald. Full time, part time or change of career time design courses S G In association with: IN 55 AT YEARS CRE CAREER ESTABLISHED 1960 020 7630 9011 | [email protected] | www.inchbald.co.uk News Events Gabriella Dyson rounds up anniversary& celebrations, the best places to see magnolias and notable dates for the gardening diary Floral Fix Bloombox Club is a new flowers-by-post service that delivers live plants directly to the door ready for planting. Opt for edible plant boxes from £35, or try a seasonal package, filled with pleasing, FIVE GARDENS FOR low-maintenance shrubs, from £60-£95 MAGNIFICENT MAGNOLIAS a package. See www. bloomboxclub.com With the arrival of spring, colourful magnolias Mapperton House, Dorset are bringing gardens to life across the land. DT8 3NR. Tel: 01308 862645; Here are five top places to see them www.mapperton.com BORDE HILL CAERHAYS CASTLE HAROLD HILLIER GARDENS Borde Hill has been open Home to a National Collection Stroll along Magnolia Avenue to the public for 50 years. of Magnolias, Caerhays to see magnificent blossoms To celebrate, more than 50 is home to more than 40 in bloom and discover the varieties of magnolia have cultivars, including the pastel arresting Himalayan pink tulip been added to the existing pink ‘Caerhays Surprise’.