Chelsea Flower Show May 2018

This year was another inspiring year for people and Garden Designers.  As a Garden Designer in Oxford I was impressed by the amazing diversity of gardens this year which was thoroughly enjoyable. Equally the flowers in the gardens this year were a great selection of plants and pallets.

VTP Capital Garden

I would not normally like a concrete garden and it is not often required for garden designers in Oxford but smooth concrete was greatly admired in the VTB Capital Garden – Spirit of Cornwall. Whilst not a traditional garden for this time of year with the Rhododendrons and Magnollias or even granite it did portray Cornwall.  As a Cornish person I was quizzed by my friends before I knew the story of the garden as to it’s location and I did guess correctly.

The lush sub tropical planting is an element of Cornwall and it was depicting the Hepworth Garden.  The metal path leading from one concrete seating platform to the pavilion was inspired and reflects the sound wave of music.  This was a beautiful garden where less certainly is more.

Skin Deep

I also loved Skin Deep Garden.  Each concrete block was designed to represent people with various skin conditions.  The more you looked at the blocks the more you noticed different textures, with the added influence of the sun and the shadows of the plants dancing on the blocks this garden was a constant source of wonder.  Whilst quite structured this garden was surprisingly relaxing, inviting you to sit on the blocks and enjoy the plants that were billowing around the blocks.  But there is no sitting in the gardens at Chelsea no matter how inviting.  So well cone Robert Barker for the design.

Garden Designer in Oxford

If you too are inspired for Chelsea and need a little help from a garden designer in Oxford please don’t hesitate to give me a call Samantha Willis 0771 858 6105

Beth Chatto – someone I admired

It is with great sadness that I heard that Beth Chatto has passed away.  She was an incredible lady, an inspiration to many garden designers.  I myself have her book The Shade Garden and also the Dry Garden. My books are  greatly thumbed through, a must have for garden designers.

I had the pleasure of walking around one of Beth Chatto’s  show gardens.  It was designed to demonstate a low water usage garden for The Prince of Wales Start Garden Party in 2010, encouraging sustainability.  It was an enormous treat for me to walk around such an inspiring garden.

I also treasure a hand written note I received form Beth Chatto.  She encouraged us garden designers and plant enthusiasts.

I have not made it to Beth Chatto’s gardens yet but as a garden designer in Oxford I have to make the journey.  I recently purchased some plants from the nursery to add to the shade garden I created recently so if you are looking for inspiration go to their nursery and plant something to remember a great lady of horticulture.

 

Peony Plants in your Garden 

A Peony is a great plant for the garden it is happy in sun and semi shade.  I cannot exclude a Peony from my garden. I know people say that they don’t flower for very long six to eight weeks but they are worth it.  Once the flower has passed away I also enjoy it’s leaf structure in garden. They work well in cottage style garden design or equally planted en mass in a more formal garden design.

As a perennial plant the Peony lies dormant in the ground over winter but the moment the Peony starts to show it’s lovely red leaf stems in the garden in Spring they provide excitement.  Now the leaves have turned green and the buds are fattening up and promising a show.

 

Which Double Peonies in a Garden Design

Paeonia lactiflora was originally brought to Europe in mid 18^th century and it’s from this first white cultivar that the other varieties have been cultivated.  I like the double petalled ones who’s stamens also look like petals.  Paeonia lactiflora ‘Boule de Neige’, has large broad white flowers growing to about 100cm while ‘Duchesse de Nemours’ is a double white that grows to 80cm and has been awarded an RHS AGM.  These white ones look fantastic in a border that has dappled shade.

 

The Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ is a soft double pink.  However if you’re looking for something a bit more vibrant Peonia lactiflora ‘Karl Rosenfield’ has beautiful crimson red flowers giving a fantastic splash of colour.  If there is one  wow factor Peony plant it has to be Paeonia lactiflora ‘Bowl of Beauty’.  This one makes you stop and stare, it a double with bright pink petals with a creamy centre.  Whilst it might not suit everyone’s garden I do love to see it as it’s confident showmanship, it makes me smile.

Nurseries for Peonies

Kelways nursery is one of the oldest nurseries growing Peonies for over 100years

Kelways Plants Ltd

Picts Hill, Langport, Somerset TA10 9EZ

Telephone:01458 250 521

Email:sales@kelways.co.uk

I’m sure you’re local nurseries will also sell them.

 

If you’re looking for a garden design around Oxford, don’t hesitate to give Samantha Willis 0771 858 6105

Prepared by Samantha Willis garden designer near Chipping Norton.

The first signs of summer are here, birds are singing their hearts out and I’m looking at my vase of Honesty ‘Lunnaria annua’ picked on a walk this week.  The result of a seed that escaped the confines of a garden. ‘Lunnaria annua’ is a lovely plant that should be considered for a cottage garden design .   It has a lovely purple flower with white in the center and deep purple veins glowing to the outer petal. Unfortunately it has no smell but this doesn’t deter the insect’s interest.

I have the Lunnaria ‘Alba Variegata’ which has a white flower and variegated leaves, it’s something I inherited in my garden and I’m always delighted when it starts glowing in it slightly shady spot, enticing me out into the garden.

If you want something a little more dramatic there is Lunnaria ‘Chedglow’ which has a dark purple flower and a dark purple leaf.

Bi-annuals
These plants are bi-annuals, so after 2 years they will die once they’ve flowered.  So you can either collect and propagate their seeds and plant them where you want them or let them self seed around your garden. This year I have some appearing along my path. The beautiful round paper thin silvery seed heads follow and add extra interest to the garden in the winter.

Perennials in your Garden Design
If you’d rather have something a little more permanent for your garden design there is the lovely perennial Lunnaria rediviva.  This flowers from May right through to July and does have a lovely scent. As a perennial this will die back each winter but reappear where you planted it. You can purchase these on line either as seeds or plants through various specialist plant nurseries.

If you need help with your garden design in Chipping Norton or around Oxford  please don’t hesitate to contact me

Nursery suppliers
The Beth Chatto Gardens Ltd, Elmstead Market, Colchester, Essex CO7 7DB (01206 822007).

Special Plants, Greenways Lane, Cold Ashton, Chippenham, Wiltshire UK
SN14 8LA (01225) 891686

Are you thinking of designing your front garden?

 

This is the first thing people see before they step into your house.  It is also seen by  people walking past.  So in some cases you may want a little privacy.  Whatever you want though it needs to look and feel good good and to do this you need a couple of things

 

All Year Round Colour

Something to look at all year round is necessary for the front garden, let’s face it bear earth is not that attractive and certainly not what you want to see all through the winter.  So some good evergreen plants giving shape and structure are ideal clipped Yew, Box or Holly

Lights along the path

Lights are important, if you’re returning from work the odd plant illuminated by the garden path or the windows is a cheery thing to look at.  The leaves glisten in the winter rain or sparkle in the frost. e.g. Skimmia’s, giving lovely red berries or Garraya elliptica ‘James Roof’ with its greenish flowers in pendent catkin-like racemes

You’re also are less likely to trip up and can easily open your door with lighting helping you find the key hole

Scent

Adding scent to a front garden is also a lovely idea, taking away the smell of the traffic and delighting people before they step into your house.  Scents can be all year round from the winter scents of Christmas box ‘Sarcocca confuse’, to the summer smells of Lavender

 

If you’re looking for some help designing your front garden Samantha Willis can help you make the most of it. Samantha has nursed a lifelong love of gardening which is reflected in her award-winning designs.

 

Based in the Cotswolds, she regularly works throughout the surrounding locations, including Chipping Norton and Woodstock. She has also produced gardens throughout Gloucestershire and Cornwall. She can help you develop a beautiful front garden.. Her services include briefs, sketch proposals, tenders and actual construction.

From design to execution, she’ll overlook the entire process and lay the foundations for your dream front garden