Places to see Snowdrops

January 25, 2017 by Samantha Willis

Places to see Snowdrops near Oxford

I’m a garden designer in Oxford so here are some tips for viewing in and around Oxford but check out the website for other gardens near you.

Waterperry Gardens – Oxford
Welford Park – Newbury
Colesbourne Park – Cheltenham
Rodmarton Manor – Cirencester
Stars and Snowdrops – near Banbury

The last one is a little gem I discovered with my children

How to look at snowdrops

A carpet of Snowdrops ‘Galanthus‘ is quite breathtaking but take time to bend down and admire the little flowers. Colesbourne Park grows about 250 varieties and has a lovely raised area to admire some of their varieties.

Buying and planting snowdrops

When snowdrops are ”in the green’ i.e. with leaves is the best time to plant snowdrops so take advantage of the various sales of these snowdrop collectors and enjoy your own little patch next year, planting them in a shady little corner.

Chelsea Flower Show 2015

May 23, 2015 by Samantha Willis

There was a vibrancy at RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year with is dazzling array of colours in every garden. The Homebase garden had the Geum as it’s hero, Totally Tangerine and Lady Marmalade brightened up a day threatening rain.

The Sentabale garden is a delight with it’s lush planting, and pathways that lead you to the little door that will give hope to so many in Lesotho when they step through the door of their building. If you look closely the poppy from Lesotho did come out too, a lovely little orange.

The Telegraph gardens blocks of colour looked so simple, just three plants you think when you look in a block and then you see more and more plants in the same block.

The Laurent-Perrier Chatsworth Garden was beautiful, it is true most of us couldn’t have it in our garden but it just looked right in that corner of Chelsea, surely it was permanent. Iris x robusta Dark Aura was striking with it’s lovely dark stem and a lovely white flower that sprung from the garden was Paradisea lusitanica

The Lysimachia atropurpurea’Beaujolais’ appeared on a number of gardens, the M&G garden has a lovely Gypsophelia, elegans ‘Covent Garden.

The Dark Matter garden is inspiring and I walked away for the first time in my life knowing what Dark Matter was. Science with horticulture united in a seemingly simplistic way with the rusted steel rods and vibrant lime greens, oranges and yellows. Those steel rods are not just bent any old way though they are worked out to a mm of where the scientists say it should be. I didn’t know that any school could sign up to use the the observatory’s did you? Check out National Schools Observatory

The Artisan Garden were increadible their imagination in such a small place, the Breast Cancer Haven garden was stunning and I really did want to jump onto the woven oak leaf and relax under the canopy of leaves. The Old Forge for Motor Neurone Disease Assoc was stunning too and a major accomplishment for a young female designer

Today is the last day and as usual these masterpieces will be dismantled some to be built in permanent homes so if you haven’t managed to get there enjoy the BBC programmes and book for next year in December.

RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2015

May 8, 2015 by Samantha Willis

This year, the designers battled their way through the wind and the rain ready for the opening day of the RHS Malvern Spring Festival which was fantastic. Whilst I felt the disappointment of not doing a garden design this year, it was lovely to have the time to admire the show and catch up with friends and colleagues.

The Villaggio garden deserves the best in show, the attention to detail was incredible, the water feature was carefully considered as in Andalusia the village fountain is fed from the mountain, so when it rains it gushes and the fountain is full but in the summer it is a little trickle. With the whitewashed walls, mature olive trees and red geraniums I was on holiday.

The Floral Marquees was bustling and I couldn’t resist taking home a fern from Bowdens, Matteucia struthiopteris Jumbo, it’s lime green colour and the anticipated height of 5-8ft. The collection of plants all gathered in one area is the equivalent of a sweet shop treat for children for me, a complete delight. The skill these nursery men have producing top quality plants for the show is astounding.

I also walked out with armfuls of Clematis from the 3 Shires Garden Centre, great quality and great prices and if you need supports you can find these too.

Of course there is not only the plants but the lectures, Raymond Blanc was his usual enthusiastic self and an inspiration to us all advising us to go for taste not looks with apples, Snow White chose the red shiny apple and look what happened to her! Ok well yes she did get the handsome prince in the end but that is not the point.

This year was a treat.

Winter Colour

January 1, 2015 by Samantha Willis

Colour in the Garden

The Hellebores are great little flowers that are often hidden by their leaves and their drooping flowers. Look underneath and you find this wonderful flower from the white Christmas Rose Helleborus niger to the deep dark Helleborus x hybridus ‘Blue Lady’. The Christmas Rose flowers around Christmas time and then you can have flowers right through to March/April.

These plants are easy to look after and grow well in shady conditions. Ideally plant the paler flowers in the shadier spots to light up the darker corners. The darker flowers need to be seen and they won’t be stuck in a shady corner, so semi shade for them.

Another great little winter plant is the Cyclamen hederifolium, these hardy plants make lovely swathes of colour. If you plant them in semi-shade in a humus rich location that will not dry out in the summer they will thrive. I tend to plant mine underneath Cornus or Hydrangeas where they will get the shade in the summer to protect them.

If you’re wanting something a little more blousy and in your face the Bergenia cordifolia or Elephants Ears. This plant has wavy leaves that are about 30cms long with stems of 60cms with sprays of pink flowers. They are again an easy plant to grow and unlike the two above enjoy sunshine or semi shade. There are many varities, if you prefer white flowers Bergenia ‘Bressingham White‘ or purple leaves try B. cordifolia ‘Purpurea

Or a Bergenia that many plantsmen rate is the one raised by Eric Smith of ‘The Plantsmen’.

“Undoubtedly the best for winter effect; large, rounded, crinkled leaves have polished bronze-tinted surfaces while backs, caught in low sunlight, glow rich carmine-red. 46 cm.” BethChatto.co.uk

Lighting your garden

December 18, 2014 by Samantha Willis

Lighting your Garden

If you’re thinking of lighting your garden consider two things firstly there is the health and safety issue; can you actually get down steps or along your path and to a front door? Can you insert the keys in the lock without cursing that you can’t see a thing? Do you need lights for security reasons?

Once you’ve considered the functional aspects there is the aesthetics of lights. At this time of year lighting can really bring a little warmth and emphasises st ructure from lighting the path to focusing on key features. So whilst you may not want to sit out and enjoy your garden in mid winter you can still admire aspects of it and then in the summer you get to sit out and enjoy it.

Up-lighting trees is a beautiful feature, emphasizing the shape and texture in the winter where their branches reach into the darkness and in the summer evening it highlights the leaves gently dancing in the breeze. If you want to see a fantastic display of illuminated trees prior to Christmas visit Westonbirt Arboretum if you live near by.

Spot lighting some small shubs such as Cornus with it’s bold red or yellow stems adds some colour to the garden or focusing on statues where you can either throw light on the item or place the lighting behind it giving intrigue.

Lighting can give a magical element to the garden and enable you to focus on a particular object, in one garden we’ve used LED lights behind a water feature enabling it to float along the patio in the evening, where in the daylight it is a bold stone trough.

So now is the time to have a look at your garden, what would you like to see illuminated at this time of year? If you were looking out of your window what would you like to see?

Garden Statues

June 30, 2014 by Samantha Willis

I first really started admiring garden statues at Cothay Manor where a magnificent stag lords over the wildflower meadow. Garden Statues focus the eye, enlighten a dull corner and will enhance a garden. David Harber and his team clearly demonstrated their skill at designing and positioning statues at their show at Eaton Square where the Torus shone out in the simple design of lawn and trees adding a harmony where the shadows of the trees were brought down to our eye level. The show was a garden of treasures where David’s cleaver use of steel and bronze was a journey of delight. The Chalice pool, with it’s slow rotating water was soothing in the courtyard area. At the end of a hot day, dangling your fingers in felt refreshing and relaxing. The bronze Quill was a really cleaver, illuminating the garden from it’s rather dark corner. I watched a number of people go up to look for the lighting but whilst it was gleaming in the evening light there was no electricity. The Obelisk was an absolute treat as it was placed in the shady area and was so cleverly situated as at times it was almost lost. It brought light and joy to a dark area. All was a joy to see and whilst you might be disappointed that you missed this, I’d head to Hatfield House where some sculptors can be viewed along with other garden sculptor exhibits and I’m sure you’ll find a garden statue that will suit your garden. http://www.lovesculpture.uk.com/

David Harber’s Torus at Malvern

May 10, 2014 by Samantha Willis

David Harber‘s Torus has been a beautiful piece of garden art in the ROSY and Victory Garden. The polished stainless steel Torus has brought additional life to the garden mirroring the garden beautifully. When the weather shines the fluffy white clouds are picked up in it, even in the rain the Torus has subtly reflected the garden with little pearl shaped raindrops clinging to the art adding an additional feature.

Thank you David Harber for lending me this at Malvern.

David Harber

Rosy and Victory Garden

May 7, 2014 by Samantha Willis

12 Hours to Go before the Malvern Show officially opens. The excitement and focus of building a Show Garden is over for this year. We all shared the excitement of having had the judges reviewing our gardens today. So we wait to hear what the judges think of the ROSY and Victory garden, there is the anxiety, my peonies and foxgloves hadn’t flowered, but the Geraniums are the Aquelegia have what will the judges think.

So whilst the designers and amazing teams collapse in a heap and wait the Three Counties Show Ground takes on a different buzz there is a hive of activity as trade stands arrive from bulbs to vintage lawn mowers

This is a slightly surreal time as we have no work to do but are waiting for the next phase of the show to begin so I’m going to enjoy the floral marquee while I can.

Sponsors for the ROSY and Victory at RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2014

April 10, 2014 by Samantha Willis

Sponsors for the ROSY and Victory Garden at RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2014

28 days to go to the RHS Malvern Spring Festival and sponsorship is still required to help achieve this garden so if you are able to help please contact me and help raise awareness for ROSY – Respite nursing for Oxfordshire’s Sick Youngsters, is an organisation that raises awareness of the need for respite nursing and funds. www.rosy.org.uk

These are companies who have kindly sponsored the garden.

Hedging supplied by Ready Hedge
www.readyhedgeltd.com

David Harber for the sculpture
www.davidharber.co.uk

Turf supplied by Teal Turf
www.tealturf.co.uk/‎

Babylon Plant Nursery
www.babylonplants.com/‎

Peter Dowle Howle Hill Nursery
www.peterdowle.co.uk/

Paving supplied by

www.stonemarket.co.uk/

Tools supplied by

www.burgonandball.com/

RHS Malvern Spring Festival Garden

March 23, 2014 by Samantha Willis

RHS Malvern Spring Festival

ROSY and Victory Garden

100 years ago was the start of WW1. I have designed an Edwardian style garden with rooms and lawns. It is a celebration of an EnglishGarden inspired by Siegfred Sassoons poem ‘Victory’ when he was tired of reds and wanted to see blues and silvers.

“Return to greet me, colours that were my joy,

Not in the woeful crimson of men slain,

But shining as a garden; come with the streaming

Banners of dawn and sundown after rain.

I want to fill my gaze with blue and silver,

As you look up the path from the red garden you invited to the next room with your eye drawn to the silvers and blues leading you Betula jaquemontii representing the woods.

Like the soldiers thinking of England and home The ROSY charity helps sick children at home by offering respite nursing to terminally , acutely or chronically ill children and babies in their own homes.