Gardens 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

Evenley Wood

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.

Statues in Garden Design

June 30, 2014 by Samantha Willis

Statues in Garden Design

I first really started admiring garden statues at Cothay Manor where a magnificent stag lords over the wildflower meadow. Statues in Garden design can focus the eye, enlighten a dull corner and enhance a garden.

David Harber and his team 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 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.

Snowdrop Garden Cheltenham

January 29, 2014 by Samantha Willis

Snowdrop Season

I always enjoy Snowdrops in the garden.

Early blooms in the garden add joy to the dark winter months

Did you know snowdrop collectors are called Galanthopiles, taking the name of the snowdrop “Galanthus” meaning milk white flowers.
If you want to see one of the best snowdrop collections I recommend Colesbourne Gardens
near Cheltehenham. You can wander round the grounds and see swathes of snowdrops on the banks. Or for the keener Galanthopile see the collections closer to the house.

This is a garden to enjoy the snowdrops whether en masses or right up close.

When planning a garden these small winter bulbs can be forgotten but it is all year round interest that is exciting, what will be coming out and when if your looking for a Garden Designer please fee free to contact me for a chat.

Malvern Show 2013 – Something for Everyone

December 5, 2013 by Samantha Willis

Joe Swift and Mark Diacono entertained us enormously in the Good Life Pavilion; in just 25 minutes Joe Swift showed us how to transform a rectangular garden into a lovely garden design, meanwhile Mark created cocktails using equal amounts of something flat and something fizzy, strawberries and a little grinding of the seed from the Schezuan bush. We all had a nibble of the seed and it had us all laughing as our tongues went numb and then exploded into a tingling sensation. My children rushed off to purchase the Stevia herb that was dropped into the cocktail as the leaves taste of sugar, ideal for adding sweetener to cocktails or a pudding, the low fat alternative to sugar.

Little packets seeds of all kinds were there to tempt children and adults. Pennard Plants packets had lovely illustrations perfect for little presents.

Strolling away from the pavilion we hit the largest vegetables I’ve ever seen, onions the size of dinner plates, cabbages, marrows, leeks etc.. James and the Giant peach came alive at this moment.

The autumn is always stimulating and walking around seeing so much blazing colour is as tempting to me as a sweet shop is to children. I walked away with my 20 plug plants from Chyrsanthemum direct, a vibrant collection of lime green ‘Green Mist’, reds ‘Quinty’ and ‘Misty Red’ and orange ‘Lexy’. Whilst I have always thought of Chysanthemums as an old ladies plant or a hospital bouquet this has changed over the years and I must confess I rather enjoy the blousy rush of colour that these plants give us in the autumn.

So inspired from the fabulous show I’m now off to plant my sweet peas, onions sets and garlic bulbs. My chrysanthemums I’ll pot up and nurture this winter and although they may not be quote as big and bold as the vegetables we saw they should bring me a vibrant autumn bouquet next year.