Gardens Illustrated Magazine

The peony is one that of those flowers that marks another tipping point in the year, from the delicacy of early blooms to something more exuberant and many petalled with summer firmly in mind. Sometimes short-lived, not always able to stand up to the

James lives in the South of France where he runs Scape Design, a practice specialising in low-maintenance and dry gardens. He is a fervent advocate for creating sustainable landscapes. The winner of four Chelsea Gold medals, he was awarded Best in Sh

Designer Belinda visits a small city garden, mostly planted in white, page 62. “I was so inspired talking to the designer about this garden and the power of simplicity and restraint.” Nurseryman Steve explores the qualities of the genus Nepeta, pa

Editor Stephanie Mahon Deputy editor Sorrel Everton Art director David Grenham Deputy art editor Niki Goss Production editor Juliet Giles Digital editor Daisy Bowie-Sell Commissioning content editor Veronica Peerless Editorial and digital assistant M

One of the additional pleasures of visiting the Chelsea Flower Show is the chance to see the wonderful floral displays that surround many of the shops, restaurants and hotels of Chelsea and Belgravia. Away from the hustle and bustle of the Royal Hosp

Explore the work of hundreds of British designer-makers, with the chance to shop, enjoy demonstrations and take part in crafting workshops. 5-8 May, 10am-5pm. From £9. Hatfield Park, Hertfordshire AL9 5NB. Tel 023 9286 3871, livingcrafts.co.uk Enjoy

Panels of woven plants and fibres will transform a suburban front garden in Edinburgh. All can be viewed from the public pavement. When 21-29 May. Where 21 Braid Mount, Edinburgh EH10 6JH. For the first time, the US city of Seattle is hosting events

Be sure to check opening times. Some garden visits may need to be pre-booked Close to the beautiful, rugged Côtes-d’Armor, on Brittany’s northern shore, Kerdalo is a garden that will steal your heart the moment you walk through the gate. The 35 acres

Tie in the new growth of climbers As summer approaches, tie in young climbing plants such as clematis and sweet peas, along with crops such as tomatoes, climbing squash and beans. Earth up potatoes and oca As the top growth of potatoes and the potato

1 Thalictrum ‘Black Stockings’ Lacy foliage and dramatic, black stems. Fluffy, purple flowers in summer. 2m. AGM*. RHS H7, USDA 5a-9b† . 2 Tetrapanax papyrifer ‘Rex’ Large shrub/ small tree with dramatic, lobed leaves up to 1m across. New growth is c

What An ecological edible forest garden underplanted with a diverse woodland meadow. Where Cornwall. Size A small plot within a more conventional but ecology-focused, one-acre family garden. The forest garden is just 29 square metres. Soil Fertile lo

1 Rumex acetosa Common sorrel is a hardy, perennial alternative to spinach. Tangy, citrusy and versatile leaves. 60cm. RHS H7, USDA 3a-7b† . 2 Allium schoenoprasum Chives are bulb-forming perennials with edible, tubular leaves and edible, nectar- a

1 Athyrium niponicum f. metallicum A deciduous fern with delicate, steely grey fronds and a reddish-purple midrib. Requires little maintenance and is resistant to pests and diseases. 50cm. AGM. RHS H5, USDA 4a-9b. 2 Actaea simplex Atropurpurea Group

Tel 07367 590620, avondalenursery.co.uk Tel 0161 848 1100, jparkers.co.uk Tel 01536 764255, richardsplants.com Tel 024 7630 3627, russellsgardencentre.co.uk ■

1 Sedum sexangulare Spirals of green leaves and star-shaped, yellow flowers. Will slowly creep. 10cm. RHS H4, USDA 3a-9b. 2 Gypsophila cerastioides Mound-forming perennial with white flowers. 8cm. RHS H7. 3 Sedum acre ‘Aureum’ A fast-growing, evergre

In gardens with a limited colour palette, foliage plays a key role. Try combining plants with a variety of leaf shapes and textures for more visual impact. In smaller spaces, designers will use a high proportion of evergreens, up to 70-80 per cent, f

What A member of the Lamiaceae family, commonly known as catnip or catmint. Origins Wild species are native across Europe, Asia and Africa. Many plants are species crosses and only known in garden cultivation. Season Late spring to late summer. Si

• Species of Nepeta, such as N. racemosa, N. x faassenii and N. grandiflora and the garden hybrids that come from them, seem to thrive on neglect and are best grown in nutrient-poor, light soils. Avoid overfeeding or overwatering them, or else their

What Small, new-build, residential garden with high boundaries. Where South London. Size Roughly 8m x 15m. Soil A concrete pad 20cm under the existing lawn was dug out and backfilled with new topsoil. Climate Temperate, east-facing garden. Hardi

What Nursery producing a wide range of grasses and herbaceous perennials with a large collection of peonies. Where West Lothian in the Sottish Lowlands. Size A one-acre walled garden with four acres of land beyond the walls. Soil Inside the walled

The crown of the plant should be just 2.5cm or so under the soil and no more. In very warm gardens you can get away with having the crown at soil level but in general it should be just under the soil. Peonies must never dry out between April and Sep

1 Andy’s choice of a native boundary of hazel, field maple, Viburnum opulus, Euonymus europaeus and hawthorn is part of a wider trend emerging for biodiverse hedges at this year’s show. 2 The feature walls will be covered in a beautifully textural c

1 Pollarding is used as a way to include eucalyptus in a smaller garden. Juliet has chosen elegant E. nicholi, which has willow-like leaves and a weeping habit. hardy-eucalyptus.com 2 Alstroemerias are key plants that provide pops of orange and yell

1 The plants in this garden will all be species native to the southwest of England, such as the beautiful wild orchid Epipactis palustris, although Lulu and Adam are keen to emphasise that none of these will be wild collected. 2 To present as authe

1 Pioneer plants that colonise neglected sites, such as Plantago, Anthriscus, valerian and wild strawberry, as well as those that do well on poor soils, such as Rosa glauca. Paul has also included verbascums as they self-seed almost anywhere and pers

1 The planting scheme includes unusual cultivars of garden favourites, plus perennials that may be less familiar to visitors, including Amsonia and Anthemis punctata subsp. cupaniana. Baptisias provide subtle colour and erodiums serve as a less showy

1 The central pavilion is a collaboration between Joe and architect Farshad Khazei. It was designed using an algorithm so it can be adapted for the future. It is made from Thuja plicata and manufactured plywood. 2 An interactive installation created

1 Carbon-neutral garden cabin with a charred timber (shou-sugi-ban) exterior will frame immersive views of the garden. 2 Trees will play a huge role and will include Betula nigra, Pinus sylvestris, gnarled Syringa vulgaris and Cornus canadensis – th

1 The oak structure, which will have a very minimal interior that gives it a Scandinavian feel, will be wired up for home working. 2 The water feature at the back of the building gives the impression of a window but is, in fact, a tank filled with r

1 Soft-yellow bellwort. Jamie hopes to use two species of this choice shade-loving spring flower with bell-shaped flowers: Uvularia grandiflora and the taller, later U. perfoliata. Look for his pairing of this subtle flower with the elegant perennial

1 Statement tropical planting includes Chamaerops humilis that Kate describes as “chunky old beasts”, forming striking shapes in the garden canopy. Other tropical-style planting includes Cycas revoluta and bamboo Phyllostachys viridis. 2 Ibstock bri

1 Water feature created by expert Bamber Wallis. He took a mould of ripples in the sand from the beach at West Wittering to cast into the concrete base of the stream, which gives the flow of water movement and character. bamberwallis.com 2 Chinese n

Peter Beales Roses (1) is launching two new roses at Chelsea, including Rosa Rachel’s Joy (= ‘BEAquick’), named in memory of a former director of the company, Rachel Flood. With peachy-pink flowers, similar to those of a peony, Rachel’s Joy has a sub

Southwold Traditional Pergola, 3m x 3m, £3,495, Harrod Horticultural, 0333 400 1500, harrodhorticultural.com Gothic Gazebo, 1.5m to 3.6m, from £431, Agriframes, 0117 934 1790, agriframes.co.uk Sliding Roof Gazebo, 2.8m x 2.8m, £749, Hillier, 01794

• Alder Hey Urban Foraging Station Howard and Hugh Miller • The Core Arts Front Garden Revolution (1) Andy Smith-Williams • Hands Off Mangrove by Grow2Know Tayshan Hayden-Smith and Danny Clarke • The Mind Garden Andy Sturgeon • The Mothers for Mother

Dorling Kindersley, £24.99 ISBN 978-0241543894 Roses are versatile shrubs and Michael Marriott’s brilliant practical guide demonstrates how to use them to their best effect. Reviewer Matthew Reese is head gardener at Malverleys. Michael Marriott

THE GROVE: A NATURE ODYSSEY IN 19½ FRONT GARDENS by Ben Dark, Mitchell Beazley, £14.95, ISBN 978-1784727383 The writer and head gardener muses on 20 plants, including privet, hollyhocks and wisteria, observed in the front gardens of a suburban street

Despite its quantity of visitors, there is a stillness to the Lake District that prevails, at least at dawn and dusk. Writing from Dove Cottage on 17 May, 1800, Dorothy Wordsworth noted: ‘Grasmere was very solemn in the last glimpse of twilight; it c

In celebration of late spring, Gardens Illustrated is offering readers the chance to win a luxury two-night stay at historic Lumley Castle. The four-star hotel is ideally located in beautiful parklands overlooking the River Wear in County Durham and

1 Gentians will feature prominently in the garden, including the intensely blue Gentiana acaulis, which is such a feature in the Swiss Alps. 2 A bespoke iron bench has been designed to evoke the railway tracks that criss-cross Switzerland and repre