The contrast of a solid plant shape, in this case topiary Box cones, next to ornamental grasses, is always a winning combination for me. The grass moves elegantly in the slightest breeze, the leaves change colour at the end of the summer and show up beautifully against the dark green background, so there are subtle […]
The Beth Chatto Gardens
Beth Chatto is truly one of our gardening icons. Over the years she has won gold medals at Chelsea, written some wonderfully informative books and developed one of our best gardens. I visited the garden about 12 years ago, so on our way for a weekend in Suffolk, we made a detour for a well-overdue […]
Writing the Book
I suppose what I’ve liked most about writing a book, is the opportunity to talk about my real passion for plants. They’re so often used as mere decorative elements after the rest of the garden has been planned; in which case you (or your designer) are missing a trick, because they should be used as […]