The English Garden

What has caught my eye in this issue, our traditional springtime ‘Small Gardens’ special? For starters, there’s Will Jennings’ tiny London garden with its assortment of romantic roses, which has raised my hopes that the bareroot ‘Phyllis Bide’ I’ve just planted will undertake the same shed-covering romp as Will’s. Then there’s the incredible colour co-ordination in Margaret and Peter Hargreaves’ garden at Grafton Cottage, a flower-packed labour of love for almost 50 years. Tony Woods’ design for a very smart garden near London Bridge is so clever: its central seating area, tall walls and umbrella mulberries afford an oasis of privacy and peace despite being in the heart of the city. At least two lilacs, the subject of our Plant Focus, are now on my wish list – just don’t…

Nicola Stocken During her 30-year career, award-winning photographer and writer Nicola has conveyed the beauty of remarkable gardens and plants throughout the British Isles. She visits Will Jennings’ garden on page 31. Jodie Jones Jodie is a freelance garden writer based in London. She has spent decades interviewing the best designers, then applying what she has learned to her own patch. She admires Tony Woods’ work on page 61. Jo Whittingham A freelance writer and editor in East Lothian, Jo writes a monthly gardening column in The Scotsman and has edited many books, including No Dig by Charles Dowding (DK). She explores Riccarton Mains on page 39. IMAGES JAYNE LLOYD; RHS; ANNIE GUILFOYLE…

IN FLOWER NOW Lamprocapnos spectabilis Known as Dicentra spectabilis until a recent reshuffle by botanical experts, bleeding heart emerges each spring blissfully unaware of the wrangles over its scientific name. Early in the season its new shoots push upwards, soon unfolding into ferny foliage, and then, come April, arching stems of flowers appear. Instantly recognisable and giving it its common name, the heart-shaped pouches come in magenta-pink or elegant pure white in the case of ‘Alba’. Both make a pretty partner for tulips, producing the ideal contrast of form to create vibrant, layered planting.…

Guy Barter The RHS chief horticultural advisor has been helping the nation with all manner of gardening quandaries since the 1990s I started my career working for the government in a lab as a microbiologist. Over time it became quite tedious, and after 11 years I decided to pursue horticulture instead. I’ve always been interested in gardening. My parents were great gardeners and my family grew watercress, so it wasn’t entirely a leap in the dark. At 29 I left London to study at the University of Bath for four years where I specialised in crop protection and vegetable production. I had my first allotment at 14 so I’ve always grown vegetables. The university was offering free training placements, so after graduating I worked at a nursery in West Sussex, a lettuce farm,…

A Garden Photography Masterclass 28 April, West Yorkshire Have you ever wondered how garden photographers capture such breathtaking shots? Internationally renowned photographer Eva Nemeth is hosting a one-day masterclass at The Yorkshire School of Garden Design to teach you how best to capture the beauty of your garden through the camera lens. There will be technical demonstrations to show you how to maximise the potential of your camera’s settings, and you will also learn how to compose the perfect snap in the beautiful York Gate Garden – as well as receiving one-to-one feedback on your photographs. Tel: 01423 317929; ysgd.co.uk Painting at Holkham 1-2 April, Norfolk Spend two days in the glorious surroundings of the Holkham Estate learning oil painting from local artist Bryony Knight. Materials, lunch and refreshments will all be provided, and no…

Blossom time! As if in celebration of the garden warming up and daylight hours growing longer than those of night, our Japanese apricot, Prunus mume ‘Beni-chidori’ is festooned in almond-scented, madder-pink blooms. Such is the emotional punch of spring that the word ‘blossom’ has become heavy with meaning. It speaks of purity and abundance; a culmination, but with the promise of more to come. The blossom season may be brief but every garden needs at least one tree to herald the change of season. While the Japanese apricot is a great choice of tree for the smaller garden, so are many other members of the Prunus genus. Prunus padus ‘Pandora’ bears shell-pink flowers while P. sargentii has slightly darker rosy-pink blossom. Prunus ‘Ukon’ is somewhat different, displaying green-yellow to cream…