Gardens Illustrated Magazine October 2022

Much of gardening thrives on the enthusiasm of the enthusiast – the specialist nursery focusing solely on a particular genus or grouping of plants; a grower in their garden who can't resist adding to their particular collection. Or the designers whose passions for better spatial planning and planting gives rise to some remarkable gardens that are a joy to experience. This issue we celebrate such enthusiasms. On page 88, we learn more about The Glasshouse Project. Set up in the glasshouses of East Sutton Park women's open prison, the project offers rehabilitation through the growing and tending of houseplants for sale both online and in a stylish local shop. The passion of founders Kali Hamerton-Stove and Melissa Murdoch, who run the project, gives participants purpose and confidence. In Finland we discover a…

Alister Thorpe Alister takes pleasure in a Kent garden, page 34. “I occasionally look out from behind my camera and relish where I'm standing. This garden brought a beaming smile to my face.” Kreetta Järvenpää Kreetta photographs Tom Simons’ ethereal moss garden in Finland, page 66. “I was touched by the power of this silent work of art, and by how delicately Tom had designed the garden.” Paula McWaters Paula visits an exciting houseplant project in a women's open prison, page 88. “Meeting the prisoners and learning just how many benefits they've derived from working with plants was uplifting.” CONTRIBUTING EDITORS James Basson 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…

The concept of artists’ gardens can be interpreted in many ways, especially as the creation of all gardens can be considered an art form. For this tour, we're homing in on gardens that have been owned or created by many different artists, examining how these gardens play a role in the artist's work. We'll visit Monk's House, where Virginia Woolf penned many of her novels in the garden writing lodge, and nearby Charleston, the country home of her painter sister Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant where the Bloomsbury Group gathered and found inspiration in its beautiful gardens. We also visit the gardens of contemporary artists, including Balmoral Cottage, where we explore how Charlotte Molesworth's topiary work has influenced her paintings, Fairlight End with its wildflower meadows that provide Robin Hutt…

Kew's call for a new generation of artists A new competition has launched that will give budding artists the opportunity to have their work displayed in the Shirley Sherwood Gallery at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The Young Botanical Artist competition invites 16-25-year-olds to submit 2D botanical artworks depicting trees – it could be an entire tree, a leaf, a bud, a branch or a moss-coated trunk, as long as the work depicts a part of a tree that has inspired the artist. There will be two age categories (16-18 and 19-25), and within each category, one winner will receive £750 and two highly commended artists will each receive £250. All the shortlisted works will be showcased in an exhibition at the Shirley Sherwood Gallery. Entry closes on 30 November. For…

A LIFE WELL GARDENED From newspaper clippings, to photographs, personal notes and letters, renowned plantswoman Beth Chatto kept everything. In 2015, she deposited her archives at the Garden Museum on long-term loan. Project archivisit Jane Harrison has spent the past two years researching this archive – 6,000 documents in total – and in a recent edition of the Garden Museum Journal shares an in-depth collection of stories that show the remarkable contribution of Beth Chatto to horticulture throughout her lifetime. Garden Museum Journal no.40 (£10) is available to purchase at gardenmuseum.org.uk ART ON DISPLAY There's a chance to view work by Dianna Jazwinski, garden, plant and floral photographer and regular contributor to Gardens Illustrated, at the Affordable Art Fair in Battersea this month. Dianna is known for her dramatic compositions of seasonal flowers…

1 The Foraged Autumn Wreath Learn how to make an autumn wreath, using materials foraged from the garden, in an online workshop with Georgie Newbery of Common Farm Flowers in Somerset. 7 October, 5pm. £35. Tel 01963 32883, commonfarmflowers.com 2 Ferment the Seasons Fermentation guru Rachel de Thample leads this workshop in transforming seasonal ingredients into gut-friendly ferments. The day includes a two-course lunch featuring fermented foods. 9 October, 10am-5pm. £245. River Cottage HQ, Trinity Hill Road, Axminster, Devon EX13 8TB. Tel 01297 630300, rivercottage.net 3 Design Your Own Garden – LCGD Denmans Garden, home of the late garden designer John Brookes, is the inspiring venue for a practical, four-day course on how to develop your own garden, whether starting from scratch or refreshing the existing one. Led by Andrew Wilson and Andrew Fisher Tomlin…